PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ruben Flijers (ranked 5033 p4p, 4861 weight class) and Pinina Zhikova (ranked 553 p4p, 551 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Flijers
vs
Zhikova

188 cm
22
200
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
205
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ruben Flijers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pinina Zhikova!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flijers throws the left hand but Zhikova avoids the punch easily.
Flijers throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zhikova or perhaps it was just good defense by Flijers, which made it look bad.
It looked like Flijers was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Zhikova.
Flijers lands a glancing blow to the side of Zhikova's head.
Flijers throws a body punch but Zhikova moves out of range.
Zhikova should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Zhikova fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Flijers sprawls well initially but Zhikova persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zhikova trying to pass the guard but Flijers defending well.
Flijers trying to control from the bottom.
Zhikova passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Flijers!
Flijers is looking to get to half guard.
Flijers is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Zhikova has taken his back.
Zhikova not allowing Flijers to control his hands.
Zhikova has good solid back control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flijers rolls, trying to escape but Zhikova keeps control of the position.
Flijers wants to get back to his feet.
Flijers turns into Zhikova and is now in his guard.
Flijers trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhikova is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhikova is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zhikova in particular looking to stall.
Flijers is trying to maintain the position but Zhikova is very close to passing his half guard.
Flijers is in trouble now - Zhikova has advanced to mount!
Zhikova mounts Flijers! Really nice guard pass there!
Zhikova takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Flijers's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhikova controlling from the full mount.
Flijers is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Zhikova tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
It looks like Zhikova might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Zhikova is continuing to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhikova's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Let's hope that Zhikova has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Flijers has given up his back.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Zhikova controlling the positon.
Flijers trying to control the position but Zhikova manages to sink in the hooks.
Flijers wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhikova has good solid back control here.
The adventures of Zhikova the control monster continue. Boring.
Flijers manages to reverse the position and now he's in Zhikova's guard. Nice work there by Flijers.
Zhikova trying to control the position here.
Zhikova keeping moving, preventing Flijers from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhikova tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Flijers with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zhikova controlling the position.
Zhikova manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Flijers manages to get himself to full guard.

Zhikova pushing down on Flijers's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Flijers trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pinina Zhikova dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zhikova drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Zhikova controls the position.
Zhikova has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Flijers is looking for a sweep.
Zhikova staying calm.
Flijers is looking for a sweep.
Zhikova is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Flijers will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Flijers is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Flijers is trying to control Zhikova's posture but Zhikova avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pinina Zhikova has got the better of the ground game so far.
A lull in the action here as Zhikova stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flijers is looking for a sweep.
Zhikova is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Flijers will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Flijers is trying to improve his position.
Zhikova content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Flijers is trying to buck Zhikova off.
Zhikova content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Flijers tries to bench press Zhikova off him but Zhikova keeps the position.
Flijers on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Flijers tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zhikova in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Flijers is trying to control Zhikova's posture but Zhikova avoids it.
Zhikova is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
More stalling from Zhikova.
Flijers tries to bench press Zhikova off him but Zhikova keeps the position.
A lull in the action here as Zhikova stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flijers manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Zhikova stalling.
Flijers is looking for a sweep. Zhikova is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zhikova takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Flijers punching from the bottom.
Flijers tries to roll over but Zhikova keeps him under control.
Zhikova performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Zhikova wants to pass the guard but Flijers is defending well.

That's four 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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zhikova in particular looking to stall.
Zhikova passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Flijers!
Zhikova seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Flijers is holding on tight.
Flijers is trying to escape the mount.
Zhikova controlling the position easily from mount.
Zhikova forces the positional change into back control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Flijers wants to escape the position.
Zhikova controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pinina Zhikova showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zhikova scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Flijers gets full guard.
Zhikova preventing the sweep.
Flijers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zhikova is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zhikova with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
Zhikova passes into half guard.
Zhikova controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Zhikova.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flijers gets full guard.
Zhikova forces his way into half guard.
Zhikova prevents Flijers from standing back up.
Flijers wants to get back to full guard.
Flijers trying to hold on to Zhikova's head to control him but Zhikova postures up.
Flijers wants to improve his position but Zhikova is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Flijers is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Well, if Zhikova is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhikova is looking to advance position but Flijers won't allow it.
Zhikova works his way into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Flijers is looking to regain half guard here but Zhikova keeps moving and retains side control.
Zhikova takes a little break here. Flijers wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Zhikova working away.
Zhikova slows the pace down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flijers struggling a bit here.
Zhikova controlling the position.
Flijers is looking for a sweep.
Flijers is working hard here to advance position.
Zhikova controls the position from side control.

Zhikova is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Flijers knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Flijers is trying to control Zhikova's posture but Zhikova avoids it.
Flijers is letting Zhikova control him for a moment.
Pinina Zhikova is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Yet more stalling tactics from Zhikova.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Flijers is trying to get back to half guard.
Flijers throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Flijers wants to get back to his feet but Zhikova drags him back down.
A lull in the action here.
You can see the frustration on Flijers's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pinina Zhikova comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zhikova winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pinina Zhikova!