PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rickety Cricket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleskander Murko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rickety Cricket could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Aleskander Murko's chin.

Cricket
vs
Murko

200 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
235 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

BioPharm Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rickety Cricket!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aleskander Murko!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Columbo Gatti and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murko moves forwards but Cricket connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Murko ducks under a wild hook from Cricket.
Murko cracks Cricket with an uppercut from hell and Cricket crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Murko's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

It looks like Rickety Cricket has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murko would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Cricket throws his legs up looking for a submission but Murko uses it to pass to side control.
Murko tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Cricket regains half guard.

Cricket looking for submissions off his back.
Murko wants to free his trapped foot but Cricket is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cricket is controlling Murko's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Murko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murko wants to work for an arm triangle but Cricket is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Murko prevents Cricket from improving his position.
Murko blocks the strikes from Cricket.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Murko with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cricket is breathing heavily.
Murko pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cricket is out of range and Murko settles back down.
Cricket fails to land with a series of punches.
Murko tries to clinch but Cricket moves out of range.
Cricket bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cricket slips a jab and a cross from Murko.
A telegraphed right hand from Murko misses the target.
Cricket moves away from the strike by Murko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cricket is fending him off so far but Murko persists. Nope, Cricket circles away and we're back to standing.
Murko swinging wilding here.
Cricket slips a straight right by Murko.
Murko fails with a takedown attempt.
Cricket looks to land a combination but Murko avoids it well.
Cricket slips a straight right by Murko.
Cricket misses with a double jab.
Cricket swinging wilding here.
Murko slips a jab and a cross from Cricket.
Murko misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cricket.
A telegraphed right hand from Murko misses the target.
Murko lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cricket backs up against the cage.
Murko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murko stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Murko misses with a takedown attempt - Cricket sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rickety Cricket has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleskander Murko.
Cricket slips a straight right by Murko.
Murko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cricket throws a right and a left that Murko avoids nicely.
Murko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice straight punches there by Murko. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Murko.
Murko comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murko works Cricket's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murko tries to land a leg kick but Cricket saw it coming and moves away.
Murko lands a jab-cross combination.
Murko lands a jab.
Cricket slips a straight right by Murko.
Murko misses with a wild body shot.
Cricket displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Murko throws out the jab.
Cricket displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Murko throws out the jab.
Cricket steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Murko.
Murko tries to bum rush Cricket with a series of wild strikes but Cricket uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cricket checks the leg kick.

Cricket closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cricket throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Cricket 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.
Murko wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleskander Murko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rickety Cricket's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Murko throws a lazy right hand but Cricket sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Murko misses with a combination
and Cricket counters with a two punch combo.
Murko looks to throw the jab but Cricket is out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Murko.
Cricket throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Murko throws a hook but Cricket blocks it.
Cricket misses with a kick to the body.
Murko misses with a straight left.

Murko shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Murko showed some decent athleticism there.
Murko tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Cricket.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cricket is not content to let Murko control the position.
Cricket moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cricket is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Murko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cricket is proving hard to escape from.
Cricket is trying to control the position but Murko postures up.
Murko looking to sit in guard and control but Cricket gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Murko had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Cricket is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Murko Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Cricket's back instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Murko gets his hands free as Cricket looks to control.
Cricket breaks Murko's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Cricket throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Murko trying to keep a closed guard but Cricket is proving a slippery customer.
Cricket trying to control the position from guard on top but Murko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Murko wants to stand up but Cricket is controlling him.

Murko scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Murko throws a hook but Cricket blocks it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cricket!
A big right from Murko misses.

Murko gets caught flat footed, as Cricket shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Cricket is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Cricket thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cricket stops Murko from standing up.
Murko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cricket. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cricket thows a big elbow that misses.
Cricket looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cricket won't allow Murko to get back to his feet.
Murko wants to sweep but no luck.
Cricket postures up in Murko's guard and throws a big left but Murko blocks it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cricket uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murko.
A punch combination from Cricket misses.
Murko moves into range and connects with a jab.
Murko throws a series of punches but Cricket avoids them all with ease.
Cricket throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cricket scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Murko looks to land a left hand but Cricket moved out of range nicely.
Murko throws a jab when Cricket was well out of range.
Cricket lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Murko circles away quickly and effectively.
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 Rickety Cricket will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rickety Cricket's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Cricket moves out of range of the strikes.
Aleskander Murko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cricket shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Murko's guard.
Murko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Murko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Murko wants to get back to his feet but Cricket is holding on tight.
Cricket is looking to get to half guard.
Cricket slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cricket manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cricket looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cricket looking for a guillotine here but Murko defends easily.
Cricket working a defensive guard but Murko manages to pass into side control anyway.
Murko has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Cricket!

Murko stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Murko takes a swing at Cricket's ribcage but misses.
Murko throws a lazy right hand but Cricket sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rickety Cricket is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Murko goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cricket avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Murko looks to land a right hand but Cricket moved out of range.
Murko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Murko throws a looping overhand right but Cricket ducks down to avoid it.
Cricket swinging wilding here.
Cricket throws a right and a left that Murko avoids nicely.
A jab from Murko misses.
Murko throws a jab but it's blocked by Cricket.
Murko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cricket throws a sloppy head kick and Murko moves out of range easily.
Murko throws a jab when Cricket was well out of range.
Cricket throws a series of punches but Murko avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murko misses with a takedown attempt

and Cricket counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Murko!

Cricket looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Murko defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Cricket.
Murko is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Murko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Murko is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Cricket working for a submission but Murko is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cricket looking to finish with strikes here!
Murko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cricket trying to control but Murko is having none of it.
Murko is looking to get to half guard.

Cricket is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Murko is surviving well by controlling Cricket's body position as best he can.
Murko trying desperately to get to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickety Cricket showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cricket 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rickety Cricket!