PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nikolay Zarubaylo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasily Krakow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zarubaylo comes to the cage accompanied by Fame - Remember My Name. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zarubaylo
vs
Krakow

177 cm
21
165 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
162 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Tesla Apparel
Final Strike Clothing

Win Nutritional RJ
Hellbent, Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolay Zarubaylo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vasily Krakow!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zarubaylo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Krakow pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Krakow misses with a hook.
Zarubaylo throws a solid leg kick but Krakow takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Zarubaylo.

Krakow shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Zarubaylo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Zarubaylo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Krakow is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Krakow is keen to just control but Zarubaylo is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zarubaylo looking for submissions off his back.
Zarubaylo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Zarubaylo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Krakow steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Zarubaylo. That one must have hurt.
Krakow takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zarubaylo misses with a kick to the body.
Zarubaylo throws a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarubaylo throws a sloppy head kick and Krakow moves out of range easily.
Krakow fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Krakow takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Zarubaylo. Krakow shrugs it off though.
Krakow looks gassed!
Zarubaylo lands a head kick. Krakow smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zarubaylo misses with a head kick.
Krakow swats away the attempt to clinch by Zarubaylo.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Zarubaylo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krakow avoids the head kick by Zarubaylo.
Crunch! Zarubaylo slams his shin into Krakow's torso.
Zarubaylo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zarubaylo throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Krakow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zarubaylo keeps Krakow at a distance using the push kick.
Nikolay Zarubaylo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Krakow avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zarubaylo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Krakow. That did some damage!
A solid body kick from Zarubaylo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarubaylo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Krakow.
Zarubaylo fails in his attempt to clinch.
A solid body kick from Zarubaylo.
Zarubaylo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zarubaylo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zarubaylo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zarubaylo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Zarubaylo is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Zarubaylo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Krakow on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zarubaylo. Zarubaylo obviously looking to wear him down.
Krakow takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A solid body kick from Zarubaylo.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Krakow crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Zarubaylo - the referee stops the clock and Krakow gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Zarubaylo. Krakow manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Krakow blocks a head kick by Zarubaylo.
Zarubaylo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zarubaylo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zarubaylo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Zarubaylo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Krakow can do to turn this around?
Krakow is breathing heavily.
Krakow takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarubaylo scoring well with a low kick there.
Krakow takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Krakow's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Zarubaylo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zarubaylo.
A slapping leg kick lands for Zarubaylo.
Zarubaylo looks for the body kick but Krakow saw that one coming.
Zarubaylo throws a sloppy head kick and Krakow moves out of range easily.
Zarubaylo feints and then cracks Krakow's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Krakow down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krakow takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Zarubaylo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zarubaylo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zarubaylo lands a head kick. Krakow smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Krakow swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zarubaylo lands a nice looking kick to the body. Krakow takes a step back to recover.
Zarubaylo tries to close the distance and clinch but Krakow swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarubaylo lands a front kick.
Zarubaylo throws a head kick but Krakow moves out of range.
Zarubaylo thumps Krakow with a low kick.
Krakow throws a lazy body kick
and Zarubaylo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Krakow avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A slapping leg kick lands for Zarubaylo.
Krakow chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zarubaylo can pounce on him.
A head kick from Zarubaylo lands but Krakow takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarubaylo slips a jab and a cross from Krakow.
Zarubaylo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Krakow thows a leg kick but Zarubaylo checks it
and Zarubaylo counters with a body kick that stops Krakow in his tracks momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zarubaylo is looking to slow Krakow down with leg kicks.
Zarubaylo lands a front kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice body kick there by Zarubaylo.
Zarubaylo scores with a push kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Zarubaylo dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zarubaylo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Krakow throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zarubaylo is looking to clinch but Krakow is avoiding it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zarubaylo.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zarubaylo.
Krakow blocks a head kick by Zarubaylo.
Zarubaylo throws an overhand right that lands on Krakow's shoulder, as Krakow tries to avoid the shot.
Zarubaylo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Krakow takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krakow doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zarubaylo counters with a low kick, right behind Krakow 's knee.
Zarubaylo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zarubaylo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zarubaylo throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Zarubaylo throws a quick inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zarubaylo looks to land a combination but Krakow avoids it well.
Nikolay Zarubaylo is winning the standup battle so far.
Zarubaylo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarubaylo feints and then cracks Krakow's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Krakow down.
Nikolay Zarubaylo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zarubaylo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Krakow swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zarubaylo lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Krakow tries to keep at a distance but Zarubaylo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zarubaylo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zarubaylo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Zarubaylo lands an elbow inside.
Krakow takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Vasily Krakow has been cut.
Zarubaylo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Krakow takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zarubaylo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Krakow takes an elbow to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarubaylo lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Zarubaylo.
Zarubaylo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Krakow lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Zarubaylo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Krakow blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zarubaylo lands an elbow just above Krakow 's eye.
Zarubaylo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Krakow avoids the elbow strike from Zarubaylo, against the cage.
Krakow managing to block the knees to the body from Zarubaylo.

Krakow turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Krakow trying to control the position but Zarubaylo is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Krakow working the head with strikes.
Zarubaylo is trying to get back to half guard.
Krakow wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zarubaylo keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krakow working the strikes but Zarubaylo uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Zarubaylo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Krakow landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Krakow has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Krakow takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zarubaylo works his way to full guard. Good work.

