PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vasili Zhirkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masahiko Kimura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masahiko Kimura will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Zhirkov
vs
Kimura

175 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Sydney Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vasili Zhirkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Masahiko Kimura!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhirkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Kimura is just out of range.
Zhirkov blocks the body kick.

Zhirkov closes the distance and clinches.

Zhirkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Zhirkov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zhirkov lands in his opponent's guard.

Kimura working for a triangle but Zhirkov defends it easily.
Zhirkov with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhirkov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zhirkov cracks Kimura with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimura prevents Zhirkov from moving into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kimura is looking for a sweep.
Kimura looks to move to half guard but instead Zhirkov has passed into mount! Damn!
Zhirkov looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kimura wants to hold on but Zhirkov pushes him away.
Kimura tries to reverse the position but Zhirkov maintains control.

Zhirkov is working for a guillotine from mount but Kimura frees his head quite easily.
Kimura is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kimura slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zhirkov in particular looking to stall.

Zhirkov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kimura has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Zhirkov seems content to control.

Kimura actively working from the bottom here.
Kimura wants to get back to full guard.
Well, if Zhirkov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Zhirkov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kimura looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zhirkov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Kimura is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zhirkov pulls his head out easily.
Kimura gets back to full guard.
Kimura being controlled here, momentarily.
Zhirkov is pushing down on Kimura's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kimura is fighting to maintain full guard but Zhirkov has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zhirkov content to control rather than advance.

Kimura is defending against the submission attempts here by Zhirkov.

Kimura looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Zhirkov pushes past his half guard into mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kimura tries to lock up and control but Zhirkov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kimura tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Zhirkov is working for a guillotine from mount but Kimura frees his head quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasili Zhirkov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zhirkov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zhirkov taking a breather.
Kimura trying to stall but Zhirkov improves his position.

Kimura ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kimura no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Zhirkov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kimura is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kimura working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zhirkov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zhirkov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zhirkov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zhirkov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kimura looking to control.

Kimura has his foot on Zhirkov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zhirkov works his way back into a safe position though.

Kimura looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Zhirkov has picked Kimura up and slammed him! Kimura can't keep hold of the triangle and Zhirkov manages to pass to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kimura is looking to regain half guard here but Zhirkov keeps moving and retains side control.
Zhirkov scoring with punches and elbows.
Zhirkov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kimura can do to turn this around?

Zhirkov is trying to get an arm triangle but Kimura is defending well.
Kimura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zhirkov lands some shots froms side control.
Zhirkov staying calm.
Kimura is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zhirkov connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimura looks to move to half guard but instead Zhirkov has passed into mount! Damn!
Kimura is desperately trying to improve his position but Zhirkov has a good base and remains in mount.
Zhirkov controlling the pace for now.
Kimura keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zhirkov content just to control the position here.
Kimura keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Zhirkov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Zhirkov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
BOOM! Zhirkov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasili Zhirkov dominated that second round.
That's time! Zhirkov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zhirkov moves into range and clinches up with Kimura.

Zhirkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Zhirkov drives through and clinches with Kimura against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Zhirkov.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zhirkov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Stalling in the clinch from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov has Kimura pressed against the cage.
Kimura jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zhirkov walks away with a smile on his face. Kimura gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kimura enables Zhirkov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kimura manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kimura can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zhirkov controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimura tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zhirkov connects with a couple of short punches.

Kimura looking for subs off his back but Zhirkov has passed one foot through into half guard.
Zhirkov slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zhirkov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Zhirkov controlling from the full mount.
Kimura has given up his back.

Kimura showing good submission defense here.
Kimura rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Zhirkov sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimura is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zhirkov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kimura with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Masahiko Kimura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kimura is looking to improve his position.

Zhirkov seems to be looking for submissions.
Zhirkov trying to pass the guard but Kimura defending well.

Kimura looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Zhirkov is looking for a kimura but Kimura is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zhirkov to get the leverage.
Zhirkov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kimura tries to get to full guard but Zhirkov has control of the leg.
Zhirkov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kimura is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zhirkov pulls his head out easily.
Zhirkov drops an elbow to the side of Kimura's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vasili Zhirkov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zhirkov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasili Zhirkov!
Vasili Zhirkov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.