PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maman Suraman (ranked 4790 p4p, 5850 weight class) and Fyodor Zakrov (ranked 535 p4p, 585 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Suraman
vs
Zakrov

172 cm
19
180
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
20
172
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maman Suraman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fyodor Zakrov!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zakrov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Suraman checks a leg kick.
As Zakrov tries to get set, Suraman tries to push him back and clinch up but Zakrov manages to avoid the attempt.
Zakrov shoots in but no luck this time.
Zakrov fails with the takedown
and Suraman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zakrov closes the distance but Suraman moves to the side

and Suraman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Suraman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Suraman looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Suraman perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suraman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Suraman is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Well, if Suraman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Zakrov trying to control here.
Suraman stalling.
Suraman thows a huge punch but Zakrov dodges it nicely.
Zakrov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Suraman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Suraman keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Suraman prevents Zakrov from improving his position.
Zakrov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Suraman wants to pass to mount but Zakrov is defending the position.
Suraman is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Zakrov!
Zakrov is trying to escape the mount.
Zakrov tries to hold on but Suraman pushes him away.
Suraman controlling from the full mount.
Suraman seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Zakrov for as long as he can get away with.
Suraman looking to control but Zakrov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zakrov felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suraman throwing strikes here but Zakrov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Zakrov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Suraman thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Suraman controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Suraman fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Suraman controlling the pace for now.
Suraman has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zakrov is squirming around, avoiding Suraman's attempts to control the action.

Suraman stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Suraman closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zakrov to the mat! Zakrov manages to get full guard.
Zakrov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Suraman controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maman Suraman dominated that round.
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.

Zakrov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Suraman napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Suraman bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Suraman throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zakrov was covering up waiting for the punch and Suraman finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Suraman wants to pass the guard but Zakrov is keeping the position.
Maman Suraman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Suraman trying to control but Zakrov is working from the bottom.
Suraman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zakrov keeping moving, preventing Suraman from controlling successfully.
Suraman wants to pass the guard but Zakrov is keeping the position.
Suraman is working hard here to advance position.
Suraman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Zakrov can't keep his opponent in guard - Suraman advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Suraman trying to control from Zakrov's half guard. Zakrov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zakrov holds on and takes a little breather.
Zakrov keeping moving, preventing Suraman from controlling successfully.
Suraman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zakrov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Zakrov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Suraman wants to pass the guard but Zakrov is keeping the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakrov can't keep his opponent in guard - Suraman advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zakrov wants to control but Suraman is keeping busy.

Suraman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zakrov sees it coming and defends easily.
Suraman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zakrov can do to turn this around?
Suraman frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Suraman looking to control but Zakrov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Suraman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zakrov blocking the ground and pound.
Suraman trying to control but Zakrov is having none of it.
Zakrov tries to hold on but Suraman postures up.
Suraman breaks from Zakrov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Suraman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zakrov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Suraman.
Suraman controlling from the full mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maman Suraman 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. This is the final round!

Suraman throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Suraman shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zakrov is trying to defend but Suraman finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Zakrov tries to roll over but Suraman keeps him under control.
Suraman keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zakrov wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suraman wants to pass the guard but Zakrov is defending well.
Still in half guard, Suraman seems content to control.
Zakrov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Suraman slips nicely into half guard.
Suraman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

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.
Zakrov is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suraman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zakrov.
Suraman appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Zakrov closes the distance looking to clinch

so Suraman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Zakrov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Suraman advances position into side control!

Suraman thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Zakrov tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Suraman politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Suraman prefers to stall for the moment though.
Suraman wants to control but Zakrov is keeping him busy.
Zakrov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Suraman wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Zakrov is letting Suraman control him for a moment.
Suraman throws an elbow but Zakrov slips to the side and avoids it well.
Suraman happy to just control the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Maman Suraman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Suraman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maman Suraman!