Zarubaylo has his foot on Krakow's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Krakow works his way back into a safe position though.
Krakow trying to control but Zarubaylo is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Krakow 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.

Zarubaylo had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Krakow is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Zarubaylo Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Krakow's back instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Zarubaylo clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Vasily Krakow's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A lazy body kick from Krakow
and Zarubaylo counters with a low kick, right behind Krakow 's knee.
Zarubaylo throws out a leg kick but Krakow moves out of range and Zarubaylo only half commits.
Zarubaylo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Krakow throws out the jab.
Zarubaylo tries to clinch but Krakow moves out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Zarubaylo.
Zarubaylo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Krakow will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zarubaylo scores with a kick to the midsection.
Krakow is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarubaylo thows a body kick. Krakow tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Zarubaylo closes the distance and clinches.
Zarubaylo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Krakow managing to block the knees to the body from Zarubaylo.
Knees to the body from Zarubaylo.
Knees to the body from Zarubaylo.
Nice elbow from Zarubaylo.
Zarubaylo misses with a knee strike.
Zarubaylo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Zarubaylo tries to land a knee to the head but Krakow blocks with his arms.
Krakow wants to stall.
Krakow blocks the elbow strike.
Zarubaylo with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarubaylo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Krakow avoiding damage as Zarubaylo throws knees to the body.
Zarubaylo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Krakow has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zarubaylo throws an elbow that misses.
Zarubaylo throws an elbow that misses.
Krakow tries for a takedown but Zarubaylo manages to get underhooks.
Zarubaylo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Krakow is trying to break the clinch but Zarubaylo has him pressed against the cage.
Krakow is trying to break free.
Zarubaylo misses with a knee strike.
Zarubaylo tries to land a knee to the head but Krakow blocks with his arms.
Krakow is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zarubaylo misses with a knee strike.
Zarubaylo tries to land a knee to the head but Krakow blocks with his arms.
Krakow drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zarubaylo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nikolay Zarubaylo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vasily Krakow.
Zarubaylo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krakow wants to break free but Zarubaylo has control.
Zarubaylo throws an elbow that misses.
Zarubaylo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Krakow.
Zarubaylo misses with a knee strike.
Krakow blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Krakow avoids the elbow strike from Zarubaylo, against the cage.

Krakow's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Krakow shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zarubaylo as he avoids it easily.
A lazy body kick from Krakow
and Zarubaylo counters with a nice kick to the body.
Zarubaylo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Krakow throws a hook but Zarubaylo blocks it.

That's four 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.
Zarubaylo misses with a head kick.
Zarubaylo misses with a body kick.
Krakow misses with a body shot.
Zarubaylo tries a head kick but it misses.
Zarubaylo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Krakow misses with an uppercut. Zarubaylo saw that one coming.
A lazy body kick from Zarubaylo

and Krakow counters with a single leg into guard. Zarubaylo didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Zarubaylo had his way with Vasily Krakow in that round.
The cut man is working on Vasily Krakow's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Zarubaylo.
Zarubaylo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Krakow has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Zarubaylo.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zarubaylo.

Zarubaylo moves into the clinch successfully.
Zarubaylo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Zarubaylo misses with a knee to the head.
Zarubaylo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zarubaylo throws an elbow but misses.
Krakow wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zarubaylo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Zarubaylo lands a knee to the body.
Zarubaylo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zarubaylo crunches a lovely knee into Krakow's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarubaylo connects with a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zarubaylo.
Krakow avoiding damage as Zarubaylo throws knees to the body.
Zarubaylo trying to land knees to the body.

Krakow pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zarubaylo misses with a kick to the body.

Krakow scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zarubaylo on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Zarubaylo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Zarubaylo wants to advance to full mount but Krakow doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Zarubaylo 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.

Zarubaylo drops back looking for a leg! Krakow is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Krakow manages to kick Zarubaylo off! Zarubaylo jumps back into Krakow's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarubaylo postures up.
Krakow lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zarubaylo!
Zarubaylo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Krakow working Zarubaylo over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krakow lands a big shot there that rocks Zarubaylo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Krakow cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zarubaylo is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Krakow cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Krakow landing shots from mount.
Krakow cracks Zarubaylo with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Krakow tries to control but Zarubaylo wriggling away.
Krakow landing punches.
Zarubaylo is working to get back to half guard.
Krakow lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Zarubaylo hang on?
Krakow is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Zarubaylo is desperately trying to improve his position but Krakow has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krakow landing strikes from the mount and Zarubaylo is in trouble!
Krakow can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zarubaylo is looking to escape.
Krakow landing strikes from the mount.
Krakow putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Krakow controlling the pace for now.
Zarubaylo is desperately trying to improve his position but Krakow has a good base and remains in mount.
Nikolay Zarubaylo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zarubaylo blocking the ground and pound.
Zarubaylo tries to hold on but Krakow postures up.
Vasily Krakow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Krakow is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Zarubaylo has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Zarubaylo!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vasily Krakow.
I think Zarubaylo 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 49:44
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 49:45
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 49:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolay Zarubaylo!
Nikolay Zarubaylo retains his lightweight title!