PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Zhukov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elv Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zhukov
vs
Smith

192 cm
23
245 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

225 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maxim Zhukov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Elv Smith!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Eddie Farnsworth and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zhukov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zhukov showed some decent athleticism there.
Smith is staying active underneath Zhukov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zhukov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Zhukov drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zhukov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zhukov stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Smith throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhukov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Zhukov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zhukov is stalling in the full guard.
Zhukov wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zhukov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Smith trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith moves into full guard.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zhukov content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zhukov throwing strikes but missing.
Zhukov won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Smith controls Zhukov momentarily but Zhukov frees himself.
Smith looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhukov tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Zhukov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Zhukov prevents Smith from improving his position.
Zhukov trying to mount his opponent but Smith defends it.
Zhukov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Smith is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zhukov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Zhukov sits in half guard.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smith trying to control here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zhukov shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Zhukov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zhukov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zhukov.
Smith is trying to keep Zhukov in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Zhukov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A head kick from Smith lands but Zhukov takes it in his stride.

Smith gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zhukov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zhukov landing some decent shots from guard.
Zhukov content to stall in guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zhukov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhukov scoring with some ground and pound.
Zhukov landing with the ground and pound.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zhukov pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Zhukov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zhukov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zhukov is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Zhukov wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Zhukov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Zhukov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zhukov shoots and misses

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Zhukov didn't expect that.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhukov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhukov wriggles free and stands up.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Zhukov here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Smith scores with a hook to the body. Zhukov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Zhukov takes one to the chin there.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zhukov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zhukov.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smith is trying to control. Zhukov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhukov won't allow Smith to pass to mount.
Zhukov holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Zhukov is trying to stand.
Smith wants to stand up but Zhukov is controlling the position.
Zhukov is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zhukov striking off his back but it's not causing Smith any problems.
Zhukov is pulling down on Smith's head. It's preventing any offense from Smith, at least for the moment.
Zhukov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Zhukov dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zhukov tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zhukov counters with a takedown into side control.
Zhukov advances to full mount.
Zhukov lands a nice shot to the head.
Smith wants to hold on but Zhukov pushes him away.
Zhukov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Maxim Zhukov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhukov avoids the attempt from Smith to control.
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.
Zhukov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Zhukov with the ground and pound from mount.
Zhukov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Zhukov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Smith with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Smith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zhukov tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Zhukov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zhukov throws and elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zhukov's guard. Nice move by Smith!
Zhukov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Smith puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Zhukov is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.
Zhukov looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control but Zhukov is keeping him busy.
Smith is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zhukov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Smith misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Zhukov trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zhukov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith is trying to stand back up but Zhukov is controlling him
Smith on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Smith flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zhukov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
Maxim Zhukov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elv Smith.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhukov postures up.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Zhukov passes into side control.
Smith wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

And that's the end of the fight!
Maxim Zhukov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zhukov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxim Zhukov!