PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Zuev (ranked 1466 p4p, 1643 weight class) and Jana Iii Sobieskiego (ranked 186 p4p, 201 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Zuev
vs
Sobieskiego

201 cm
25
215
8 - 5 - 0

185 cm
33
206
20 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Zuev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 1, fighting out of London, Jana Iii Sobieskiego!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Bruno Lombardi and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zuev is looking to land body kicks.
Sobieskiego lands a jab to Zuev's midsection.
Zuev tries to move into range but Sobieskiego moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sobieskiego cracks Zuev with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The fighters circling - Sobieskiego throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice defenses there by Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sobieskiego throws a hook to the side of Zuev's head but Zuev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sobieskiego has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Zuev is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Sobieskiego throws a leg kick
and Zuev counters with a one-two to the body.
Sobieskiego lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sobieskiego swats away the attempt to clinch by Zuev.
A cross from Zuev lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sobieskiego darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Zuev throws a body kick that misses.
A little jabbing left from Sobieskiego on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Zuev throws a sloppy head kick and Sobieskiego moves out of range easily.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Zuev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobieskiego tests Zuev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zuev looks to land a body kick but Sobieskiego moved away.
Sobieskiego looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sobieskiego looks to throw the jab but Zuev is out of range.
Sobieskiego thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sobieskiego misses with an uppercut.
Zuev throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sobieskiego might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sobieskiego tries to move into range but Zuev moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Zuev drops his hands momentarily and Sobieskiego takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Zuev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sobieskiego throws a right and a left that Zuev avoids nicely.
Zuev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zuev wants to clinch up but Sobieskiego keeps it at a distance.
Sobieskiego tries for a takedown but Zuev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jana Iii Sobieskiego seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sobieskiego throws a leg kick that is checked
and Zuev counters with a left and a right that stings Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego thows a left - swing and a miss!
As Sobieskiego looks to move away, Zuev throws a big counter combo but Sobieskiego just gets out of the way.
Zuev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It seemed like Sobieskiego was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sobieskiego throws a right and a left that Zuev avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sobieskiego.
A big right from Sobieskiego misses.
Sobieskiego is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sobieskiego is looking to clinch but Zuev is avoiding it.
Zuev throws a lazy right hand but Sobieskiego sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zuev slips a straight right by Sobieskiego.
Zuev moves out of range as Sobieskiego strikes.
Sobieskiego misses with the combination.
Zuev lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Zuev blocks a jab.
Sobieskiego blocks a head kick by Zuev.
Sobieskiego tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zuev defends well and Sobieskiego ends up having to push Zuev into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Zuev tries to counter by clinching up but Sobieskiego breaks away and moves out of range.
Zuev throws a half hearted mid kick.
It seemed like Sobieskiego was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Zuev throws a sloppy head kick and Sobieskiego moves out of range easily.
Zuev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sobieskiego throws out a counter right but Zuev avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuev misses with a hook. Sobieskiego ducked under it nicely.
Sobieskiego moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sobieskiego throws an overhand right that lands on Zuev's shoulder, as Zuev tries to avoid the shot.
Zuev moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice uppercut there from Sobieskiego.
A big left from Sobieskiego misses.
Zuev throwing a counter right hand but Sobieskiego manages to avoid it.
Zuev just misses with a punch to the body.
Zuev moves out of range as Sobieskiego strikes.
Zuev tries to clinch there but Sobieskiego circles away.
Sobieskiego looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sobieskiego is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zuev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Aleksandr Zuev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jana Iii Sobieskiego.
Zuev with a nice calf kick.
Zuev slips a jab from Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zuev's waist but Zuev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sobieskiego off to one side.
Zuev throws a sloppy head kick and Sobieskiego moves out of range easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zuev. Sobieskiego does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sobieskiego throws a lazy uppercut
letting Zuev counter with a right hand.
Sobieskiego shoots in looking for a takedown. Zuev tries to sprawl out of it but Sobieskiego keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zuev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuev on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sobieskiego throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
An attempted straight right counter from Zuev misses the target.
Zuev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zuev throws a sloppy head kick and Sobieskiego moves out of range easily.
Zuev walks into a left hand.
Zuev slips under a jab.
Zuev takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Jab by Sobieskiego.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zuev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sobieskiego tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zuev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zuev misses with a head kick.
It seemed like Sobieskiego was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sobieskiego misses with a hook
and Zuev counters with a stiff right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Aleksandr Zuev will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zuev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aleksandr Zuev is winning the standup battle so far.
Sobieskiego bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sobieskiego swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zuev.
Sobieskiego tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zuev defends well and Sobieskiego ends up having to push Zuev into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Zuev has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zuev there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sobieskiego throws a jab but it's blocked by Zuev.
A jab from Zuev finds it's way through Sobieskiego's defenses.
Sobieskiego misses with a left hand
and Zuev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sobieskiego blocks a head kick by Zuev.
A little jabbing left from Sobieskiego on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sobieskiego will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
It looks like Zuev has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Sobieskiego throws a hook but Zuev blocks it.
Zuev keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Zuev scores with a nice 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!
Sobieskiego clobbers Zuev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Sobieskiego goes for a double leg but Zuev avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zuev continues to drive forward.
