PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maksim Zotov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raimo Tikkari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zotov comes to the cage accompanied by Мы расправи. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zotov
vs
Tikkari

160 cm
29
137 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

172 cm
39
160 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maksim Zotov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raimo Tikkari!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zotov wants to slow Tikkari down by chopping away at his legs.
Zotov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tikkari doesn't seem bothered though.
Tikkari thumps Zotov with a low kick.
Zotov throws an overhand right that lands on Tikkari's shoulder, as Tikkari tries to avoid the shot.
Tikkari throws a solid leg kick but Zotov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tikkari.
Tikkari avoids the head kick by Zotov.
Zotov misses with a low kick as Tikkari jumps back.
Tikkari keeps the fight on the outside.
Zotov throws a head kick that misses
and Tikkari counters with a one-two to the body.
That kick from Tikkari tenderised Zotov's leg. Zotov is trying to keep his angry face on.

Tikkari lands a left and a right that send Zotov crashing to the mat, dazed. Tikkari thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Maksim Zotov has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tikkari throws a leg kick which misses Zotov's front leg but catches the back leg as Zotov tries to avoid it.
Zotov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tikkari dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zotov. That did some damage!
Zotov missing with a left hand there. Tikkari was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tikkari throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zotov tries to close the distance and clinch but Tikkari swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zotov misses with a head kick.
Tikkari throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zotov.
Zotov misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zotov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zotov throws a right and a left that Tikkari avoids nicely.
Zotov thows a leg kick but Tikkari checks it
and Tikkari counters with an inside leg kick.
Tikkari throws a lazy body kick
and Zotov counters with a thumping low kick.
A jab from Tikkari finds it's way through Zotov's defenses.
Tikkari throws a wild body kick that Zotov sees coming a mile off.
Zotov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Zotov throws a leg kick but Tikkari sees it coming and moves out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Tikkari.
Tikkari tries a low kick but Zotov avoids it.
Zotov throws a sloppy head kick and Tikkari moves out of range easily.
Tikkari misses with a series of wild punches.
Tikkari connects with a leg kick. Zotov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tikkari just misses with a punch to the body.
Zotov checks a leg kick.
Tikkari keeps Zotov at a distance using the push kick.
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!
Zotov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zotov throws a body kick that misses.
Zotov throws a lazy head kick
and Tikkari counters with a head kick. That will keep Zotov thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Zotov tries a head kick but it misses.
Maksim Zotov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tikkari feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zotovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Zotov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tikkari throws a leg kick but Zotov sees it coming and moves out of range.
Tikkari throws a head kick that half lands.
Nice uppercut there from Tikkari.
Zotov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tikkari's calf.
Zotov throws a sloppy head kick and Tikkari moves out of range easily.
Zotov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tikkari throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Zotov moves to clinch but Tikkari breaks away
and Tikkari counters with a nice leg kick.
Tikkari stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zotov.
Tikkari lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tikkari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zotov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tikkari.
Zotov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Zotov throws a sloppy head kick and Tikkari moves out of range easily.
Tikkari takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Zotov thuds his shin into the meat of Tikkari's side.
Tikkari is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zotov.
Zotov cracks the inside of Tikkari's front leg.
Tikkari uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zotov.
Tikkari has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Zotov.
Zotov throws a leg kick
and Tikkari counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zotov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Zotov swings for the body but Tikkari moves out of range.
Zotov blocks a leg kick.
Tikkari on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Zotov lands a head kick!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tikkari throws a chopping leg kick but Zotov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A low kick from Zotov is predictable there
and Tikkari makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zotov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Tikkari takes a kick to the side of the head.
Tikkari scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tikkari throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zotov.
Zotov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zotov misses with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Tikkari.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zotov checks a leg kick.
Zotov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tikkari misses with a hook.
Tikkari connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zotov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Tikkari steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zotov.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zotov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tikkari. That did some damage!
Zotov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A head kick from Tikkari lands but Zotov takes it in his stride.
Tikkari tries to score with a low kick but Zotov moves his leg out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Tikkari dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Maksim Zotov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tikkari, right into the meat.
Zotov pushes Tikkari away with a front kick.
Tikkari checks a low kick from Zotov.
Tikkari has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Zotov.
Zotov throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Tikkari counters with a big head kick but Zotov shrugs it off.
Raimo Tikkari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zotov moves out of range as Tikkari throws a body kick.
Tikkari throws a sloppy head kick and Zotov moves out of range easily.
Tikkari chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zotov can pounce on him.
Zotov tries a head kick but it misses.
Tikkari checks a leg kick.
Zotov misses with a kick to the body.
Zotov looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Tikkari connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zotov momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zotov misses with a leg kick.
Zotov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Zotov throws a leg kick but Tikkari sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zotov moves out of range of the leg kick from Tikkari.
Tikkari just misses with a punch to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Tikkari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zotov tries to land a leg kick but Tikkari saw it coming and moves away.
Tikkari has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Tikkari checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tikkari plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Zotov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tikkari is out of range and Zotov settles back down.
Tikkari fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zotov.
Zotov misses with a looping right.
Tikkari takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Tikkari checks the leg kick.
Zotov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tikkari.
Tikkari blocks a low kick nicely.
