PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abulah Kei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romano Dzolic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kei
vs
Dzolic

188 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Abulah Kei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Romano Dzolic!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kei misses with a takedown attempt - Dzolic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kei misses with a body shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Dzolic.

It looks like Abulah Kei has been cut.
Dzolic fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kei looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Dzolic doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kei counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dzolic trying to control the position here.
Kei trying to control the position from guard on top but Dzolic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kei lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Dzolic wants to sweep here but Kei controlling him for the moment.
Kei is looking to work some ground and pound but Dzolic has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dzolic kicks Kei off and gets to his feet.
Kei fails with the takedown

and Dzolic counters with a takedown into side control.
Dzolic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kei keeps working.
Kei is trying to control Dzolic's posture but Dzolic avoids it.
Kei is breathing heavily.
Dzolic fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Dzolic wants to control but Kei is keeping him busy.
Dzolic is staying tight to Kei's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Dzolic lands some shots froms side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dzolic fails with the takedown

and Kei counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dzolic's guard now.
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!
Dzolic trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kei tries to free his leg and advance position but Dzolic is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dzolic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dzolic lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Kei trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kei trying to control but Dzolic is working from the bottom.

Dzolic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dzolic is pulling down on Kei's head. It's preventing any offense from Kei, at least for the moment.
Dzolic has momentary wrist control but Kei slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kei trying to control but Dzolic is working from the bottom.
Kei is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dzolic is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Dzolic is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kei is trying to maintain the position but Dzolic is very close to passing his half guard.
Dzolic working over Kei with some ground and pound. Kei looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kei gets full guard.
Kei wants to sweep but no luck.
Kei is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Dzolic postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kei is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dzolic, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kei lands a couple of digs.
Kei postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kei scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dzolic being controlled here, momentarily.
Kei trying to control the position from guard on top but Dzolic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kei works a leg free and moves into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kei looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Dzolic with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kei thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dzolic's head.
Kei trying to control from half guard but Dzolic is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Romano Dzolic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Abulah Kei's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kei fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dzolic tries to clinch but Kei is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kei.
Dzolic wants to clinch up but Kei keeps it at a distance.
Kei tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dzolic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A jab from Dzolic does it's job there.

Dzolic bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Dzolic tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Dzolic is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Kei's shoulder. That is not cool.

Dzolic decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kei to his feet.
Dzolic misses with a head kick.
Kei tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dzolic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dzolic swats away the attempt to clinch by Kei.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kei looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dzolic is fending him off so far but Kei persists. Nope, Dzolic circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abulah Kei. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dzolic gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kei counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kei distracts Dzolic with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kei stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dzolic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Abulah Kei overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kei stands and steps away. Dzolic gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Dzolic sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kei lands a high kick to the side of Dzolic's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Kei dives into guard, looking to finish.

Dzolic is rocked!

It looks like Romano Dzolic has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kei gets to his feet and stands over Dzolic, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Dzolic felt that one! Kei unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Dzolic from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Abulah Kei!