PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ruchacz Zak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorik Vartanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Zak might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Armin van Buuren - Sail. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Zak
vs
Vartanov

196 cm
20
240 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
27
265 lbs
7 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ruchacz Zak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jorik Vartanov!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zak tries to close the distance and clinch but Vartanov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vartanov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zak pinned against the cage. Zak gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vartanov shoots and misses

and Zak counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zak.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vartanov keeping moving, preventing Zak from controlling successfully.
Zak trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zak throws a strike but Vartanov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zak on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zak tries to get out of the position.
Vartanov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vartanov postures up.

Zak has his foot on Vartanov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vartanov works his way back into a safe position though.
Zak knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vartanov on the ground.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vartanov trying to control but Zak is working from the bottom.

Zak is looking for a triangle but Vartanov pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zak looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Vartanov passes into side control.
Zak throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Vartanov blocks the strikes from Zak.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vartanov trying to control the position but Zak is working away.
Vartanov working away.
Zak misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Zak wants to control but Vartanov postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vartanov looks up at the clock and then as Zak takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Vartanov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vartanov is trying to get an arm triangle but Zak is defending well.
The ground and pound from Vartanov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Vartanov working away.
Zak is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vartanov trying to control the action but Zak is working from the bottom.
Zak looking for a sweep but Vartanov has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zak wants to hold on but Vartanov pushes him away.
Zak is bucking up trying to escape but Vartanov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Vartanov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zak is looking to escape.
Zak swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Zak swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Vartanov controlling the pace for now.
Zak chipping away with body shots but they're not going to hurt Vartanov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vartanov lands a heavy elbow.
Vartanov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Vartanov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vartanov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vartanov is landing with some decent strikes but Zak is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Zak keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Vartanov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zak is squirming around, avoiding Vartanov's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vartanov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Zak throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorik Vartanov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Zak.
Vartanov fails with the takedown.
Vartanov tries for a takedown but Zak circles away easily

and Zak counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vartanov won't be happy with that.
Vartanov taking punishment in the form of punches.
Vartanov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Zak is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vartanov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Zak wants to take a breather but Vartanov is having none of it.

Zak is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vartanov gets full guard.
Zak has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Vartanov looking for a triangle here. Zak is fighting it but it looks tight! Vartanov pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Zak is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Jorik Vartanov!