PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Grigoriy Zharkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergey Dorokhov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Zharkov
vs
Dorokhov

185 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
26
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grigoriy Zharkov!
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, Sergey Dorokhov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zharkov shoots in but Dorokhov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A jab from Dorokhov does it's job there.
Zharkov shoots in but no luck this time.
Dorokhov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zharkov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grigoriy Zharkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zharkov fails with a takedown attempt.

Dorokhov tries to sprawl but Zharkov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Zharkov is trying to control. Dorokhov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dorokhov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zharkov.
Zharkov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zharkov is controlling the pace.
Zharkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zharkov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dorokhov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zharkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dorokhov defending well though.
Zharkov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Zharkov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dorokhov's head.
Zharkov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dorokhov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dorokhov is trying to stand back up but Zharkov is controlling him
Zharkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nice strikes from Zharkov there.
Dorokhov trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dorokhov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zharkov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Dorokhov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zharkov passes the guard and advances to mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zharkov throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Zharkov with shots to the head and body - Dorokhov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Zharkov unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dorokhov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zharkov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dorokhov is looking to escape.
Zharkov looking to ground and pound but Dorokhov is blocking nicely.
Zharkov unloading with bombs!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zharkov lands with some strikes.
Zharkov raining down shots from the mount!
Zharkov landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Zharkov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Dorokhov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Zharkov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Zharkov wants to control the pace but Dorokhov is squirming around nicely.
Zharkov unloading with bombs!
Zharkov unloading with bombs!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dorokhov is squirming around, avoiding Zharkov's attempts to control the action.
Zharkov lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grigoriy Zharkov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zharkov looks for a takedown but Dorokhov sprawls well.
Nice jab there from Dorokhov.

Zharkov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zharkov advances position into side control!
Zharkov in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Zharkov stands up and beckons Dorokhov to his feet.
Dorokhov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zharkov momentarily.
Dorokhov lunges at Zharkov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Zharkov's hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zharkov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dorokhov circles away.
Zharkov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dorokhov but Dorokhov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grigoriy Zharkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zharkov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Dorokhov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zharkov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Dorokhov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zharkov in side control, throwing shots but Dorokhov defends.
Zharkov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Zharkov misses with the ground and pound.
Dorokhov tries to buck Zharkov off but Zharkov is having none of it.
Zharkov throws an elbow but Dorokhov slips to the side and avoids it well.
Dorokhov avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Zharkov.
Zharkov lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dorokhov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zharkov has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Zharkov working the body and head with strikes.
Dorokhov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zharkov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dorokhov trying to remain calm as Zharkov controls from the top position.
Dorokhov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zharkov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zharkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dorokhov keeps working.
Dorokhov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zharkov has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Zharkov is putting a hurting on Dorokhov here, landing some big shots from side control.
Zharkov working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zharkov trying to control the position but Dorokhov is working away.
Zharkov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Zharkov is chipping away with strikes.
Zharkov working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Dorokhov is looking to reverse the position.
Zharkov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zharkov lands a nice forearm strike.
Dorokhov is letting Zharkov control him for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dorokhov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Dorokhov is trying to buck Zharkov off.
Zharkov grinds an elbow into Dorokhov's temple.
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!
Zharkov working the head with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zharkov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Dorokhov defending against the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dorokhov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zharkov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Dorokhov is avoiding damage well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grigoriy Zharkov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Zharkov wants to clinch up but Dorokhov keeps it at a distance.
Dorokhov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Zharkov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Grigoriy Zharkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Dorokhov. No joy for Zharkov on that attempt.
Dorokhov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Zharkov misses with a takedown attempt - Dorokhov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Zharkov dives in and scores a takedown into Dorokhov's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zharkov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Zharkov trying to control but Dorokhov is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Grigoriy Zharkov just wasn't active enough.
Zharkov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dorokhov circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grigoriy Zharkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zharkov shoots in for a takedown but Dorokhov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A left lands for Dorokhov.
Dorokhov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zharkov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dorokhov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Dorokhov duly obliges.
Dorokhov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Dorokhov catches Zharkov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
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!
Zharkov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zharkov fails to land the takedown.
Dorokhov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zharkov under the eye.

Zharkov is rocked!
Dorokhov darts in and lands a big hook, right on the button! Zharkov's legs crumble underneath him as he falls to the canvas! The ref tackles Dorokhov before he gets to land any more shots to his stricken foe.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Sergey Dorokhov!