PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Zlobin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luis Matos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zlobin
vs
Matos

180 cm
22
255 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

196 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Zlobin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luis Matos!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zlobin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matos as he jumps to the side.
Zlobin looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Zlobin has a takedown stuffed.
Matos misses with a takedown

and Zlobin counters with a takedown into side control.
Matos is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zlobin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Matos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zlobin's guard.
Matos tries to stand but Zlobin is controlling from the bottom.
Matos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zlobin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zlobin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matos slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Matos is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Matos must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Matos is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Matos gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Matos clinches up against the cage.
Matos is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Matos breaks the clinch.
Matos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zlobin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zlobin is one step ahead there.

Matos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zlobin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Matos has Zlobin pulled in close to control his posture.

Zlobin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Matos manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zlobin has Matos in his guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Matos slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zlobin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Matos trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zlobin's guard.
Matos passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zlobin is not content to let Matos control the position.
Zlobin is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Matos creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Matos decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Matos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zlobin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Matos somewhat.
Alexei Zlobin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Matos.
Zlobin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Matos misses with a head kick.
Matos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zlobin pinned against the cage. Zlobin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luis Matos will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Matos feints and as Zlobin raises his hands in defense, Matos changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Matos wants to control from the top but Zlobin keeps moving.
Matos sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Matos gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Matos does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Matos darts in and clinches Zlobin up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matos is trying to force a seperation but Zlobin has the dominant position.
Matos stalling in the clinch but Zlobin improves position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matos is trying to force a seperation but Zlobin has the dominant position.
Matos stalling in the clinch but Zlobin improves position.

Matos manages to break the clinch.

Matos clinches with his opponent.
Zlobin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Matos smiles and moves away.
Matos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zlobin tries to avoid it but Matos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zlobin to the ground. Zlobin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zlobin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Matos counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Matos.
Matos is pushing down on Zlobin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zlobin is fighting to maintain full guard but Matos has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos trying to control the action but Zlobin is working from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Matos in particular looking to stall.
Zlobin tries to roll over but Matos keeps him under control.

Zlobin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Zlobin actively working from the bottom here.

Matos stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Matos shoots in looking for a takedown. Zlobin tries to sprawl out of it but Matos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zlobin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alexei Zlobin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Matos.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Matos.
Zlobin is looking for a sweep.
Matos scoring with punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zlobin is looking to reverse the position.
Matos taking a breather here.
Matos's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Matos decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Matos drives through and clinches with Zlobin against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Matos 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! This is the final round!

Matos shoots in looking for a takedown. Zlobin tries to sprawl out of it but Matos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zlobin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Matos is defended easily by Zlobin.
Matos dives in and grabs Zlobin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zlobin pushes down on Matos's head and hops out.
Alexei Zlobin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Matos.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zlobin blocks a low kick nicely.
Zlobin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Matos counters with a takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matos decides to stand up, so the ref orders Zlobin to his feet.
Matos tries for a takedown but Zlobin circles away easily

and Zlobin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Zlobin has gone for a leg lock! Matos slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zlobin's guard.

Zlobin working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Matos has passed into half guard!
Matos is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zlobin looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
I really don't envy Zlobin right now.
Matos scores with punches from the back.
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.
Matos controlling well, preventing Zlobin from escaping the position.
Zlobin looking very determined here, making life difficult for Matos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zlobin is trying to break free.
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.
Zlobin can't escape the position.
Zlobin prevents Matos from getting a body triangle.
Matos is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Matos is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Zlobin knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Zlobin for a finish.
Zlobin tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four 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.
Zlobin regains half guard.

Zlobin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Zlobin looking for submissions off his back.

Zlobin is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Matos pulls his head out easily.
Matos is trying to control. Zlobin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Zlobin looking for submissions off his back.
Matos trying to pass the guard but Zlobin defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luis Matos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matos 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Luis Matos!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Luis Matos!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Luis Matos!

Luis Matos wins by unanimous decision!