Zuev throws a big counter combination but Sobieskiego scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Aleksandr Zuev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jana Iii Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego cracks Zuev with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A big right from Zuev misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobieskiego moves forwards but Zuev connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sobieskiego takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zuev stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zuev throws a nice head kick!
Sobieskiego lands with a hook. Zuev tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sobieskiego throws a good cross that connects.
Sobieskiego looks to throw the jab but Zuev is out of range.
Sobieskiego is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sobieskiego walks into a stiff left hand from Zuev.
Sobieskiego fails with the takedown.
Zuev tries to counter by clinching up but Sobieskiego breaks away and moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zuev stuffs the takedown attempt from Sobieskiego. Sobieskiego gets slowly back to his feet.
Zuev on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Zuev takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobieskiego shoots in and drives through. Zuev sprawls well.
Zuev looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Sobieskiego throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zuev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sobieskiego throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zuev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego throws the left hand but Zuev avoids the punch easily.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Zuev - that will leave a mark!
Sobieskiego throws the left hand but Zuev avoids the punch easily.
Sobieskiego staying out of range there.
Sobieskiego with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zuev to score with a decent uppercut.
Zuev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sobieskiego moves away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego misses with an uppercut.
Zuev blocks a jab.
Sobieskiego throws a jab when Zuev was well out of range.
Zuev swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Zuev is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Zuev cracks Sobieskiego with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Zuev throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sobieskiego's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobieskiego waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zuev.
Sobieskiego has a takedown stuffed.
A telegraphed right hand from Sobieskiego misses the target.
Zuev slips a straight right by Sobieskiego.
Zuev lands with a right hand.
Zuev misses with a head kick.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sobieskiego works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sobieskiego darts in looking for a takedown but Zuev gets double underhooks and turns Sobieskiego into the cage.
Sobieskiego tests Zuev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sobieskiego fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zuev scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sobieskiego in his tracks.
Sobieskiego walks into a stiff left hand from Zuev.
Zuev throws a big shot that misses.
Sobieskiego fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuev lands a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sobieskiego connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zuev moves out of range of the strikes.
Zuev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sobieskiego.
Nice cross by Zuev.
Zuev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego tries to work over Zuev's front leg with a kick but Zuev checks it.
Zuev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sobieskiego.
Zuev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zuev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sobieskiego's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zuev under the eye.
Sobieskiego bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sobieskiego listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
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 corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sobieskiego throws a hook but Zuev blocks it.
Sobieskiego dives in for a single leg takedown but Zuev sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
The fighters circling - Sobieskiego throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sobieskiego walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sobieskiego throws a leg kick
and Zuev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zuev thuds his right hand into Sobieskiego's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Zuev takes a swing at Sobieskiego's ribcage but misses.
Sobieskiego ducks under a wild hook from Zuev.
Zuev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sobieskiego with a jab.
Zuev scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Zuev swinging wildly here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zuev lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Zuev throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sobieskiego.
Zuev lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sobieskiego missing with a left hand there. Zuev was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sobieskiego cracks Zuev with a good jab.
Sobieskiego uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zuev has time to react.
A big right from Zuev misses.
Sobieskiego connects with a right hand. Zuev shakes it off.
Sobieskiego will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A low kick lands for Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego clobbers Zuev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Aleksandr Zuev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zuev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zuev is looking to counter the offense by Sobieskiego and move into the clinch.
Sobieskiego throws an off balance right hand
and Zuev counters with a left to the body.
Sobieskiego tries to land a leg kick but Zuev saw it coming and moves away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zuev takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sobieskiego uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zuev has time to react.
Sobieskiego waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zuev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Sobieskiego misses.
Zuev swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zuev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego is looking to slow Zuev down with leg kicks.
Zuev jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sobieskiego shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zuev as he jumps to the side.
Aleksandr Zuev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jana Iii Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zuev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sobieskiego loads up on a big right hand but Zuev slips the punch.
Zuev connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sobieskiego's hands.
Zuev fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zuev throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sobieskiego on the side of the head.
Zuev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zuev keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Zuev misses the shot to the body.
Sobieskiego lands an overhand right.
Aleksandr Zuev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zuev connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobieskiego's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zuev connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sobieskiego scrambles back to his feet.
Zuev moves out of range as Sobieskiego strikes.
Sobieskiego throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A big left from Sobieskiego misses.
Zuev misses with an uppercut. Sobieskiego saw that one coming.
Zuev loads up on a big right hand but Sobieskiego slips the punch.
Sobieskiego takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Zuev throws a head kick that misses.
Nice cross by Sobieskiego.
Sobieskiego misses with a takedown attempt - Zuev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zuev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zuev looks to land a right hand but Sobieskiego moved out of range.
Sobieskiego throws out a counter right but Zuev avoids it with no problem.
Sobieskiego loads up on a big right hand but Zuev slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A combination from Zuev does no damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sobieskiego throws a hook to the side of Zuev's head but Zuev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sobieskiego throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zuev.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sobieskiego.
Zuev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sobieskiego lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zuev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sobieskiego throws out a counter right but Zuev avoids it with no problem.
Zuev uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sobieskiego has time to react.
Zuev misses with a hook. Sobieskiego ducked under it nicely.
Sobieskiego misses with a straight right.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sobieskiego is defended easily by Zuev.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandr Zuev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zuev 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksandr Zuev!
Aleksandr Zuev bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.