PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dmitri Zaitsev (ranked 5265 p4p, 4499 weight class) and Olaf Ragnarsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Olaf Ragnarsson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Zaitsev
vs
Ragnarsson

192 cm
46
278
34 - 35 - 0

203 cm
28
270
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

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 34 - 35 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dmitri Zaitsev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Olaf Ragnarsson!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Elvis Blanc and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zaitsev forces Ragnarsson back against the cage and clinches.
Zaitsev is looking for a takedown.

Zaitsev manages to pull guard.
Zaitsev has his hands on Ragnarsson's head, controlling the position.
Ragnarsson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zaitsev is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaitsev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Zaitsev not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaitsev seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ragnarsson for as long as he can get away with.
Ragnarsson pushes Zaitsev off looking to stand but Zaitsev dives back in and keeps control.

That's two 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.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Zaitsev continues to stall.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zaitsev looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zaitsev shoots in and drives through. Ragnarsson sprawls well.
Ragnarsson tries to clinch but Zaitsev is having none of it.
Zaitsev swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Ragnarsson closes the distance and clinches.

Zaitsev drags the fight down to the ground.
Zaitsev has a closed guard, preventing Ragnarsson from standing up.
Zaitsev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zaitsev is controlling Ragnarsson's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragnarsson wants to get up but he can't break Zaitsev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Zaitsev seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ragnarsson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ragnarsson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zaitsev is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zaitsev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ragnarsson wants to stand but Zaitsev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ragnarsson being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Zaitsev digs a good hook to Ragnarsson's body.
We've been informed that Ragnarsson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Zaitsev gets tackled into the cage by Ragnarsson. Ragnarsson maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ragnarsson lands a damaging elbow.
Zaitsev avoids a wild elbow strike from Ragnarsson.
Zaitsev scores with a shot to the side of Ragnarsson's head.
Ragnarsson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zaitsev dodges an elbow strike from Ragnarsson.
Zaitsev avoids the elbow strike from Ragnarsson, against the cage.
Zaitsev avoids the elbow strike from Ragnarsson, against the cage.
Ragnarsson pushes off an throws an elbow but Zaitsev leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Zaitsev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ragnarsson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitri Zaitsev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zaitsev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ragnarsson after a bit of a struggle.
Zaitsev changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ragnarsson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zaitsev forces Ragnarsson back against the cage and clinches.
Ragnarsson misses with an elbow over the top.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitri Zaitsev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zaitsev darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ragnarsson tries to kick Zaitsev off but Zaitsev keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Zaitsev sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ragnarsson is trying to stand up here but Zaitsev is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaitsev is taking a breather. Ragnarsson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute 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.
Ragnarsson is trying to stand up here but Zaitsev is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zaitsev clinches up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ragnarsson throws an elbow but misses.
Ragnarsson looking to throw knees to the head but Zaitsev is blocking nicely.

Zaitsev ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Zaitsev no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Zaitsev pulls Ragnarsson in close to prevent any damage.
Dmitri Zaitsev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ragnarsson is looking to stand up but Zaitsev won't let him.
Zaitsev is pulling down on Ragnarsson's head. It's preventing any offense from Ragnarsson, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaitsev has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Zaitsev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Zaitsev prevents Ragnarsson from standing back up.
Zaitsev is taking a breather. Ragnarsson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ragnarsson is trying to stand back up but Zaitsev is controlling him
Zaitsev content to control rather than advance.
Ragnarsson is looking to get back to is feet but Zaitsev passes into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ragnarsson can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragnarsson is trying to buck Zaitsev off.
Zaitsev is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ragnarsson will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Zaitsev.
Zaitsev prevents Ragnarsson from escaping the position.
Zaitsev controlling the position from side mount.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Ragnarsson has taken the fight to the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ragnarsson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zaitsev's brow.

Zaitsev lands a takedown into guard.
Zaitsev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ragnarsson is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Zaitsev dives into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zaitsev is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ragnarsson will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Zaitsev continues to hold on tight.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitri Zaitsev dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ragnarsson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Zaitsev has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ragnarsson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zaitsev blocks it with crossed arms.
Zaitsev avoids a wild elbow strike from Ragnarsson.
Zaitsev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zaitsev is trying to pull guard but Ragnarsson has him pressed against the cage.
Zaitsev tries for a takedown but Ragnarsson manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitri Zaitsev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zaitsev works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Zaitsev controlling from the top position.
Zaitsev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ragnarsson can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ragnarsson is looking to stand up but Zaitsev isn't so interested in that idea.
Zaitsev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ragnarsson wants to get back to his feet but Zaitsev passes into half guard.
Zaitsev controlling the pace.
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 getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Olaf Ragnarsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zaitsev shoots in for a takedown but Ragnarsson shows good takedown defense.
Olaf Ragnarsson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ragnarsson instigates a clinch.
Ragnarsson pushes off an throws an elbow but Zaitsev leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ragnarsson tries to land knees in the clinch but Zaitsev avoids the damage to the body.
Ragnarsson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zaitsev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Ragnarsson.

It looks like Dmitri Zaitsev has been cut.
Zaitsev avoids the elbow strike from Ragnarsson, against the cage.
Ragnarsson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zaitsev wants a takedown but no success here.
Zaitsev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zaitsev tries to work over Ragnarsson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zaitsev avoids a wild elbow strike from Ragnarsson.
Ragnarsson tries to throw a body punch but Zaitsev avoids it by throwing Ragnarsson back against the cage.
Ragnarsson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ragnarsson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ragnarsson throws an elbow that misses.
Zaitsev blocks the elbow strike.

Zaitsev pulls Ragnarsson into guard.
Zaitsev pulls Ragnarsson in close to his closed guard and prevents Ragnarsson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Zaitsev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ragnarsson's guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ragnarsson has an active guard here but Zaitsev has managed to pass into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Olaf Ragnarsson.
I think Zaitsev 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dmitri Zaitsev!
Dmitri Zaitsev seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.