PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Maxim Zuyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Opel Insignia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zuyev
vs
Insignia

220 cm
25
299 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

225 cm
27
266 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Solid boxing
Good chin

Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maxim Zuyev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Opel Insignia!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zuyev has managed to clinch.
Zuyev has Insignia pressed against the ropes.
Zuyev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zuyev creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Insignia breaks from the clinch.

Zuyev gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Insignia wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zuyev controlling the action here for a moment.

Insignia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Insignia has managed to clinch.
Insignia takes a shot to the head.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Insignia throws an elbow but misses.
Zuyev misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Insignia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuyev lands a nice uppercut.
Zuyev taking a breather.
Insignia is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zuyev is keeping busy.

Insignia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zuyev wants to clinch up but Insignia keeps it at a distance.

Insignia rushes Zuyev and presses him up against the ropes.
A short uppercut from Zuyev.

Insignia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Insignia moves into the clinch successfully.
Insignia tries to stall but Zuyev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Insignia escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Zuyev clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Insignia's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Insignia tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Insignia throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Insignia misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Zuyev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Insignia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Insignia clinches with his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short uppercut from Zuyev.

Insignia breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Insignia.

Insignia closes the distance and clinches.
Insignia is trying to break the clinch but Zuyev has him pressed against the ropes.
Zuyev throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Insignia is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Insignia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zuyev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Insignia pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Zuyev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Insignia wants to break free but Zuyev has control.
Zuyev holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Zuyev lands a shoulder strike.
Zuyev missing with knees to the body.
Insignia is trying to break free.

Insignia pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zuyev doesn't manage to clinch there - Insignia circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Insignia pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zuyev throws a quick counter kick to the body but Insignia avoids it.
Maxim Zuyev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Insignia throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zuyev.

Zuyev has closed the distance and engaged Insignia in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zuyev as Insignia tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Insignia working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Insignia is trying to push Zuyev away but Zuyev has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Zuyev avoiding damage as Insignia throws knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Zuyev throws an elbow but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Zuyev stalling against the ropes.
Zuyev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Maxim Zuyev has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Insignia tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Insignia tries to break the clinch but Zuyev is controlling the position.

Insignia escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Insignia is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Insignia throws a head kick that misses.

Zuyev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Insignia, pushing him back against the ropes.
A bit of stalling here from Zuyev.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zuyev - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zuyev is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Insignia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zuyev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Insignia avoids it.
Insignia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Insignia working hard to break the clinch.

Insignia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Insignia moves into the clinch.

Insignia escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maxim Zuyev will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zuyev tries to clinch up.

Zuyev moves into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Zuyev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zuyev is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Insignia is keeping busy.
Zuyev tries a knee to the head but Insignia blocks it.
Insignia is trying to maintain a safe position but Zuyev gets an underhook and turns Insignia into the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuyev lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Insignia is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Insignia breaks from the clinch.

Zuyev moves into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Zuyev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Insignia just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zuyev's brow.
Zuyev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Insignia's elbow.
Insignia dodges an elbow strike from Zuyev.
Zuyev tries to stall but Insignia uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Zuyev stalling.
Zuyev is looking to control Insignia's arms but Insignia gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zuyev has his back to the ropes.
Zuyev controlling the action here for a moment.

Insignia breaks the clinch.
Insignia throws a sloppy head kick and Zuyev moves out of range easily.
Zuyev tries to clinch up.
Zuyev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuyev wants to clinch up but Insignia keeps it at a distance.
Insignia throws a sloppy head kick and Zuyev moves out of range easily.
Zuyev tries to clinch there but Insignia circles away.
Insignia fails to land with a series of punches.
A bone on bone clash there as Zuyev blocks the leg kick.

Zuyev instigates a clinch.

Insignia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Insignia moves into range and clinches up with Zuyev.
Zuyev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Insignia blocks it with crossed arms.
Insignia tries to land knees in the clinch but Zuyev avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zuyev tries a knee to the head but Insignia blocks it.
Zuyev trying to control the position but instead, Insignia has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zuyev into the ropes.

Insignia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Maxim Zuyev.
I think Zuyev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Opel Insignia!