PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Zadoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Afanasi Eor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Zadoff
vs
Eor

180 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pablo Zadoff!
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, Afanasi Eor!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zadoff lands with a kick to the temple. Eor shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Afanasi Eor has been cut.
Eor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zadoff swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zadoff lands a high kick!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zadoff.
Zadoff throws a head kick that misses

and Eor counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zadoff is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Zadoff can't do much from the bottom here.
Zadoff is looking for a sweep.
Eor works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eor wants to control but Zadoff is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Eor tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Eor has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Zadoff is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Eor's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Zadoff manages to escape and get back to his feet!

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.
Zadoff misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Zadoff.
Zadoff scores with a kick to the midsection.
A head kick misses from Zadoff.
Pablo Zadoff is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zadoff misses with the combination.
Zadoff is breathing heavily.
Zadoff pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Eor is defended easily by Zadoff.
Zadoff misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zadoff misses with a head kick.
Eor avoids the head kick by Zadoff.
Nice takedown defense from Zadoff. No joy for Eor on that attempt.
Eor blocks a head kick by Zadoff.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eor doesn't manage to clinch there - Zadoff circles away.
Zadoff throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Eor.
Eor fails to land the takedown.
Pablo Zadoff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Afanasi Eor.
Eor shoots in but Zadoff avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A head kick misses from Zadoff.
Zadoff throws a head kick that misses
and Eor counters with a head kick. That will keep Zadoff thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A low kick from Eor is predictable there
and Zadoff counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Eor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zadoff as he avoids it easily.
Zadoff throws a nice head kick!
Zadoff throws a combination. Eor tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Eor shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Zadoff wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eor working the head and body with strikes.

Zadoff pushes Eor off and gets back to his feet.
Zadoff lands a head kick!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zadoff throws a head kick that misses

and Eor counters with a shoot takedown. Zadoff fights it but they end up in guard.
Zadoff will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zadoff keeping moving, preventing Eor from controlling successfully.
Eor wants to pass the guard but Zadoff is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pablo Zadoff will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Afanasi Eor's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Eor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A head kick from Zadoff lands but Eor takes it in his stride.
Zadoff throws a head kick but Eor moves out of range.
Eor has a takedown stuffed.
Zadoff connects with a solid leg kick.
Zadoff looks to land a combination. Eor sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Zadoff misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zadoff keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zadoff throws a head kick that half lands.
Eor takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Eor avoids the head kick by Zadoff.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Eor scores a takedown into full mount!
Zadoff really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Poor strikes thrown by Eor there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Zadoff is desperately trying to improve his position but Eor has a good base and remains in mount.
Zadoff wants to control but Eor is having none of it.
Eor sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Eor throws some wild stikes that Zadoff manages to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zadoff really wants to buck Eor off and get back to his feet.
Zadoff tries to hold on but Eor postures up.
Eor won't let Zadoff get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Eor jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Zadoff is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Zadoff and Eor has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Zadoff tries to escape but Eor is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eor working the strikes but Zadoff uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Zadoff wants to control but Eor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Eor looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zadoff with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zadoff is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Eor's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Eor's back!

Eor fending off the submission attempt from Zadoff.

Zadoff looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zadoff is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Zadoff is striking from the back but Eor escapes and manages to recover to half guard.
Eor wants to improve his position but Zadoff is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Zadoff dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Afanasi Eor's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Eor blocks a head kick by Zadoff.
Eor fails to land the takedown.
Zadoff throws a sloppy head kick

and Eor counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Eor.
Zadoff is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Zadoff manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Eor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zadoff throws a series of punches but Eor avoids them all with ease.
Eor takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Zadoff moves out of range as Eor throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Zadoff.
Zadoff throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zadoff misses with a head kick.
Zadoff misses with a few strikes there.
Eor takes a kick to the side of the head.
Eor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zadoff defends it nicely.
Pablo Zadoff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Afanasi Eor.
Eor avoids the head kick by Zadoff.
Zadoff moves out of range of the body kick.
Eor wants to slow Zadoff down by chopping away at his legs.
Zadoff throws a head kick that misses.
Zadoff throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Eor shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Eor showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zadoff blocking the ground and pound attempt from Eor.
Zadoff is doing well to control the position and prevent Eor from advancing to side control.
Zadoff is looking for a sweep. Eor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Eor is thwarting Zadoff's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zadoff is trying is best to control the position here.
Eor takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zadoff is refusing to be controlled, as Eor sits in half guard.
Zadoff is trying to maintain the position but Eor is very close to passing his half guard.
Zadoff keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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.

Eor is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zadoff sees it coming and defends easily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zadoff goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Eor blocks a head kick by Zadoff.
Eor shoots for a takedown but Zadoff saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Eor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zadoff sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Eor throws a leg kick that is checked
and Zadoff finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Zadoff throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zadoff throws a head kick that misses.
Afanasi Eor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pablo Zadoff is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Eor tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Afanasi Eor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zadoff 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Pablo Zadoff!