PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dmitri Zaitsev (ranked 3915 p4p, 4080 weight class) and Kova Luu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kova Luu told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Zaitsev
vs
Luu

192 cm
44
278
31 - 32 - 0

199 cm
21
260
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 31 - 32 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dmitri Zaitsev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kova Luu!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Luu closes the distance and clinches.

Zaitsev pulls guard successfully.
Zaitsev is pulling down on Luu's head. It's preventing any offense from Luu, at least for the moment.
Luu won't allow Zaitsev to sweep him here.
Luu being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luu won't allow Zaitsev to sweep him here.
Zaitsev definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Luu trying to control but Zaitsev is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luu is fighting to break Zaitsev's control of his arms but Zaitsev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zaitsev has managed to clinch.

Zaitsev wants the takedown. Luu is fighting it off but Zaitsev persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Luu's guard against the cage.
Luu wants to control but Zaitsev passes easily into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zaitsev seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Luu wants to improve his position but Zaitsev is controlling well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zaitsev in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaitsev's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Luu is trying to stand back up but Zaitsev is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Luu fails in his attempt to clinch.

Zaitsev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Luu misses with a knee strike.
Luu tries a knee to the head but Zaitsev blocks it.
Luu tries a knee to the head but Zaitsev blocks it.
Luu scores a nice knee to the body.
Luu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Zaitsev successfully pulls guard.
Zaitsev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaitsev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Luu's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Luu looking to control.
Luu wants to stand and escape but Zaitsev is having none of it.
Zaitsev passes Luu's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Zaitsev controlling the action here.
Luu looks like he's trying to stand up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Still in half guard, Zaitsev seems content to control.
Luu tries to kick Zaitsev off but Zaitsev keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitri Zaitsev dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Luu throws a head kick that Zaitsev semi-blocks.
Zaitsev moves out of range of the body kick.
A little feinted left hand from Zaitsev on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Zaitsev takes the fight into the clinch.
Zaitsev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Zaitsev is trying to drag Luu to the mat but Luu just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zaitsev misses with a body punch.

Zaitsev has Luu pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Zaitsev pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Luu tumbling to the mat - Zaitsev dives into Luu's guard.
Zaitsev 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zaitsev content to stall in guard here.
Luu is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaitsev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Zaitsev seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Luu for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zaitsev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Luu can do to turn this around?
Luu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zaitsev paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Zaitsev clinches up with Luu and pushes him back against the cage.
Zaitsev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

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.
Luu misses with a knee strike.
Zaitsev tries to pull guard but Luu forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zaitsev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitri Zaitsev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Luu with a knee to the head.
Luu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zaitsev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Luu after a bit of a struggle.

Zaitsev gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Zaitsev passes to side control.
Zaitsev controls the position.
Luu wants to control but Zaitsev postures up.
Zaitsev is staying tight to Luu's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luu is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zaitsev has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Luu is looking for a sweep.
Zaitsev is staying tight to Luu's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Zaitsev has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Luu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zaitsev is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Zaitsev moves into range and clinches up with Luu.
Zaitsev blocks an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitri Zaitsev dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zaitsev has Luu up against the cage in a clinch.

Zaitsev turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Zaitsev just content to control the position.
Zaitsev working away.
Luu is letting Zaitsev control him for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luu is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Zaitsev asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Luu is looking to get back to his feet here but Zaitsev is keeping cool and he's managed to take Luu's back.
Luu just trying to survive but Zaitsev is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Dmitri Zaitsev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Luu is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Luu is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Zaitsev.
Luu wants to get back to his feet.
Good control from Zaitsev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Zaitsev.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Zaitsev.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Zaitsev is stinking the place up with his stalling.
Zaitsev continues to stall.
Luu is in bad spot here.
Dmitri Zaitsev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zaitsev biding his time, controlling Luu.
Kova Luu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luu is in bad spot here.
Good control from Zaitsev.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Dmitri Zaitsev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zaitsev, 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dmitri Zaitsev!
An out of breath Dmitri Zaitsev thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.