PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ted Cabbage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivarius Zastaliov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Cabbage
vs
Zastaliov

190 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
217 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 St Petersburg, Ted Cabbage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivarius Zastaliov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cabbage shoots in but no luck this time.

Zastaliov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cabbage was covering up waiting for the punch and Zastaliov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Cabbage controls Zastaliov momentarily but Zastaliov frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cabbage wants to get back to his feet but Zastaliov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Zastaliov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cabbage controls Zastaliov momentarily but Zastaliov frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabbage wants to get back to his feet but Zastaliov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zastaliov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cabbage is trying to maintain a safe position but Zastaliov gets an underhook and turns Cabbage into the cage.
Cabbage is pressed up against the cage. Zastaliov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cabbage down to the mat. Cabbage avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Zastaliov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cabbage's half guard.
Cabbage has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zastaliov is working away from the top position though.
Cabbage is trying to stand back up but Zastaliov is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zastaliov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cabbage defending well though.
Cabbage tries to get to full guard but Zastaliov has control of the leg.
Zastaliov is trying to control. Cabbage wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zastaliov trying to pass the guard but Cabbage defending well.
Cabbage wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cabbage closes the distance looking to clinch

and Zastaliov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zastaliov.

Cabbage's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cabbage clinches but Zastaliov breaks the clinch

and Zastaliov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cabbage trying to keep a closed guard but Zastaliov is proving a slippery customer.
Zastaliov lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zastaliov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Zastaliov closes the distance and pushes Cabbage back into the cage.

Zastaliov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zastaliov pulls Cabbage in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cabbage decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cabbage is breathing heavily.

Zastaliov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zastaliov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Zastaliov lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivarius Zastaliov 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.

Cabbage shoots and misses

and Zastaliov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cabbage won't be happy with that.
Cabbage is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Cabbage trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Zastaliov controls the position.
Zastaliov lands a nice forearm strike.
Cabbage prevents Zastaliov from moving into mount.
Cabbage can't do much from the bottom here.
Zastaliov taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabbage takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Zastaliov 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cabbage is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Cabbage takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Check out the look on Zastaliov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Zastaliov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Cabbage defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zastaliov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Cabbage does no damage.
Cabbage tries to close the distance and clinch but Zastaliov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cabbage tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Zastaliov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cabbage manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Cabbage pushes Zastaliov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Cabbage throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Zastaliov's head.
Cabbage tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Zastaliov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cabbage wants to stand but Zastaliov is controlling the position.
Cabbage trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zastaliov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cabbage swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zastaliov trying to move into half guard but instead Cabbage has managed to sweep!
Cabbage trying to control but Zastaliov is working from the bottom.
Cabbage is looking to stand up but Zastaliov won't let him.

Zastaliov pushes Cabbage off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four 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.

Zastaliov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cabbage was covering up waiting for the punch and Zastaliov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Cabbage working a defensive guard here.
Zastaliov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cabbage works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cabbage throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivarius Zastaliov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cabbage wants to clinch up but Zastaliov keeps it at a distance.

Zastaliov moves into the clinch successfully.
Zastaliov tries to pull guard but Cabbage won't allow it.
Cabbage utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Zastaliov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cabbage gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cabbage missing with knees to the body.
Zastaliov is working for takedown but Cabbage is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ted Cabbage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivarius Zastaliov.

Zastaliov gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Cabbage regains guard.
Zastaliov preventing the sweep.
Cabbage wants to stand and escape but Zastaliov is having none of it.
Cabbage looking for a sweep. Not yet Cabbage, not yet.
Zastaliov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Cabbage has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zastaliov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cabbage with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zastaliov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Zastaliov misses
and Cabbage counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ted Cabbage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cabbage tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zastaliov throws a sloppy head kick

and Cabbage counters with a shoot takedown. Zastaliov fights it but they end up in guard.
Zastaliov working a defensive guard here.
Zastaliov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zastaliov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cabbage manages to get himself to full guard.
Zastaliov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cabbage's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zastaliov wants to stand but Cabbage is controlling his posture from full guard.
Zastaliov postures up in Cabbage's guard and throws a big left but Cabbage blocks it.
Cabbage trying to control the position.
Zastaliov wants to control from the top but Cabbage keeps moving.
Zastaliov won't allow Cabbage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabbage wants to sweep here but Zastaliov controlling him for the moment.
Zastaliov stops Cabbage from standing up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cabbage tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ivarius Zastaliov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zastaliov throws a combination. Cabbage tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cabbage with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zastaliov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Zastaliov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cabbage smiles and moves away.

Cabbage closes the distance and clinches.

Cabbage is fighting off a takedown attempt but Zastaliov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Cabbage to the mat. Cabbage regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Cabbage keeping full guard, as Zastaliov tries to pass.
Ivarius Zastaliov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabbage is looking to stand back up but Zastaliov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Cabbage.

Zastaliov decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Zastaliov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Zastaliov counters with a left and a right that stings Cabbage.

Cabbage moves into the clinch.
Zastaliov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cabbage avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cabbage is trying to maintain a safe position but Zastaliov gets an underhook and turns Cabbage into the cage.
Ted Cabbage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zastaliov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cabbage fights it off and pushes away nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ted Cabbage.
I think Zastaliov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivarius Zastaliov!