PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Robert Zhirkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamish MacNab (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robert Zhirkov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Zhirkov
vs
MacNab

180 cm
25
135 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

157 cm
23
145 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

[JMFC] 160!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robert Zhirkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hamish MacNab!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhirkov misses the jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zhirkov is defended easily by MacNab.
Zhirkov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
MacNab loads up on a big right hand but Zhirkov slips the punch.
MacNab scores with a sloppy right hand. Zhirkov should have avoided that one.
Zhirkov looks to score with a jab to the body but MacNab is just out of range.

MacNab has managed to clinch.
Zhirkov is struggling to control the position.
Zhirkov misses with a punch on the inside.
MacNab is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zhirkov is defending well for now.
MacNab lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Robert Zhirkov has been cut.
MacNab tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zhirkov avoids it.
Zhirkov trying to stall but MacNab improves his position.
MacNab lands an elbow inside that Zhirkov shrugs off.
MacNab is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zhirkov is defending well for now.
Zhirkov takes an elbow to the forehead.
MacNab comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Zhirkov has had enough of the clinch but MacNab keeps him there for the moment.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
MacNab lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zhirkov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zhirkov takes an elbow to the temple.
Zhirkov drops down looking for an ankle pick but MacNab pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zhirkov avoids the body shot from MacNab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zhirkov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. MacNab tries to avoid it but Zhirkov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag MacNab to the ground. MacNab escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Zhirkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhirkov throws out a loose jab but MacNab uses good head movement to avoid it.
MacNab moves in looking to clinch but Zhirkov pushes him off.
MacNab throws a shot from downtown. Zhirkov moves away and avoids it.
MacNab missing with a left hand there. Zhirkov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

MacNab clinches with his opponent.
Zhirkov can't break the clinch.
Zhirkov can't break the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by MacNab.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zhirkov.
Zhirkov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down MacNab.
Zhirkov avoiding damage as MacNab throws knees to the body.
MacNab pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
MacNab utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
MacNab comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
MacNab lands an elbow inside that Zhirkov shrugs off.
Zhirkov avoiding damage as MacNab throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov wants to get back to striking at distance but MacNab won't allow it.

Zhirkov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics MacNab uses from the top position.

MacNab stands up from Zhirkov's guard - MacNab perhaps looking for a knockout.
Zhirkov moves out of range of the strikes.
Zhirkov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A jab from Zhirkov misses.
Zhirkov circles away from the clinch attempt.
MacNab throws a quick inside leg kick.
MacNab avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zhirkov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
MacNab misses the jab.
Zhirkov misses with a straight left.
Zhirkov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from MacNab. Zhirkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Robert Zhirkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Zhirkov misses the target.
Good shot there by MacNab.
Zhirkov shoots in for a takedown but MacNab shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hamish MacNab is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zhirkov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A cross from Zhirkov lands.
Zhirkov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. MacNab tries to avoid it but Zhirkov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag MacNab to the ground. MacNab escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zhirkov throws a lazy right hand but MacNab sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
MacNab takes a jab right on the kisser.
Zhirkov thuds a left hand into MacNab's body.
MacNab ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zhirkov shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
MacNab slaps away a takedown attempt from Zhirkov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
MacNab throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhirkov looks to land a right hand but MacNab moved out of range.
Zhirkov misses with a hook to the body

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov throws a head punch that misses.
Zhirkov working hard to break the clinch.
Zhirkov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. MacNab obliges.
Zhirkov is breathing heavily.
Zhirkov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by MacNab.
Zhirkov takes an elbow to the temple.
Zhirkov can't break the clinch.
MacNab comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice elbow from MacNab.
MacNab lands a damaging elbow.

Zhirkov is rocked!
MacNab blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zhirkov takes an elbow to the temple.
Oh Zhirkov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
MacNab lands an elbow inside.
MacNab landing knees to the body.
Zhirkov seems to have got his legs back now.
MacNab lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Zhirkov stalling the fight.
MacNab keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zhirkov's efforts to push away.
Zhirkov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
MacNab gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Robert Zhirkov's cut is getting worse.
MacNab lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
MacNab trying to land knees to the body.
Zhirkov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. MacNab fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Zhirkov missing with a left hand there. MacNab was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamish MacNab dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robert Zhirkov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

MacNab takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Zhirkov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and MacNab counters by moving into the clinch.
MacNab gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zhirkov is trying to break the clinch but MacNab has him pressed against the cage.
MacNab lands an elbow inside.
Knees to the body from MacNab.
Nice elbow from MacNab.
Zhirkov jumps guard but MacNab stands there with Zhirkov around his waist. Zhirkov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zhirkov jumps guard but MacNab stands there with Zhirkov around his waist. Zhirkov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Zhirkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhirkov is trying to break the clinch but MacNab has him pressed against the cage.
Zhirkov tries to pull guard but MacNab won't allow it.
MacNab misses with an elbow over the top.
Zhirkov throws a head punch that misses.
Zhirkov wants to get back to striking at distance but MacNab won't allow it.
MacNab lands an elbow inside.
MacNab lands an elbow that stopped Zhirkov in his tracks for a moment.
MacNab lands an elbow inside that Zhirkov shrugs off.
Zhirkov wants to break free but MacNab has control.
Zhirkov is trying to stall.
Zhirkov tries to pull guard but MacNab holds him up against the cage and eventually Zhirkov drops back down to his feet.
MacNab keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zhirkov's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov tries to score a body lock takedown but MacNab shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Zhirkov is trying to drag MacNab to the mat but MacNab just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
MacNab crunches a lovely knee into Zhirkov's ribcage.
MacNab landing knees to the body.
Zhirkov takes an elbow to the temple.
Nice elbow from MacNab.
Nice elbow from MacNab.
MacNab lands an elbow inside that Zhirkov shrugs off.
Zhirkov is trying to drag MacNab to the mat but MacNab just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. MacNab obliges.
MacNab lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Robert Zhirkov's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
MacNab lands a nice elbow.
Zhirkov takes an elbow to the forehead.
MacNab scores a nice knee to the body.
MacNab lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
MacNab unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zhirkov lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
MacNab lands an elbow that stopped Zhirkov in his tracks for a moment.

Jeez, Robert Zhirkov's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
MacNab using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
MacNab scores a nice knee to the body.
MacNab lands a nice elbow.
MacNab lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacNab utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Zhirkov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zhirkov takes an elbow to the forehead.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Robert Zhirkov's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Hamish MacNab!