PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jaanis Zadrots (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raimonds Pravdivecs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zadrots
vs
Pravdivecs

189 cm
20
204 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

186 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jaanis Zadrots!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Raimonds Pravdivecs!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Zadrots.
Zadrots tries to close the distance and clinch but Pravdivecs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Zadrots darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Zadrots is looking to advance position but Pravdivecs won't allow it.
Zadrots wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pravdivecs keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pravdivecs looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pravdivecs is looking for a sweep. Zadrots is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pravdivecs throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pravdivecs is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zadrots trying to control the action but Pravdivecs is working from the bottom.
Zadrots prevents Pravdivecs from improving his position.
Zadrots trying to pass the guard but Pravdivecs defending well.
Zadrots thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pravdivecs's head.
Pravdivecs works his way to full guard. Good work.
Pravdivecs looking for a sweep. Not yet Pravdivecs, not yet.
Zadrots is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Pravdivecs keeping moving, preventing Zadrots from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jaanis Zadrots just wasn't active enough.
Pravdivecs keeps the fight on the outside.
Zadrots lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
No luck for Pravdivecs with that takedown attempt.
Pravdivecs tries to clinch up.
Pravdivecs shoots in for a double leg but Zadrots sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pravdivecs shoots in but no luck this time.
Jaanis Zadrots has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raimonds Pravdivecs.
Zadrots throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pravdivecs sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pravdivecs shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good shot there by Zadrots.
Zadrots throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pravdivecs scores with a head kick. Zadrots tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Pravdivecs changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zadrots tries to avoid it but Pravdivecs manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zadrots to the ground. Zadrots escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pravdivecs looks gassed!
Pravdivecs shoots in but Zadrots avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zadrots lands with a straight right. Pravdivecs didn't see that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zadrots shoots in for a double leg but Pravdivecs sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pravdivecs tries for a takedown but Zadrots sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zadrots fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pravdivecs avoids it really well and circles away.

Pravdivecs looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Zadrots!
Zadrots is trying to escape the mount.
Zadrots wants to control but Pravdivecs is having none of it.
Zadrots is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pravdivecs landing strikes from the mount and Zadrots is in trouble!
Zadrots is trying to stand up.
Zadrots can't escape the position.
Zadrots is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zadrots can't escape the position.
BOOM! Pravdivecs connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Zadrots tries to hold on but Pravdivecs pushes him away.
Pravdivecs trying to control but Zadrots is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pravdivecs cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
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 Jaanis Zadrots will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zadrots throws a half hearted mid kick.
Jab by Pravdivecs.

Pravdivecs changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zadrots looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pravdivecs wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zadrots keeps working.
Pravdivecs throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zadrots is looking to reverse the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Pravdivecs.
Zadrots defending against the ground and pound.
Pravdivecs misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Pravdivecs wants to take a breather but Zadrots manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Pravdivecs.
Zadrots is trying to control the position but Pravdivecs postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zadrots preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pravdivecs throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pravdivecs is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Pravdivecs decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Zadrots tries to clinch up but Pravdivecs circles away and keeps his distance.
Zadrots misses with a takedown attempt - Pravdivecs sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pravdivecs tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zadrots shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pravdivecs as he jumps to the side.
Zadrots misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zadrots throws a right and a left that Pravdivecs avoids nicely.
Pravdivecs lands a really nice looking cross but Zadrots seems unphased.
Pravdivecs lands with a kick to the temple. Zadrots shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Jaanis Zadrots has been cut.
Zadrots avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pravdivecs fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pravdivecs swats away the attempt to clinch by Zadrots.
Pravdivecs lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Zadrots tries to close the distance and clinch but Pravdivecs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zadrots shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaanis Zadrots. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pravdivecs dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zadrots. That did some damage!
Zadrots fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pravdivecs avoids it really well and circles away.
Pravdivecs lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Pravdivecs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pravdivecs scores a takedown into full mount!
Raimonds Pravdivecs has got the better of the ground game so far.
A nice elbow there by Pravdivecs.
Pravdivecs misses with a head shot.
Pravdivecs takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pravdivecs tries to control but Zadrots wriggling away.
Pravdivecs controlling his opponent.
Zadrots holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Pravdivecs tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Pravdivecs controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pravdivecs working for a guillotine from mount but Zadrots is in no mood to give up.
Zadrots can't escape the position.
Pravdivecs dominating with strikes here.
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!
Pravdivecs looking to control but Zadrots is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zadrots tries to reverse the position but Pravdivecs maintains control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pravdivecs punching from mount but Zadrots doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Pravdivecs landing punches.
Pravdivecs tries to control but Zadrots wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimonds Pravdivecs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jaanis Zadrots's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Zadrots fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zadrots is looking to clinch.
Pravdivecs slaps away a takedown attempt from Zadrots, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zadrots throws out a leg kick but Pravdivecs moves out of range and Zadrots only half commits.
Zadrots is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pravdivecs sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pravdivecs shoots in but Zadrots avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Zadrots gets tackled into the cage by Pravdivecs. Pravdivecs maintains the clinch.
Zadrots wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Zadrots decides to pull guard.
Zadrots keeping moving, preventing Pravdivecs from controlling successfully.
Zadrots is trying to control the position but Pravdivecs postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pravdivecs trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zadrots's guard.
Pravdivecs wants to control from the top but Zadrots keeps moving.
Pravdivecs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zadrots works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Pravdivecs gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Pravdivecs closes the distance and clinches up with Zadrots, looking for a takedown. Pravdivecs pushes Zadrots against the cage but Zadrots circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zadrots fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pravdivecs keeps the fight on the outside.
Raimonds Pravdivecs seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pravdivecs will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jaanis Zadrots has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raimonds Pravdivecs.
Pravdivecs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zadrots throws a series of punches but Pravdivecs avoids them all with ease.

Zadrots has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pravdivecs can't get the takedown.
Pravdivecs gets underhooks to prevent Zadrots's takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zadrots lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zadrots stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Zadrots tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pravdivecs just stands there and leans against the cage.

Pravdivecs manages to break the clinch.
Pravdivecs lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pravdivecs swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pravdivecs shoots in but Zadrots avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pravdivecs is defended easily by Zadrots.
Zadrots doesn't manage to clinch there - Pravdivecs circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zadrots tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pravdivecs was well out of range. Poor timing from Zadrots.
Zadrots avoids the head kick by Pravdivecs.
Pravdivecs slips a jab and a cross from Zadrots.
Pravdivecs fails with a takedown attempt.
Pravdivecs tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jaanis Zadrots is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zadrots misses with a double jab.
Pravdivecs misses with a wild combination.
Zadrots is looking to clinch.

Pravdivecs tries to keep at a distance but Zadrots has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zadrots using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zadrots struggles to land a body shot inside as Pravdivecs controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pravdivecs gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Zadrots regains guard.
Zadrots seems keen to control Pravdivecs's posture.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Pravdivecs got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zadrots has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pravdivecs has managed to get both his arms back between Zadrots's legs - danger averted.
Pravdivecs trying to control the position from guard on top but Zadrots is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pravdivecs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zadrots works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pravdivecs working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zadrots's head.
Zadrots pulls Pravdivecs in close to his closed guard and prevents Pravdivecs from doing any damage or advancing position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jaanis Zadrots.
I think Zadrots 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!