PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Henrik Stahl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Zhelyabov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stahl comes to the cage accompanied by 'Return to Jericho' by Asian Dub Foundation. Zhelyabov has chosen Гимн СССР as his entrance music. Henrik Stahl could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Andrei Zhelyabov's chin.

Stahl
vs
Zhelyabov

179 cm
26
155 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

172 cm
26
155 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Henrik Stahl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrei Zhelyabov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stahl avoids the body shot from Zhelyabov.

Stahl looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Stahl is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Stahl trying to control the action but Zhelyabov is working from the bottom.
Stahl trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhelyabov is staying active underneath Stahl, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zhelyabov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zhelyabov is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhelyabov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stahl throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Stahl is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Stahl is working for a submission of some sort.
Stahl thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zhelyabov's head.
Stahl wants to pass the guard but Zhelyabov is defending well.
Stahl not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zhelyabov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Zhelyabov pushes Stahl off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Stahl ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zhelyabov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Stahl looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zhelyabov tries to clinch but Stahl is having none of it.
Stahl avoids a kick to the body.
Zhelyabov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Stahl moves into the clinch successfully.
Stahl is working for takedown but Zhelyabov is calmly controlling the position for now.

Zhelyabov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zhelyabov scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stahl doesn't manage to clinch there - Zhelyabov circles away.
Zhelyabov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Henrik Stahl has been cut.
No joy there for Stahl, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stahl misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stahl. Zhelyabov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henrik Stahl seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhelyabov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stahl throws a body punch but Zhelyabov moves out of range.
Zhelyabov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Stahl checks it well.
Stahl closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Stahl misses with a looping left.

Stahl moves into the clinch.

Zhelyabov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stahl misses with a body shot.
Stahl throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stahl lands with a cross.
Stahl throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A punch lands to the side of Zhelyabov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Stahl is looking to wear down Zhelyabov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhelyabov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stahl paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stahl connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zhelyabov. Zhelyabov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Stahl throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Stahl cracks Zhelyabov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Stahl connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zhelyabov momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Zhelyabov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stahl takes an elbow to the forehead.

Zhelyabov breaks the clinch.
Stahl lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Stahl cracks Zhelyabov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Zhelyabov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stahl.
Andrei Zhelyabov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stahl's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Stahl duly obliges.
Zhelyabov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zhelyabov wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henrik Stahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stahl throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhelyabov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stahl.
Stahl misses with the combination.
Zhelyabov throws a leg kick which misses Stahl's front leg but catches the back leg as Stahl tries to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Henrik Stahl will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Henrik Stahl's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stahl fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhelyabov manages to avoid it.
Stahl shoots in for a takedown but Zhelyabov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stahl doesn't manage to clinch there - Zhelyabov circles away.
Zhelyabov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zhelyabov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stahl paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stahl checks a low kick from Zhelyabov.
Stahl blocks a head kick by Zhelyabov.
Zhelyabov throws a head kick but Stahl moves out of range.
Stahl missing with a left hand there. Zhelyabov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zhelyabov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stahl fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Stahl with a nice cross.
Stahl tries to close the distance and clinch but Zhelyabov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zhelyabov throws a leg kick but Stahl checks it.
Zhelyabov throws out a leg kick but Stahl moves out of range and Zhelyabov only half commits.
Stahl tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Stahl shoots in and bounces Zhelyabov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Zhelyabov manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhelyabov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Stahl checks it well.
Stahl lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zhelyabov circles away quickly and effectively.
Stahl looks to land a combination. Zhelyabov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Stahl misses with a hook.
Stahl misses with a hook. Zhelyabov ducked under it nicely.
Stahl misses with a two punch combination.
Zhelyabov throws a low kick but Stahl avoids it.
Nice body punch from Zhelyabov.
Henrik Stahl is winning the standup battle so far.
Stahl tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Zhelyabov counters with a good, hard body kick but Stahl shrugs it off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stahl takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Stahl moves out of range of the body kick.
Zhelyabov shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Zhelyabov connects with a leg kick. Stahl looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Zhelyabov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhelyabov misses with a head kick.
Stahl falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zhelyabov counters with a good, hard body kick but Stahl shrugs it off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhelyabov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A solid body kick from Zhelyabov.
Stahl takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Zhelyabov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zhelyabov lands a nice shot to the body.

Zhelyabov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stahl tries to pull guard but Zhelyabov won't allow it.
Stahl dodges an elbow strike from Zhelyabov.

