PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boris Zukov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxim Romanenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boris Zukov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Zukov
vs
Romanenko

210 cm
24
271 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

195 cm
25
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Very confident

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Kobra Clothing Inc.

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Boris Zukov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maxim Romanenko!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zukov swinging wildly here.
Romanenko avoids the head kick by Zukov.

Romanenko closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zukov did well to prevent Romanenko getting side control.
Zukov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Romanenko controlling the action here.

Romanenko is looking for a kimura here.
Romanenko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Romanenko is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zukov sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanenko is controlling the pace.
Romanenko's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Romanenko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zukov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Maxim Romanenko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Zukov misses with a straight left.
Zukov misses with a head kick.
Romanenko has his takedown stuffed
and Zukov counters with a two punch combo.
Zukov is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zukov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Romanenko.
Romanenko misses with a double jab
and Zukov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Romanenko throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Romanenko avoids a punch combination nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Romanenko.
Zukov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Romanenko taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanenko is looking to take a break and control but Zukov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zukov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Zukov is looking to improve his position.

Romanenko is looking for a kimura but Zukov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Romanenko to get the leverage.
Zukov is looking to escape.
Still in half guard, Romanenko seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Romanenko tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romanenko looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Maxim Romanenko.
A solid leg kick lands there for Romanenko.
Romanenko moves away from the strike by Zukov.
Zukov scores with a one two! Romanenko had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Romanenko looking to score a takedown here. Zukov is defending well but Romanenko drives through and ends up in Zukov's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zukov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Romanenko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Maxim Romanenko will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Romanenko drives through with a takedown into Zukov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Romanenko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zukov doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Romanenko controls from within his opponent's guard.
Zukov keeping moving, preventing Romanenko from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Romanenko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zukov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Romanenko has managed to get both his arms back between Zukov's legs - danger averted.
Romanenko slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Maxim Romanenko.
Romanenko looks for a takedown but Zukov sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zukov lands a two punch combo.

Romanenko shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Romanenko showed some decent athleticism there.
Romanenko controlling the action here.
Romanenko stops Zukov from getting back to his feet.
Zukov punching from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romanenko sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Maxim Romanenko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Zukov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Romanenko.
Zukov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zukov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boris Zukov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Romanenko.
Romanenko takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romanenko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Romanenko has Zukov pushed against the cage.

Romanenko has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Zukov is trying to keep an underhook but Romanenko manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Zukov missing with punches from the bottom.
Zukov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Romanenko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Romanenko is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zukov is just riding it out for now. Romanenko eventually gives up the hold.
Zukov wants to control the action here but instead Romanenko manages to pass to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zukov is trying desperately to improve position.
Romanenko controlling from the full mount.
Zukov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Zukov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zukov is working hard here to advance position.
Romanenko controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Romanenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Romanenko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Romanenko walks into a left hand.

Romanenko closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zukov's guard.
Romanenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Romanenko won't allow Zukov to sweep him here.

Zukov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Romanenko is aware though and is defending well.
Romanenko won't allow Zukov to sweep him here.

Zukov is looking for a triangle but Romanenko pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Romanenko controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zukov wants to stand up but Romanenko is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romanenko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Romanenko won't allow Zukov to get back to his feet.
Romanenko controlling from the top position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Maxim Romanenko wasn't active enough on the ground.
Zukov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Romanenko shoots in but Zukov avoids the takedown attempt easily.

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.

Romanenko manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Zukov on his heels. He'll look to pass Zukov's guard now, I'm sure.

Zukov pushes Romanenko off and gets back to his feet.
Romanenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Boris Zukov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Romanenko.
Zukov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Boris Zukov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Romanenko drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zukov 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.

Zukov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zukov tries to strike from the bottom.
Zukov wants to get back to his feet but Romanenko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Romanenko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Romanenko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zukov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Romanenko has managed to get both his arms back between Zukov's legs - danger averted.
Romanenko trying to control but Zukov is working from the bottom.
Zukov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zukov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Romanenko stays in close to Zukov's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Maxim Romanenko was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A left lands for Romanenko.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zukov enables Romanenko to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zukov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Romanenko advances to half guard.
Romanenko wants to control but Zukov is keeping him busy.
Zukov striking from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Romanenko seems content to control.
Maxim Romanenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zukov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boris Zukov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Zukov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maxim Romanenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Romanenko winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

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