PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dmitri Zaitsev (ranked 322 p4p, 17 weight class) and Jimi Powell (ranked 527 p4p, 31 weight class). Powell is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 8 Mile. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Jimi Powell was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Zaitsev
vs
Powell

192 cm
30
278 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

194 cm
35
282 lbs
29 - 20 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)
Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%)

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 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dmitri Zaitsev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 20 - 2, fighting out of New York, Jimi Powell!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Colin Fotheringham and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powell sizes up Zaitsev with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Powell lands with a kick to the temple. Zaitsev shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Zaitsev throws a body punch but Powell moves out of range.
We've been informed that Powell has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Powell works the jab nicely.
Powell misses with a lunging right hand
and Zaitsev counters with a slapping leg kick.

Powell closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Powell lands in his opponent's guard.
Zaitsev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Powell trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaitsev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zaitsev looking for a sweep. Not yet Zaitsev, not yet.
Powell distracts Zaitsev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zaitsev looking for a sweep. Not yet Zaitsev, not yet.
Powell makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Powell won't allow Zaitsev to sweep him here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaitsev has momentary wrist control but Powell slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaitsev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zaitsev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Powell throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powell landing some decent shots from guard.
Powell landing some decent shots from guard.
Powell won't allow Zaitsev to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zaitsev is on top in guard.

Powell pulls Zaitsev in close to prevent any damage.
Powell wants to stand but Zaitsev is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaitsev throws an elbow that misses. Powell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zaitsev's guard. Nice move by Powell!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zaitsev wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zaitsev is on top in guard.

Zaitsev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zaitsev trying to control but Powell is working from the bottom.
Powell trying to keep a closed guard but Zaitsev is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zaitsev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaitsev throws a strike but Powell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Powell distracts Zaitsev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zaitsev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Powell manages to get himself to full guard.

Zaitsev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Powell controls Zaitsev momentarily but Zaitsev frees himself.
Powell has momentary wrist control but Zaitsev slips an elbow through the middle.
Zaitsev throws an elbow that misses. Powell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zaitsev's guard. Nice move by Powell!

Powell scoring with punches to the head and body.
Powell trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaitsev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Powell got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zaitsev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Powell has managed to get both his arms back between Zaitsev's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powell scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Powell working some strikes from top position.
Powell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zaitsev is on top in guard.

Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Zaitsev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Powell looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Zaitsev passes into side control.
Powell manages to work his way to half guard, despite Zaitsev's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimi Powell dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zaitsev fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Zaitsev throws a body shot but no joy.
Zaitsev stuns Powell with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Powell on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Zaitsev blocks a head kick by Powell.
Zaitsev jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Powell connects with the punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zaitsev. Powell does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zaitsev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zaitsev misses with a straight right.
A combination from Zaitsev does no damage.
Zaitsev is looking to wear down Powell with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaitsev slips under a jab.
Zaitsev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Powell throws out the jab.
Powell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zaitsev moves away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Zaitsev.
Dmitri Zaitsev is winning the standup battle so far.
Zaitsev throws a series of punches but Powell moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Powell.
Good shot there by Powell.
Powell checks a low kick from Zaitsev.
Powell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zaitsev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Powell.
Powell circles away from the clinch attempt.
And Powell tries to counter it with a takedown but Zaitsev pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Powell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Powell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zaitsev swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zaitsev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Powell.
Powell dips to his left and cracks Zaitsev with an uppercut!
Zaitsev misses the shot to the body.
Zaitsev leaves Powell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zaitsev wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Zaitsev connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Powell connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Powell slips a jab and a cross from Zaitsev.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaitsev throws a front kick aimed at Powell's knee but Powell avoids it well.
Zaitsev slips under a jab.
Zaitsev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Powell.
Jimi Powell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zaitsev takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Powell fails to land the takedown.
Dmitri Zaitsev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimi Powell.
Zaitsev misses with an uppercut.
Powell has a takedown stuffed.
Zaitsev moves away from the strike by Powell.
A shot to the body from Powell misses
letting Zaitsev counter with a right hand.

Zaitsev closes the distance and pushes Powell back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell lands a shoulder strike.
Zaitsev stalls.
Powell tries to score a body lock takedown but Zaitsev shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Zaitsev takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
I was talking to Zaitsev's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A head punch on the inside from Powell fails to land.
Powell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Powell works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Zaitsev wants to sweep but no luck.
Zaitsev is trying to control the position but Powell postures up.
Powell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zaitsev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zaitsev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Powell is working Zaitsev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Jimi Powell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Powell won't allow Zaitsev to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaitsev has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Powell has passed into side control.
Zaitsev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Powell wants to control but Zaitsev is keeping him busy.
Zaitsev tries to improve position but can't.
Powell landing strikes.
Zaitsev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Powell works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Powell working the ground and pound.
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!
Powell controls the position.
Powell working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jimi Powell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Zaitsev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zaitsev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Powell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Powell looks to throw the jab but Zaitsev is out of range.
Zaitsev takes one on the button.
Powell looks to land a body kick but Zaitsev moved away.
Zaitsev closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Zaitsev missing with a left hand there. Powell was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zaitsev looks to land a right hand but Powell moved out of range.
Zaitsev lands a head shot.
Zaitsev leaves Powell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Powell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Zaitsev misses the target.
Powell walks into a jab.
Jab, jab by Zaitsev - just one landing.
Powell dives in for a single leg takedown but Zaitsev sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Powell lands with a slapping head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powell goes for a double leg but Zaitsev avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zaitsev continues to drive forward.
Dmitri Zaitsev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimi Powell.
Zaitsev misses with a body kick.
Zaitsev misses with a leg kick.
Powell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Powell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zaitsev fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Powell checks it well.
Powell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A leg kick checked by Powell.
A shot to the body from Zaitsev misses
and Powell counters with a big head kick but Zaitsev shrugs it off.
Powell throws a sloppy head kick and Zaitsev moves out of range easily.
Powell misses with a kick to the body
and Zaitsev counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Powell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Powell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Powell takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Zaitsev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dmitri Zaitsev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Powell drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaitsev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zaitsev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Powell's guard.

Zaitsev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Powell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zaitsev cracks Powell with a solid left hand.
Zaitsev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Powell has control of Zaitsev's left arm, preventing Zaitsev from doing any damage.
Zaitsev cracks Powell with a solid left hand.
Zaitsev with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Powell is on top in guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zaitsev is on top in guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Powell is on top in guard.

Zaitsev working a defensive guard here.
Powell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zaitsev wants to sweep but no luck.
Powell trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaitsev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zaitsev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Powell is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zaitsev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zaitsev has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Powell has passed into side control.
Jimi Powell is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Powell scores with a couple of short elbows.
Powell lands an elbow.
Zaitsev is trying to get back to half guard.
Zaitsev takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Zaitsev tries to improve position but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jimi Powell.
I've got Powell winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimi Powell!
A relieved looking Jimi Powell thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.