Zotov thuds his shin into the meat of Tikkari's side.
Raimo Tikkari seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tikkari checks a leg kick.
Tikkari checks the leg kick nicely there.
Zotov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Zotov throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tikkari counters with a stiff right hand.
Zotov lands a front kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tikkari uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zotov.
Zotov throws a nice inside leg kick.
Zotov throws a chopping leg kick but Tikkari manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Tikkari looks to score with a jab to the body but Zotov is just out of range.
Tikkari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zotov throws a nice outside leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zotov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tikkari throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zotov is looking to clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tikkari darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tikkari looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Zotov lands a lovely overhand right.
Zotov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Tikkari wants to slow Zotov down by chopping away at his legs.
Zotov lands a leg kick that knocks Tikkari off balance momentarily.
Zotov misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zotov checks a leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zotov.
Tikkari keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Zotov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tikkari is out of range and Zotov settles back down.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zotov.
Tikkari throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tikkari fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zotov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zotov. That's going to slow Tikkari down.
Zotov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Tikkari swats away the attempt to clinch by Zotov.
Zotov throws a leg kick but Tikkari moved away.
Zotov wants to clinch up but Tikkari keeps it at a distance.
Zotov shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tikkari throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tikkari is looking to chop away at Zotov's legs.
Tikkari feints and then cracks Zotov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zotov down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikkari throws a low kick but Zotov moves out of range easily.
Zotov throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tikkari throws a leg kick but Zotov moved away.
Tikkari finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zotov cracks the inside of Tikkari's front leg.
Zotov checks a leg kick.
Zotov misses with a kick to the body.
Tikkari wants to land a leg kick but Zotov is out of range.
An inside leg kick from Zotov misses.
Tikkari throws a head kick that misses.
Zotov scores with a spinning back kick!
Tikkari throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zotov, right into the meat.
Zotov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zotov misses with a low kick.
Zotov throws a lazy right hand but Tikkari sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maksim Zotov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maksim Zotov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Good leg kick by Zotov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A bone on bone clash there as Tikkari blocks the leg kick.
Zotov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zotov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Zotov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zotov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zotov misses with a head kick.
Zotov throws out a leg kick but Tikkari moves out of range and Zotov only half commits.
Tikkari throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tikkari misses the shot to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zotov.
Tikkari finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zotov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Tikkari takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Tikkari lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zotov throws a low kick but Tikkari moves out of range easily.
Zotov motions for Tikkari to come forward. Zotov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkari looks to throw the jab but Zotov is out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Tikkari.
Zotov avoids the body shot from Tikkari.
Zotov connects with an inside leg kick.
Zotov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zotov throws a push kick but Tikkari slaps the foot to one side.
Tikkari bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zotov's head backwards.
Zotov throws a leg kick
and Tikkari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tikkari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tikkari throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zotov wants to clinch.
Zotov avoids a kick to the body.
A good leg kick by Zotov.
Tikkari just misses with a punch to the body.
Tikkari swats away the attempt to clinch by Zotov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkari checks the leg kick nicely there.
Zotov shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Zotov checks a leg kick nicely.
Zotov misses with a low kick.
Zotov tries to score with a low kick but Tikkari moves his leg out of the way.
Zotov tries to bum rush Tikkari with a series of wild strikes but Tikkari uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tikkari scoring well with a low kick there.
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!
Tikkari pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zotov is out of range and Tikkari settles back down.
Tikkari throws a hook but Zotov avoids it easily.
Tikkari cracks the inside of Zotov's front leg.
Tikkari throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tikkari digs a good hook to Zotov's body.
Tikkari fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Zotov is out of range.
Zotov scores with a jab. Tikkari acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Tikkari has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Zotov.
A bone on bone clash there as Tikkari blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zotov throws a leg kick but Tikkari sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A clash of legs there as Tikkari blocks the low kick.
Tikkari checks a leg kick nicely.
Zotov tries to close the distance and clinch but Tikkari swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zotov cracks the inside of Tikkari's front leg.
Zotov misses with a leg kick
and Tikkari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zotov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zotov just misses with a punch to the body.
Zotov throws a hook but Tikkari blocks it.
Tikkari defending well as Zotov loads up on a big left hand.
Zotov throws a head kick that misses
and Tikkari counters with a body kick that stops Zotov in his tracks momentarily.
Zotov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Tikkari is out of range.
Zotov throws a leg kick that misses.
Tikkari swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zotov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tikkari checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zotov tries to land a front kick but Tikkari steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Zotov misses
and Tikkari counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Zotov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tikkari lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Tikkari throws a head kick that misses.
Zotov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Zotov.
Tikkari throws a leg kick but Zotov moved away.
Zotov connects with a solid leg kick.
Zotov throws a leg kick but Tikkari sees it coming and moves out of range.
Zotov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zotov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tikkari moves out of range of the body kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tikkari rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zotov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zotov misses with a head kick.
Zotov misses with a low kick.
Zotov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

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 Maksim Zotov.
I think Zotov 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Maksim Zotov!
Our winner, Maksim Zotov, 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.