PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brady Baird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kostya Zhuravlev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhuravlev has chosen Aria - Volja i Razum as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Baird
vs
Zhuravlev

175 cm
31
177 lbs
12 - 25 - 1

162 cm
29
170 lbs
6 - 6 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 25 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brady Baird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kostya Zhuravlev!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baird tries to clinch but Zhuravlev is having none of it.
Baird takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Baird stuffs the takedown.
Baird misses with a double jab.
Baird throws a lazy right hand but Zhuravlev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zhuravlev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Baird defends it nicely.
Baird lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Zhuravlev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Baird sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Brady Baird has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kostya Zhuravlev.
Zhuravlev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zhuravlev keeps the fight on the outside.
Zhuravlev shoots for a double leg takedown but Baird sprawls well. He's pushed Zhuravlev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zhuravlev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Baird scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zhuravlev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Baird's waist but Baird gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zhuravlev off to one side.
Baird fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baird swinging wildly here.
Baird lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird misses with a wild combination.
Baird misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baird throws a right and a left that both miss.
Baird stuffs the takedown.
Baird lands an overhand right.
Baird tries to bum rush Zhuravlev with a series of wild strikes but Zhuravlev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Zhuravlev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Zhuravlev frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Baird can't escape the position.
Zhuravlev controlling the position easily from mount.

Zhuravlev has hold of Baird's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Baird manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhuravlev tries to control but Baird wriggling away.

Zhuravlev has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Baird is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kostya Zhuravlev!
Our winner, Kostya Zhuravlev, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.