PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Zuev (ranked 2817 p4p, 2884 weight class) and Emiel Dessauer (ranked 392 p4p, 400 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zuev
vs
Dessauer

201 cm
19
215
2 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
209
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Champion Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Zuev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Emiel Dessauer!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Fedor Mirinova and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dessauer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zuev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Zuev gets tackled into the cage by Dessauer. Dessauer maintains the clinch.
Dessauer on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zuev prevents a body shot from Dessauer.
Dessauer looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Zuev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dessauer blocks it with crossed arms.
A short left from Dessauer.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zuev.
Zuev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Dessauer misses with the head strike.
Zuev looking to throw knees to the head but Dessauer is blocking nicely.
Zuev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dessauer blocks it with crossed arms.
Dessauer tries a body shot but Zuev blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dessauer lands with a left to the head.
Zuev lands a knee to the body.
Zuev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dessauer backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dessauer lands a nice uppercut.
Zuev lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Dessauer prevents a body shot from Zuev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dessauer misses with a punch to the body.
Zuev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zuev gets underhooks to prevent Dessauer's takedown attempt.
Zuev tries a body shot but Dessauer blocks it.
Zuev is looking to break free of the clinch but Dessauer has double underhooks.
Zuev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dessauer's elbow.
Dessauer working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Dessauer managing to block the knees to the body from Zuev.
Dessauer just leaning against Zuev, taking a breather.
Zuev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dessauer gets through Zuev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Dessauer tries a body shot but Zuev blocks it.
Dessauer lands a shot to the body.
Our sources have told us that Zuev has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Dessauer displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zuev up against the cage.
Dessauer will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zuev up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dessauer swings wildly with an uppercut but Zuev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zuev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dessauer's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dessauer.
Zuev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dessauer is defending well for now.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Dessauer dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Zuev struggles to land a body shot inside as Dessauer controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuev misses with the head strike.
Zuev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zuev stalls.
Dessauer slows down the pace here.
Dessauer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dessauer lands a nice uppercut.
Dessauer lands a body shot in the clinch.
Zuev is working Dessauer over against the cage.
Zuev misses with some punches.
Zuev can't break the clinch.
Dessauer blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zuev tries a body shot but Dessauer blocks it.
Zuev with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dessauer misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dessauer has Zuev pushed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dessauer.
Dessauer's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Dessauer.
Zuev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dessauer is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dessauer has Zuev pressed against the cage.
Dessauer blocks a body shot from Zuev.
Zuev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zuev tries a knee to the head but Dessauer blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zuev misses with a body punch.
A body shot lands from Dessauer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Emiel Dessauer dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zuev throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Dessauer to counter with a crisp jab.
Dessauer checks a low kick from Zuev.
Dessauer wants to counter with a clinch but Zuev pushes him away.
Zuev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zuev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Dessauer drives through and clinches with Zuev against the cage.
Dessauer lands a hook that snaps the head of Zuev backwards.
Dessauer blocks a body shot from Zuev.
Dessauer lands an uppercut.
Dessauer pressing his opponent against the cage.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Dessauer stalling the fight.
The crowd are getting on Dessauer's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dessauer's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Zuev tries to break free but Dessauer pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Dessauer fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zuev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dessauer is defending well for now.
Zuev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zuev lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zuev tries to land knees in the clinch but Dessauer avoids the damage to the body.
Dessauer throws a punch but it's blocked by Zuev.
Zuev misses with a punch on the inside.
Zuev taking a breather.
Zuev tries to work over Dessauer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Emiel Dessauer seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zuev tries to land a knee to the head but Dessauer blocks with his arms.
Dessauer blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zuev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuev misses with a punch on the inside.
Zuev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zuev gets underhooks to prevent Dessauer's takedown attempt.
Dessauer struggles to land a body shot inside as Zuev controls his hands.
Zuev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dessauer is defending well for now.
Zuev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zuev tries to throw a body punch but Dessauer avoids it by throwing Zuev back against the cage.
Dessauer blocking some punches.
Zuev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The referee calls for Dessauer to work.
Zuev missing with knees to the body.
Dessauer fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Aleksandr Zuev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emiel Dessauer.
Zuev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dessauer blocking some punches.
A short body shot lands from Zuev as the two fighters clinch.
Dessauer slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dessauer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dessauer stalling against the cage.
A short left from Zuev.
Dessauer taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Zuev misses with a knee to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Zuev fails to land.
Dessauer misses with the head strike.
Come on Dessauer - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Zuev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zuev landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zuev throws a head punch that misses.
Dessauer is stalling here.
Dessauer softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dessauer misses with some punches.
Dessauer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

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

Zuev clinches up against the cage.
Zuev looking to slow down the pace here.
Zuev is looking to control Dessauer's arms but Dessauer gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zuev has his back to the cage.
Dessauer lands a shoulder strike.
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!
Dessauer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zuev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dessauer tries to work over Zuev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zuev landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dessauer.
Zuev tries to work over Dessauer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A nice left hand lands by Dessauer.
Zuev with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aleksandr Zuev will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dessauer clinches with his opponent.
Zuev is trying to break the clinch but Dessauer has him pressed against the cage.
Dessauer is pushing Zuev up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Dessauer takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Dessauer continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Dessauer has Zuev pressed against the cage.
Dessauer lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zuev or not.

