PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexis Douglas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Markoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Markoff has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Douglas
vs
Markoff

210 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexis Douglas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Markoff!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Markoff closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Douglas's guard.

Douglas has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Markoff has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Douglas manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Markoff does no damage.
Douglas throws a big counter combination but Markoff scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Markoff instigates a clinch.
Douglas looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Douglas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Markoff avoids it.
Douglas is looking to break free of the clinch but Markoff has double underhooks.

Markoff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Markoff gets a takedown into half guard.
Douglas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Markoff tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Douglas.
Markoff trying to control the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Douglas is trying to stand back up but Markoff is controlling him
Douglas trying to control here.
Markoff sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Douglas wants to get back to his feet.

Douglas is defending against the submission attempts here by Markoff.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Douglas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Douglas desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Douglas is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Markoff's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Markoff's back!
Douglas cracks Markoff with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Markoff from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Markoff trying to control the action but Douglas just sinks the hooks in.
Markoff really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Douglas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Douglas tries to get the hooks in deep but Markoff pushed the leg off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Douglas is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Douglas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Douglas patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Douglas throwing strikes and Markoff squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.
Douglas with shots to the head and body - Markoff looks very uncomfortable down there.
Markoff tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Douglas breaks from Markoff's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Markoff is desperately trying to improve his position but Douglas has a good base and remains in mount.
Douglas moves to the back.
Markoff is trying to get back to his feet but Douglas has full control of the position and if anything, Markoff has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Douglas controlling from the back.
Markoff is trapped and Douglas is scoring with shots to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Douglas missing with strikes from the back.
Douglas is working the ground and pound. Can Markoff escape?
You can see the frustration on Markoff's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Douglas is punishing Markoff with strikes - can he finish him?!
Markoff can't escape the position.
Markoff looks winded!
Douglas is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Douglas lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Markoff hold on?!
Markoff manages to reverse the position and now he's in Douglas's guard. Nice work there by Markoff.
Douglas trying to control the position here.
Douglas has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexis Douglas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Douglas tries to sprawl but Markoff drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Markoff trying to advance position but Douglas counters by regaining guard.
Douglas has his hands on Markoff's head, controlling the position.
Markoff trying to control the position from guard on top but Douglas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Douglas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Markoff must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Douglas has a closed guard, preventing Markoff from standing up.
Douglas 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.
Douglas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Markoff wants to pass the guard but Douglas is keeping the position.
Douglas can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Markoff controls the pace.
Alexis Douglas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Douglas controlling the position.
Douglas trying to strike off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Douglas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Markoff darts in and clinches Douglas up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Markoff on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Markoff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Markoff tries to clinch but Douglas is having none of it.
Douglas dives in for a single leg takedown but Markoff sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Douglas moves in looking to clinch but Markoff pushes him off.
Alexis Douglas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Markoff scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Markoff is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Douglas is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Douglas is not content to let Markoff control the position.
Douglas tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Markoff decides to stand back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Markoff.

Douglas throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Markoff drives through with a takedown into guard.

Douglas pushes Markoff off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
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 Alexis Douglas will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Markoff misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Douglas dives in and grabs Markoff's left leg, looking for a takedown. Markoff pushes down on Douglas's head and hops out.
Markoff swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Markoff looking to score a takedown here. Douglas is defending well but Markoff drives through and ends up in Douglas's guard.
Markoff has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Douglas is proving hard to escape from.
Douglas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Markoff can do to turn this around?
Markoff trying to control but Douglas is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markoff is stalling in the full guard.
Markoff lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markoff wants to control from the top but Douglas keeps moving.
Douglas trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Markoff slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Markoff moves into the clinch successfully.

Markoff gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Douglas regains guard.

Douglas has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Markoff off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivan Markoff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Markoff shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Douglas wriggles free and stands up.
Markoff takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Markoff drives through and clinches with Douglas against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Markoff.
A left hand lands to the body for Douglas.
Douglas jumps guard but Markoff stands there with Douglas around his waist. Douglas gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Douglas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Markoff has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Douglas uses from the top position.
Douglas throwing strikes but missing.

Markoff is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Douglas postures up in Markoff's guard and throws a big left but Markoff blocks it.

Markoff is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Douglas defends well.
Douglas lands a couple of digs.
Douglas chips away with some ground and pound.
Douglas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Douglas throwing strikes from guard but Markoff blocks nicely.
Douglas keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Markoff's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Douglas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Douglas controls from within his opponent's guard.
Markoff is trying to control the position but Douglas postures up.
Douglas controls from within his opponent's guard.
Douglas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Markoff works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Douglas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ivan Markoff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexis Douglas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Douglas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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 Alexis Douglas.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Douglas, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexis Douglas!