PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Zhukov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Juan (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.

Zhukov
vs
Juan

192 cm
22
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Don Juan!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Chad Campbell and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zhukov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Juan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Juan misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Zhukov working away.
Zhukov looking to control but instead Juan has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Zhukov working over Juan with some ground and pound. Juan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Juan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zhukov.
Zhukov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Juan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Juan wants to get back to full guard.
Juan punching from the bottom.
Zhukov thows a huge punch but Juan dodges it nicely.
Juan is looking for a sweep. Zhukov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zhukov wants to take a breather but Juan is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Juan pushes Zhukov up against the cage in a clinch.
Zhukov avoiding damage as Juan throws knees to the body.
Juan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zhukov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Juan gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zhukov tightens his grip and picks Juan up, before dumping him to the ground. Juan manages to land in guard.
Juan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zhukov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Juan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zhukov prevents Juan from getting back to his feet.

Juan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Juan looks gassed!
Juan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zhukov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zhukov lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Zhukov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Juan 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhukov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zhukov scoring with some ground and pound.
Zhukov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zhukov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zhukov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Juan on the ground.
Zhukov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Juan's head.
Zhukov cracks Juan with a solid left hand.
Juan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zhukov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Juan is on top in guard.
Zhukov lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juan stands and throws Zhukov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Zhukov is not content to let Juan control the position.
Zhukov can't do much from the bottom here.

Zhukov throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Juan throws a nice looking combination but Zhukov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zhukov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Juan but Juan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Juan throws a combination. Zhukov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Juan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zhukov swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhukov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Juan counters with a series of strikes. Zhukov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Juan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zhukov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zhukov fails with the takedown
and Juan counters with a low kick, right behind Zhukov 's knee.
Zhukov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Juan.
Juan fails with an attempt to clinch.

Juan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Juan is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Zhukov!
Juan trying to control but Zhukov is having none of it.
Juan punching from mount but Zhukov doing a good job of avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Zhukov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zhukov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Juan is trying to improve his position.
Zhukov working the head with strikes.
Juan is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Juan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Juan is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Zhukov slips a nice elbow through Juan's hands, connecting with Juan's forehead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Juan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zhukov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zhukov's back!
Zhukov wants to escape the position.
Zhukov is working hard here to advance position.
Zhukov trying to control the action but Juan just sinks the hooks in.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Juan's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhukov is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Juan has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Zhukov.
Juan somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Juan is landing with strikes from the back.
Even with his hooks in, Juan manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Zhukov tries to roll but Juan sticks to his back.
Zhukov avoids the strikes from Juan.
Zhukov just trying to survive but Juan is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Will Juan go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Zhukov rolls, trying to escape but Juan keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Juan tightening his grip on Zhukov, looking for the choke.
Juan gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhukov can't escape the position.
Maxim Zhukov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Juan lands punches and elbows.
Zhukov is trying to break free.
Even with his hooks in, Juan manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Will Juan go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Juan struggling to land strikes to the head as Zhukov covers up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhukov defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Juan's arms.

Zhukov is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Juan gets his way!
Zhukov tries to escape but Juan has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Zhukov looking very determined here, making life difficult for Juan.
Zhukov tries to escape but Juan has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Juan looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

That's four 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.
Zhukov is trying to break free.
Zhukov is keeping busy.
Juan is working the ground and pound. Can Zhukov escape?
Zhukov tries to break free.
Juan thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Zhukov is keeping busy.
Juan gets his hands free as Zhukov looks to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zhukov tries to roll but Juan sticks to his back.
Even with his hooks in, Juan manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Zhukov grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Don Juan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Zhukov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zhukov won't allow Juan to sweep him here.
Juan keeping full guard, as Zhukov tries to pass.
Zhukov throws and elbow that misses. Juan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zhukov's guard. Nice move by Juan!
Juan connects with a couple of short punches.
Juan won't allow Zhukov to sweep him here.
Zhukov wants to hit a switch here but Juan passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Zhukov there!
Juan with good strikes from the mount here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zhukov is trying desperately to improve position.
Juan pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhukov is squirming around, avoiding Juan's attempts to control the action.
Zhukov wants to control but Juan is having none of it.
Zhukov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zhukov is in a horrible position here. Juan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Juan with a couple of short strikes.

Juan is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Zhukov has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Zhukov tries to hold on but Juan postures up.

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.
Zhukov is looking to get to half guard.
Juan fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Zhukov throwing hammer fists to the chest of Juan. What's that going to do exactly?
Juan scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Zhukov?
Zhukov's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Juan postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zhukov looks a forlorn figure.
Zhukov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Zhukov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zhukov is bucking up trying to escape but Juan cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhukov is desperately trying to improve his position but Juan has a good base and remains in mount.
Zhukov is bucking up trying to escape but Juan cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Zhukov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Juan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
A nice elbow there by Juan.
Juan looking to finish with strikes here!
Zhukov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zhukov tries to get out of the position.
Zhukov wants to control but Juan is having none of it.
Juan sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Zhukov is trying desperately to improve position.
Zhukov tries to hold on but Juan pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zhukov is desperately trying to improve his position but Juan has a good base and remains in mount.
Juan controlling the pace for now.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Juan cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zhukov manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Juan is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zhukov is refusing to be controlled, as Juan sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Don Juan.
I think Juan 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Don Juan!