PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nord Licht (ranked 907 p4p, 926 weight class) and Roman Zhdanov (ranked 103 p4p, 106 weight class). Zhdanov has chosen Малиновая Лада (Raspberry Lada) by Gayazov$ Brother$ as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Licht
vs
Zhdanov

206 cm
31
235
11 - 10 - 0

196 cm
32
270
18 - 12 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

NARCOS
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Hoarse Pills

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nord Licht!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Roman Zhdanov!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhdanov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Roman Zhdanov has been cut.
Licht keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zhdanov.
Licht swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Licht has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Zhdanov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zhdanov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Licht throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Licht thuds his shin into the meat of Zhdanov's side.

Licht drives through and clinches with Zhdanov against the cage.
Licht tries to break free but Zhdanov pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Licht as Zhdanov tries to tie him up.

Licht pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Licht misses the jab.
Zhdanov throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Licht to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhdanov checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Decent striking displayed by Zhdanov there.

It looks like Nord Licht has been cut.
Licht misses with a hook. Zhdanov ducked under it nicely.
Zhdanov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Zhdanov gets a clinch.

Licht breaks from the clinch.

Licht drives through and clinches with Zhdanov against the cage.
Zhdanov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Licht wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zhdanov has him pressed against the cage.
Zhdanov lands a body shot.
Licht is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Licht has had enough of the clinch but Zhdanov keeps him there for the moment.
Licht has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A left hand lands to the body for Zhdanov.
Licht is breathing heavily.
Licht prevents a body shot from Zhdanov.
Zhdanov just leaning against Licht, taking a breather.
We've been informed that Zhdanov 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.
Zhdanov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Licht has had enough of the clinch but Zhdanov keeps him there for the moment.
Zhdanov presses Licht against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Zhdanov scores with a shoulder strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zhdanov.
Zhdanov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Licht backwards.
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!
Zhdanov lands a shoulder strike.
Zhdanov lands a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Zhdanov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zhdanov lands a nice elbow.
Zhdanov lands a hook to the side of the head.

Nord Licht's cut is getting worse.
Zhdanov lands a nice knee to the body.
Zhdanov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zhdanov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Zhdanov.
Zhdanov lands a body shot.
Zhdanov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zhdanov scores with a shot to the side of Licht's head.

Nord Licht's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Zhdanov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Licht backwards.

Licht is rocked!
Clinched against the cage, Zhdanov lands a big elbow that drops Licht! The ref dives in to save him from more shots - Licht is complaining that he's OK but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Roman Zhdanov!
An out of breath Roman Zhdanov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.