PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Noel Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Zhukov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Zhukov's choice of entrance music: Russian Army Choir - National Anthem of the Russian Federation. Ivan Zhukov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Jackson
vs
Zhukov

200 cm
32
272 lbs
10 - 19 - 0

210 cm
20
265 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 10 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Noel Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ivan Zhukov!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson connects with a leg kick. Zhukov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Jackson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zhukov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jackson dives in and grabs Zhukov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zhukov pushes down on Jackson's head and hops out.
No luck for Jackson with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Noel Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Jackson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zhukov tries to avoid it but Jackson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zhukov to the ground. Zhukov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Zhukov circles away easily
and Zhukov counters with a nice body shot.
Jackson is breathing heavily.
Zhukov lands a leg kick that knocks Jackson off balance momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhukov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zhukov cracks the inside of Jackson's front leg.

Zhukov lands a big head kick that sends Jackson tumbling to the mat! Zhukov takes a step backwards and waves Jackson back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Noel Jackson has been cut.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Zhukov.
Zhukov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhukov thuds a left hand into Jackson's body.
Zhukov throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zhukov, right into the meat.
Zhukov is looking to slow Jackson down with leg kicks.
Noel Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Zhukov drops Jackson with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Jackson looks back up at him and smiles so Zhukov waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Zhukov scores with a body shot.
Zhukov connects with a leg kick. Jackson looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Zhukov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Zhukov clinches up with Jackson and pushes him back against the cage.
Zhukov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Jackson backwards.
Jackson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Zhukov lands a hook that snaps the head of Jackson backwards.
Zhukov misses with an elbow strike.
Zhukov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Jackson backwards.
Jackson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zhukov gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhukov stops a takedown attempt from Jackson.

Zhukov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jackson throws a leg kick
and Zhukov counters with a right hand to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zhukov.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zhukov.
Zhukov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Jackson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zhukov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zhukov connects with a leg kick. Jackson looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Look low, kick high! Zhukov uses the oldest trick in the book to send Jackson tumbling to the canvas, in a truly brutal knockout! Zhukov is absolutely delighted - when Jackson wakes up, I doubt he'll be quite so happy!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Ivan Zhukov!
Ivan Zhukov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.