PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saul Tigh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Schelokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Schelokov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Sirens . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tigh
vs
Schelokov

182 cm
26
180 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

175 cm
24
185 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Saul Tigh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Schelokov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schelokov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Schelokov lands a body shot.
Schelokov leaves Tigh with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Schelokov scores with a jab. Tigh acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

It looks like Saul Tigh has been cut.
Schelokov leaves Tigh with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Schelokov lands a jab to the head.
Tigh walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tigh or perhaps it was just good defense by Schelokov, which made it look bad.
Schelokov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saul Tigh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schelokov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Schelokov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schelokov stuffs the takedown attempt from Tigh. Tigh gets slowly back to his feet.

Schelokov drops his shoulder and cracks Tigh with a huge uppercut! Tigh goes down! Can Schelokov finish him?

Tigh is rocked!

Saul Tigh's cut is getting worse.

Tigh escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Schelokov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Oh Tigh is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schelokov is in close to Tigh's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Schelokov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tigh is proving hard to escape from.

Tigh escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Schelokov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tigh seems to have got his legs back now.
Schelokov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Schelokov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tigh works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Schelokov tries to stand but Tigh is controlling from the bottom.

Tigh escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Schelokov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Schelokov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tigh is proving hard to escape from.
Tigh trying to control the position.

Tigh throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Schelokov stands up out of Tigh's guard for a moment - Tigh manages to land a nice upkick.
Tigh working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tigh wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tigh is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tigh wants to control from the top but Schelokov keeps moving.
Tigh throwing strikes but missing.
Schelokov is wriggling around but Tigh manages to pass to half guard.
Schelokov is trying to stand back up but Tigh is controlling him
Tigh missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tigh uses his free foot to push down on Schelokov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Schelokov.
Tigh trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tigh in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Tigh working Schelokov over with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schelokov wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Schelokov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Tigh has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Schelokov wants to control but Tigh is having none of it.
Tigh working Schelokov over with strikes here.
Tigh avoids the attempt from Schelokov to control.

Tigh is working for a guillotine from mount but Schelokov frees his head quite easily.
Tigh lands a big elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Schelokov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Schelokov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Saul Tigh's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Schelokov cracks Tigh with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tigh tries to clinch
letting Schelokov counter with a right hand.

Saul Tigh's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Schelokov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Alexander Schelokov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tigh tries for a takedown but Schelokov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Schelokov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Tigh decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Schelokov's guard.
Tigh is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Schelokov is rocked!
Schelokov keeping moving, preventing Tigh from controlling successfully.
Tigh working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Schelokov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tigh is one step ahead there.
Schelokov is looking to stand up but Tigh isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tigh working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tigh wants to control from the top but Schelokov keeps moving.
Schelokov wants to stand up but Tigh is controlling him.
Schelokov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tigh wants to control from the top but Schelokov keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Tigh stays in close to Schelokov's body and controls the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Schelokov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tigh.
Tigh shoots for a double leg takedown but Schelokov sprawls well. He's pushed Tigh's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Schelokov throws a series of punches but Tigh avoids them all with ease.
Tigh seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Schelokov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Tigh holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schelokov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tigh tries to score a power double leg takedown but Schelokov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tigh somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saul Tigh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schelokov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Schelokov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tigh to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Schelokov wants to stand and escape but Tigh is having none of it.
Tigh with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tigh lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tigh wants to control from the top but Schelokov keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schelokov pulls Tigh in to control the position.
Saul Tigh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tigh tries to free his leg and advance position but Schelokov is retaining full guard.

Tigh thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tigh looking to sit in guard and control but Schelokov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tigh is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Schelokov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tigh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tigh not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Tigh is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schelokov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Schelokov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Schelokov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Tigh working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Schelokov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Schelokov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Tigh working for a triangle but Schelokov defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schelokov wanted to stand there but Tigh had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Saul Tigh will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Saul Tigh's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tigh changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Schelokov tries to avoid it but Tigh manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Schelokov to the ground. Schelokov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tigh looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Schelokov looks to land a combination but Tigh avoids it well.
Schelokov throws a series of punches but Tigh moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Schelokov. No joy for Tigh on that attempt.
Tigh shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Schelokov throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saul Tigh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schelokov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Schelokov tries to sprawl but Tigh drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Schelokov tries to get to full guard but Tigh has control of the leg.
Tigh stops Schelokov from getting back to his feet.
Schelokov is staying active underneath Tigh, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tigh scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Tigh is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Schelokov defends it well.
Schelokov looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tigh is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Schelokov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Schelokov trying to control from the bottom.
Schelokov taking some punishment here, with Tigh in his half guard.
Tigh tries to pass the half guard into mount. Schelokov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Tigh is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Schelokov is just riding it out for now. Tigh eventually gives up the hold.
Tigh prevents Schelokov from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Tigh is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Schelokov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Tigh controls from within his opponent's guard.
Schelokov keeping full guard, as Tigh tries to pass.
Tigh content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Schelokov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Tigh looking to control but Schelokov passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tigh throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Tigh works his way to full guard. Good work.
Tigh throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Schelokov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tigh not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Tigh working for a triangle but Schelokov defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Schelokov looking to sit in guard and control but Tigh gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Schelokov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tigh preventing the sweep.
Schelokov keeping moving, preventing Tigh from controlling successfully.
Tigh lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tigh is in close to Schelokov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Schelokov is looking to stand up but Tigh isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tigh looking to sit in guard and control but Schelokov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Saul Tigh.
I think Tigh has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Schelokov!