PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dmitri Zaitsev (ranked 3180 p4p, 4179 weight class) and Madik MBaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zaitsev has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Zaitsev
vs
MBaku

192 cm
40
278
29 - 24 - 0

198 cm
30
246
16 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 29 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dmitri Zaitsev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Madik MBaku!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zaitsev shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches MBaku napping and manages to drive through into side control!
MBaku tries to bench press Zaitsev off him but Zaitsev keeps the position.
MBaku is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Zaitsev off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zaitsev breaks MBaku's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Zaitsev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zaitsev looking to sit in guard and control but MBaku gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MBaku trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaitsev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
MBaku pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zaitsev is keeping the position for now.
Zaitsev looking to hit a scissor sweep but MBaku is one step ahead there.
Zaitsev is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaitsev keeping full guard, as MBaku tries to pass.
MBaku trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaitsev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zaitsev looking for a sweep. Not yet Zaitsev, not yet.
MBaku slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Zaitsev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
MBaku passes Zaitsev's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MBaku is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zaitsev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

MBaku is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zaitsev is looking for a sweep. MBaku is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

MBaku wants to work for an arm triangle but Zaitsev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MBaku passes to side control.

MBaku is trying to get an arm triangle but Zaitsev is defending well.
Zaitsev is looking for a sweep.

MBaku is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zaitsev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Zaitsev is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but MBaku is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Zaitsev working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

MBaku looking for a guillotine from mount but Zaitsev is having none of it.
MBaku trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zaitsev sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

MBaku looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zaitsev gets back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Madik MBaku will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

MBaku takes the fight into the clinch.

Zaitsev pulls guard effortlessly.
MBaku wants to control from the top but Zaitsev keeps moving.
Zaitsev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

MBaku utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
MBaku lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zaitsev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. MBaku is aware though and is defending well.
Zaitsev keeping full guard, as MBaku tries to pass.
Madik MBaku has got the better of the ground game so far.
MBaku works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MBaku is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Zaitsev is looking to improve his position.

MBaku is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zaitsev defends it well.
MBaku prevents Zaitsev from improving his position.

MBaku wants to work for an arm triangle but Zaitsev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zaitsev is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Zaitsev is trying to maintain the position but MBaku is very close to passing his half guard.

MBaku seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Zaitsev is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Madik MBaku!
In his post fight interview, Madik MBaku started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.