PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gynther Gail (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Zhitnik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhitnik is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Metallica - Leper Messiah. Igor Zhitnik acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Gail
vs
Zhitnik

189 cm
23
265 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

191 cm
23
280 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

NATURAL BEAST

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gynther Gail!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Zhitnik!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gail cracks a nice hook into Zhitnik's ribs.

Zhitnik drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhitnik trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zhitnik throws and elbow that misses. Gail uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zhitnik's guard. Nice move by Gail!
Gail with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zhitnik tries to strike from the bottom.
Gail content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zhitnik not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Gail drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zhitnik manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gail has Zhitnik in his guard.
Gail wants to stand and escape but Zhitnik is having none of it.
Gail trying to keep a closed guard but Zhitnik is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhitnik trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zhitnik is working Gail over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gail trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Gail throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Gail manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zhitnik manages to get himself to full guard.
Zhitnik controls Gail momentarily but Gail frees himself.
Gail trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gail trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gail wants to control from the top but Zhitnik keeps moving.
Gail 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.
Gail working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two 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.
Zhitnik is looking to stand up but Gail isn't so interested in that idea.
Gail working some strikes from top position.
Zhitnik throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Zhitnik is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gail with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gail postures up.
Gail looking to pass the guard.
Gail wants to control from the top but Zhitnik keeps moving.
Gail won't allow Zhitnik to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gail postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gail looking to pass the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gail misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zhitnik.
Zhitnik dives in and grabs Gail's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gail pushes down on Zhitnik's head and hops out.
Gail rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zhitnik moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zhitnik fails with a takedown attempt.
Gail scores with a punch to the head.
Zhitnik looks gassed!

Gail scores a takedown into full mount!
Zhitnik tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gail lands a big elbow.
Gail landing strikes from the mount.
Gail lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gail lands with some strikes.
Gail wants to control the pace but Zhitnik is squirming around nicely.
Zhitnik keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gail lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Gail with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gail scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gynther Gail dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zhitnik shoots and misses

and Gail counters with a takedown into side control.
Zhitnik parries the strikes from Gail easily there. Gail is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Zhitnik to escape.
Zhitnik throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Zhitnik on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Gail trying to control the position but Zhitnik is working away.

Gail working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gail trying to control the position but Zhitnik is working away.
Zhitnik tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Zhitnik tries to buck Gail off but Gail is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhitnik wants to control but Gail postures up.
Zhitnik manages to get back to half guard.
Gail trying to control from half guard but Zhitnik is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zhitnik bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gail's head backwards.
Zhitnik defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gail.
Zhitnik takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gail cracks a nice hook into Zhitnik's ribs.
Zhitnik is breathing heavily.
Zhitnik takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gail throws a good cross that connects.
Gail is looking to wear down Zhitnik with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gail scores with a jab to the body.
Gail scores with a jab.
Gail scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gail stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gail throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Gail looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gail with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Gail is looking to take a break and control but Zhitnik is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gail passes to full mount!
Gail looking to control but Zhitnik is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gail 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Zhitnik is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Zhitnik is desperately trying to improve his position but Gail has a good base and remains in mount.
Zhitnik throwing hammer fists to the chest of Gail. What's that going to do exactly?
Zhitnik is working to get back to half guard.
Gail fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Gail goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Zhitnik turns into him and now he's in Gail's guard.
Gail is pulling down on Zhitnik's head. It's preventing any offense from Zhitnik, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhitnik throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gail is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zhitnik is controlling him.
Zhitnik looking to sit in guard and control but Gail gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gail loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gail's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gail preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gynther Gail dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Zhitnik tries for a takedown but Gail circles away easily
and Gail counters with a three punch combo that has Zhitnik backing up. Zhitnik nods at Gail to acknowledge the strikes.
Igor Zhitnik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gail moves into range and connects with a jab.
A combination from Gail does no damage.

Gail throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zhitnik was covering up waiting for the punch and Gail finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zhitnik is trying to control the position but Gail postures up.
Gail advances position into side control!
Gail working away.
Gail wants to take a breather but Zhitnik manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Gail.
Zhitnik takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gail stands and throws Zhitnik's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gail landing a few strikes.
Gail tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Zhitnik is trying to get back to half guard.
Gail trying to control the position but Zhitnik is working away.
Check out the look on Gail's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zhitnik can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zhitnik tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Gail tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zhitnik is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gail is going olschool here, as he tries to force Zhitnik to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Zhitnik shrugs it off.
Gail trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zhitnik tries to hold on but Gail pushes him away.
Gail wants to control the pace but Zhitnik is squirming around nicely.

Gail goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Zhitnik is on top in guard.
Zhitnik wants to pass the guard but Gail is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gail utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zhitnik wanted to stand there but Gail had control of the position.
Zhitnik trying to control the position from guard on top but Gail is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gail wants to stand but Zhitnik is controlling the position.
Gail wants to sweep here but Zhitnik controlling him for the moment.
Gail keeping full guard, as Zhitnik tries to pass.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gail is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gail landing some decent shots from guard.
Gail postures up in Zhitnik's guard and throws a big left but Zhitnik blocks it.
Zhitnik will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Gail wants to control from the top but Zhitnik keeps moving.
Gail is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Zhitnik kicks Gail off and gets to his feet.
Igor Zhitnik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gail lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zhitnik circles away quickly and effectively.
Gynther Gail is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zhitnik throws out a loose jab but Gail uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gynther Gail showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gail 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 for Gynther Gail!
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Gynther Gail!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Gynther Gail!

Gynther Gail wins by unanimous decision!