PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zeus Mac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stepka Gusarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zeus Mac had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.7lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mac
vs
Gusarov

195 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight 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, Zeus Mac!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stepka Gusarov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gusarov just misses with a punch to the body.
Gusarov wants to clinch up but Mac keeps it at a distance.

Gusarov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gusarov showed some decent athleticism there.
Mac has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gusarov is working away from the top position though.
Mac moves into full guard.
Gusarov looking to sit in guard and control but Mac gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mac showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gusarov wants to sweep but no luck.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gusarov can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusarov looks gassed!

Gusarov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mac passes into half guard.
Gusarov wants to sweep but Mac has passed to side control!

Mac decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Mac moves into the clinch.
Mac landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mac slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusarov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mac gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mac working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mac effectively controlling the action here.

Mac breaks from the clinch.
Mac throws a nice head kick!
Mac with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Mac scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mac wants to take a breather but Gusarov is having none of it.
Mac prevents Gusarov from improving his position.
Mac stalling.
Mac trying to control from half guard but Gusarov is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gusarov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mac takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mac trying to control from half guard but Gusarov is working away.
Mac really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gusarov tries to kick Mac off but Mac keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gusarov shoots and misses
and Gusarov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Mac clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mac.

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

Mac closes the distance and clinches.

Mac ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mac no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Gusarov throws a big right hand that misses.
Gusarov wanted to stand there but Mac had control of the position.
Mac keeping moving, preventing Gusarov from controlling successfully.
Mac looking for a sweep. Not yet Mac, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gusarov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeus Mac 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.

Mac throws a front kick that sends Gusarov stumbling back into the cage.
Mac fails with a takedown attempt.

Mac moves into the clinch successfully.
Gusarov tries to score a body lock takedown but Mac shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gusarov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mac gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gusarov takes a shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mac lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Gusarov tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Mac has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mac can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gusarov is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusarov wants to control but Mac is having none of it.
Gusarov is desperately trying to improve his position but Mac has a good base and remains in mount.
Mac trying to control but Gusarov is having none of it.
Gusarov is looking to improve his position but Mac isn't that keen on the idea.
Mac takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mac will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

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.
Mac can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gusarov is looking to escape.
Mac cracks Gusarov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Mac controlling from the full mount.
Gusarov tries to reverse the position but Mac maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusarov is squirming around, avoiding Mac's attempts to control the action.
Gusarov is looking to get to half guard.
Mac landing strikes, looking to finish!
Mac trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mac looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four 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.
Gusarov is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mac lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Gusarov is squirming around, avoiding Mac's attempts to control the action.
Gusarov working to try and regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeus Mac dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Mac lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gusarov takes a step back to recover.
Gusarov wants to clinch but Mac slips to the side

and Mac counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mac is looking to take a break and control but Gusarov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mac perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Zeus Mac just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Gusarov darts in trying to clinch
and Mac counters with a series of strikes. Gusarov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gusarov has his takedown stuffed
and Mac counters with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mac clinches up with Gusarov and pushes him back against the cage.

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

Mac darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusarov is looking to get back to full guard here but Mac has managed to pass to side control instead.
Gusarov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gusarov tries to hold on but Mac postures up.
Mac wants to control the pace but Gusarov is squirming around nicely.
Gusarov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

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.
Mac tries to control but Gusarov wriggling away.
Mac takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gusarov is squirming around, avoiding Mac's attempts to control the action.
Mac prevents Gusarov from getting the reversal.
Gusarov tries to hold on but Mac postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mac lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gusarov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gusarov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mac pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mac working the ground and pound effectively.
Gusarov is working to get back to half guard.
Zeus Mac is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gusarov is in a horrible position here. Mac smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mac is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gusarov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gusarov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Stepka Gusarov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mac avoids the attempt from Gusarov to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zeus Mac showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mac 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zeus Mac!