Zhelyabov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zhelyabov tries to work over Stahl's front leg with a kick but Stahl checks it.
Stahl is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Stahl on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zhelyabov. Zhelyabov obviously looking to wear him down.
Zhelyabov is looking to slow Stahl down with leg kicks.
Henrik Stahl is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stahl takes the fight into the clinch.
Stahl blocks an elbow strike.
Stahl is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zhelyabov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henrik Stahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhelyabov lands a nice elbow.

Zhelyabov manages to break the clinch.
Zhelyabov cracks a nice hook into Stahl's ribs.
Zhelyabov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zhelyabov lands a nice looking kick to the body. Stahl takes a step back to recover.
Zhelyabov cracks Stahl with a good jab.
Zhelyabov throws a hook to the side of Stahl's head but Stahl sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zhelyabov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stahl.
Stahl swats away the attempt to clinch by Zhelyabov.
Zhelyabov jabs at Stahl's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhelyabov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zhelyabov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Stahl. That did some damage!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zhelyabov, right into the meat.
Stahl misses with a two punch combination.
Zhelyabov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zhelyabov works the jab nicely.
Stahl just misses with a punch to the body.
A head kick misses from Zhelyabov.
Zhelyabov moves out of range as Stahl strikes.
Zhelyabov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Stahl manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zhelyabov scores with a sloppy right hand. Stahl should have avoided that one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stahl checks the leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stahl scores with the left hand. Zhelyabov knows he should have avoided that one.
Stahl is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Stahl avoids the body shot from Zhelyabov.
Stahl throws a looping overhand right but Zhelyabov ducks down to avoid it.
Stahl connects with a single shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Zhelyabov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Henrik Stahl's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zhelyabov throws a hook but Stahl avoids it easily.
Zhelyabov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Stahl.
Stahl misses with a double jab.
Stahl lands with a nice body punch.
Stahl fails with the takedown.
Stahl takes a swing at Zhelyabov's ribcage but misses.
Stahl takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zhelyabov throws a hook but Stahl blocks it.
Zhelyabov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stahl avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stahl tries to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Stahl fails with the takedown.
Zhelyabov throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Zhelyabov scores with a shot to the body.
Stahl shoots in for a takedown but Zhelyabov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henrik Stahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stahl has his takedown stuffed
and Zhelyabov counters with a nice body shot.
Zhelyabov feints and then cracks Stahl's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Stahl down.
Nice shot lands for Zhelyabov.
Zhelyabov scores with a spinning back kick!
Zhelyabov cracks the inside of Stahl's front leg.
Zhelyabov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Stahl has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Zhelyabov finds it's way round the side to connect with Stahl's head.
Stahl checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Zhelyabov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stahl paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stahl fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice body kick from Zhelyabov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stahl avoids a kick to the body.
Zhelyabov throws a sloppy head kick and Stahl moves out of range easily.
Stahl throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zhelyabov throws a head kick that misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Stahl. That snapped Zhelyabov's head back.
Stahl will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stahl looks to land a combination but Zhelyabov avoids it well.
Stahl fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zhelyabov scores with a decent looking hook.
Nice straight punches there by Zhelyabov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zhelyabov.
Stahl takes a kick to the side of the head.
Stahl scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zhelyabov scores with a kick to the midsection.
Zhelyabov throws a nice looking combination but Stahl bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Zhelyabov moves into range and clinches up with Stahl.
Stahl has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zhelyabov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Stahl can't get the takedown.
Zhelyabov pushes off an throws an elbow but Stahl leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Stahl is trying to break the clinch but Zhelyabov has him pressed against the cage.

Zhelyabov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stahl misses with a takedown attempt - Zhelyabov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zhelyabov thumps Stahl with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Zhelyabov.
Zhelyabov lands a leg kick that knocks Stahl off balance momentarily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zhelyabov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zhelyabov throws a sloppy head kick and Stahl moves out of range easily.
Stahl misses with a few strikes there.
Zhelyabov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Stahl swings for the body but Zhelyabov moves out of range.
Stahl tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zhelyabov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stahl.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Zhelyabov. Stahl shrugs it off though.
Zhelyabov throws a leg kick which misses Stahl's front leg but catches the back leg as Stahl tries to avoid it.
Zhelyabov thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Stahl if he has to take too many more of those.
Zhelyabov lands a nice hook to Stahl's body. Stahl takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zhelyabov. That's going to slow Stahl down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stahl looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Zhelyabov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stahl, pushing him back against the cage.

Zhelyabov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stahl closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stahl lands in his opponent's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zhelyabov can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stahl loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stahl pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zhelyabov is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhelyabov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhelyabov wants to stand but Stahl is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Zhelyabov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zhelyabov 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrei Zhelyabov!