PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shamil Basaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Zolotarev (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.

Basaev
vs
Zolotarev

185 cm
18
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
25
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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, Shamil Basaev!
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, Ivan Zolotarev!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Basaev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Basaev fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Basaev.

Zolotarev looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Basaev!
Basaev avoids a series of strikes thrown by Zolotarev.
Basaev avoids a series of strikes thrown by Zolotarev.
Zolotarev throws some wild stikes that Basaev manages to avoid easily.
Basaev is squirming around, avoiding Zolotarev's attempts to control the action.

Zolotarev stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Basaev misses with a wild body shot.

Zolotarev looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Basaev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basaev trying to control but Zolotarev postures up.

Zolotarev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Basaev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zolotarev pulls his head out easily.
Basaev wants to control but Zolotarev is keeping busy.
Zolotarev seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Basaev is trying to control but can't.
Zolotarev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Basaev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
It looks like Zolotarev is going to stand back up.

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.

Basaev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Basaev is breathing heavily.
Zolotarev is pressing down on Basaev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Basaev is holding on for now.
Zolotarev looks to land a strike but Basaev avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Zolotarev gets to his feet. Basaev looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Basaev tries to sprawl but Zolotarev drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Basaev trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zolotarev wants to stand but Basaev has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basaev is trying to maintain the position but Zolotarev is very close to passing his half guard.

Zolotarev throws a strike but Basaev manages to get a kimura sweep and he's found himself on top with the kimura half locked in! This would be a real turnaround! He's torquing it... Will Zolotarev tap??? YES! He's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Shamil Basaev!