Zuev breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dessauer pushes Zuev up against the cage in a clinch.
Zuev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zuev stalling.
Zuev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dessauer throws a punch but it's blocked by Zuev.
Dessauer lands a shot to the body.
Zuev is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dessauer lands a nice uppercut.
Dessauer working aggressively here.
Zuev avoids a wild elbow strike from Dessauer.
Dessauer dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Zuev pushes Dessauer back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dessauer is struggling to control the position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zuev.
Zuev is pressed up against the cage. Dessauer has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zuev down to the mat. Zuev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Zuev misses with a body kick.
Dessauer staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dessauer walks into a stiff left hand from Zuev.
Zuev swings for the body but Dessauer moves out of range.

Dessauer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dessauer controlling the action here for a moment.
Good body shot from Dessauer.
Zuev with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Zuev scores with a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dessauer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dessauer lands a left hand.
Zuev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dessauer blocks it with crossed arms.
Dessauer dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Dessauer swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dessauer cracks Zuev with a nice body shot.
Zuev with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Dessauer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dessauer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zuev tries to land a knee to the head but Dessauer blocks with his arms.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Dessauer.
Dessauer displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zuev up against the cage.
Dessauer blocks an uppercut.
Zuev is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Zuev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dessauer blocks an uppercut.
Zuev misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dessauer.
Zuev misses with a knee strike.
Dessauer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zuev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Zuev is looking to control Dessauer's arms but Dessauer gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zuev has his back to the cage.
Zuev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dessauer backwards.
Zuev prevents a body shot from Dessauer.
Zuev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dessauer prevents Zuev from breaking the clinch.
Zuev misses with a punch on the inside.
Zuev tries to break free but Dessauer pushes him back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zuev misses with the head strike.
Zuev misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Emiel Dessauer just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zuev misses with an uppercut. Dessauer saw that one coming.
Dessauer steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Zuev.
Zuev throws a sloppy head kick and Dessauer moves out of range easily.
Dessauer tries to counter with a clinch but Zuev shakes him off and moves away.

Dessauer has Zuev up against the cage in a clinch.
Dessauer scores with a shoulder strike.
Dessauer pressing his opponent against the cage.
Dessauer lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Dessauer tries a body shot but Zuev blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dessauer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zuevs head.
Dessauer lands a shot to the body.
Zuev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
A left hand lands to the body for Zuev.
Dessauer lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Dessauer working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dessauer blocking some punches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Zuev fails to land.
The referee calls for Dessauer to work.
The referee is keeping an eye on Dessauer - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Nice body punch from Dessauer - that landed with a thud.
Dessauer lands a hook that snaps the head of Zuev backwards.
Zuev takes a shot to the head.
Dessauer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zuevs head.
Dessauer managing to block the knees to the body from Zuev.
Dessauer lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Dessauer digs a right hand underneath Zuev's ribcage. Zuev let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Dessauer is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zuev gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dessauer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Dessauer to work.
Dessauer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dessauer controlling the action here for a moment.
Dessauer leaning against his opponent.
Zuev throws a head punch that misses.
Zuev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dessauer backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dessauer prevents Zuev from breaking the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Dessauer.
Dessauer effectively controlling the action here.
Zuev dodges an elbow strike from Dessauer.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Dessauer takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dessauer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zuev being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Emiel Dessauer.
Dessauer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zuev throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Dessauer on the side of the head.
Zuev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zuev misses with a double jab

and Dessauer counters by moving into the clinch.
Dessauer misses with some punches.
Zuev gets through Dessauer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dessauer.
Dessauer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dessauer leaning his opponent against the cage.
Zuev misses with some punches.
The referee calls for Dessauer to work.
Zuev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zuev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zuev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dessauer controlling the action here for a moment.
Zuev misses with a punch to the body.
Dessauer leaning against his opponent.
Zuev looking to throw knees to the head but Dessauer is blocking nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zuev goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Dessauer gets a clinch.
Zuev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dessauer stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Dessauer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dessauer is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Dessauer tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zuev avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zuev with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zuev taking a breather.
A short body shot lands from Dessauer as the two fighters clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dessauer misses with a knee strike.
Zuev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
The referee calls for Dessauer to work.
Dessauer slowing the pace effectively.
Dessauer misses with some punches.
Zuev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Dessauer creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Zuev misses with a punch to the body.
Dessauer misses with some punches.
Dessauer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dessauer blocking some punches.
Zuev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Dessauer.
Zuev misses with the head strike.
A shot in the inside from Dessauer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dessauer slows down the pace here.
Zuev being controlled against the cage.
Dessauer throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Dessauer wants a takedown but no success here.
Zuev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dessauer has Zuev pressed against the cage.
Dessauer blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Zuev fails to land.
Dessauer blocks a body shot from Zuev.
Aleksandr Zuev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zuev misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuev lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dessauer.
Dessauer lands a shot to the body.
Zuev swings wildly with an uppercut but Dessauer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dessauer taking a breather.
Zuev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zuev is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dessauer is keeping busy.
Dessauer dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Dessauer - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Dessauer avoiding damage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Dessauer.
Emiel Dessauer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Emiel Dessauer.
Zuev misses with a head kick.
Zuev uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Dessauer clinches up with Zuev and pushes him back against the cage.
Dessauer lands a right hand.
Dessauer works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Zuev misses with a punch to the body.
Zuev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short right from Dessauer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zuev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zuev misses with the head strike.
Zuev misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dessauer.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Emiel Dessauer.
I think Dessauer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 46:49
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 46:49
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emiel Dessauer!
Emiel Dessauer is the new light heavyweight champion!