PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between rashid rowe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxim Zhukov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). rowe's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, juicy. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

rowe
vs
Zhukov

219 cm
19
269 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

192 cm
22
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Likes ground

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, rashid rowe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maxim Zhukov!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Russell Pearce and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhukov avoids a punch combination nicely.

Zhukov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Zhukov seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
rowe slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

rowe looking for a guillotine here but Zhukov defends easily.
Zhukov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
rowe trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Zhukov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

rowe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zhukov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
rowe throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
rowe has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zhukov trying to control the position from guard on top but rowe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhukov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as rowe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhukov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of rowe's head.

rowe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Zhukov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
rowe is breathing heavily.
rowe has momentary wrist control but Zhukov slips an elbow through the middle.
Zhukov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zhukov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
rowe throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Zhukov lands a couple of digs.

rowe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zhukov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

rowe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zhukov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zhukov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zhukov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Zhukov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhukov trying to control but rowe is working from the bottom.
Zhukov cracks rowe with a solid left hand.
Zhukov wants to control from the top but rowe keeps moving.

rowe is looking for a triangle but Zhukov pushes his legs off easily.

rowe working for a triangle but Zhukov defends it easily.
rowe keeping full guard, as Zhukov tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhukov connects with a couple of short punches.
Zhukov trying to control the position from guard on top but rowe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhukov works over rowe with some ground and pound from guard.
Zhukov trying to control but rowe is working from the bottom.
Zhukov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zhukov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
rowe being controlled here, momentarily.
Zhukov tries to free his leg and advance position but rowe is retaining full guard.

Zhukov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

rowe throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Zhukov escapes and throws rowe's legs to the side, diving into side control!
rowe tries to bench press Zhukov off him but Zhukov keeps the position.
Zhukov lands some shots froms side control.
rowe is looking for a sweep.
rowe is working hard here to advance position.
Zhukov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
rowe tries to get back to half guard but can't.
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!

Zhukov gets the takedown into side control.
rowe tries to bench press Zhukov off him but Zhukov keeps the position.
rowe gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nice strikes from Zhukov there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zhukov connects with a nice short shot to rowe's temple.
rowe is not content to let Zhukov control the position.
rowe slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
rowe trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Zhukov. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zhukov trying to control the position from guard on top but rowe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

rowe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zhukov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

rowe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zhukov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Zhukov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zhukov trying to control the position from guard on top but rowe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from rowe as Zhukov shoots in.
rowe closes the distance and lands a one-two.
rowe looks to land a combination but Zhukov avoids it well.

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.
Zhukov slips a jab and a cross from rowe.
rowe swinging wilding here.

Zhukov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
rowe gets full guard.

rowe has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Zhukov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for rowe.
rowe tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zhukov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Zhukov wants to control but rowe is keeping him busy.
rowe gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. rowe manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Zhukov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhukov wants to control from the top but rowe keeps moving.

rowe looking for a guillotine here but Zhukov defends easily.
rowe striking off his back.
Zhukov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

rowe is looking for a triangle but Zhukov pushes his legs off easily.

rowe working for a triangle but Zhukov defends it easily.

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.

rowe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zhukov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zhukov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. rowe is keeping the position for now.

rowe looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
rowe trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Zhukov distracts rowe with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

rowe has his foot on Zhukov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zhukov works his way back into a safe position though.

rowe is looking for a triangle but Zhukov pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Maxim Zhukov 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zhukov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zhukov showed some decent athleticism there.
rowe moves into full guard.
rowe keeping moving, preventing Zhukov from controlling successfully.

rowe has his foot on Zhukov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zhukov works his way back into a safe position though.
Maxim Zhukov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zhukov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

rowe looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
rowe will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rowe keeping moving, preventing Zhukov from controlling successfully.
rowe will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Zhukov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Zhukov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of rowe is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
rowe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
rowe tries to bum rush Zhukov with a series of wild strikes but Zhukov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
rashid rowe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
rowe fails to land with a series of punches.
rowe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Zhukov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zhukov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

rowe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
rowe keeping moving, preventing Zhukov from controlling successfully.
rashid rowe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhukov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
rowe throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

rowe working for a triangle but Zhukov defends it easily.
rowe striking off his back but it's not causing Zhukov any problems.

rowe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zhukov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rowe trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
rowe trying to strike off his back.
rowe thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
rowe throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zhukov scores with a takedown into rowe's guard.

rowe looking for a guillotine here but Zhukov defends easily.

rowe 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 works over rowe with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

rowe had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Zhukov is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. rowe Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Zhukov's back instead.

rowe has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Zhukov has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
rowe misses with punches from the back.
rowe missing with strikes.
Zhukov finds himself mounted whilst avoiding strikes.
rowe throwing strikes here but Zhukov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

rowe has control of Zhukov's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Zhukov regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Zhukov working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maxim Zhukov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zhukov 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

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