PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dimitry Lopescu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Athus Zhonum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Lopescu
vs
Zhonum

210 cm
18
290 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

218 cm
22
290 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dimitry Lopescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Athus Zhonum!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lopescu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zhonum swivels and escapes.
Zhonum looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Lopescu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lopescu shoots in for a takedown but Zhonum shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dimitry Lopescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lopescu looks for a takedown but Zhonum sprawls well.
Zhonum stuffs the takedown.
Lopescu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zhonum sprawls well. Zhonum wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lopescu gets slowly back to his feet.
Lopescu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lopescu shoots in for a double leg but Zhonum sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dimitry Lopescu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zhonum looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Lopescu has his foot on Zhonum's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zhonum works his way back into a safe position though.

Zhonum 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.

Zhonum gets to his feet - Lopescu follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Lopescu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Zhonum drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Zhonum 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.

Lopescu had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Zhonum is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Lopescu Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Zhonum's back instead.

Lopescu is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Zhonum defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Lopescu doesn't have the hooks in and Zhonum manages to turn into his guard.
Zhonum advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lopescu actively working from the bottom here.

Zhonum seems to be looking for submissions.

Lopescu actively working from the bottom here.

Zhonum is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zhonum is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Lopescu has managed to free his arm - good work.

Zhonum is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lopescu sees it coming and defends easily.
Lopescu misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lopescu trying to hold on to Zhonum's head to control him but Zhonum postures up.

Zhonum is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Lopescu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lopescu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zhonum counters with a shoot takedown. Lopescu fights it but they end up in guard.

Zhonum thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

Zhonum thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lopescu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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

Lopescu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zhonum gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Lopescu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Zhonum drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zhonum jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Athus Zhonum dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lopescu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zhonum counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lopescu's guard now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Zhonum 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.

Zhonum got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lopescu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zhonum has managed to get both his arms back between Lopescu's legs - danger averted.

Lopescu working for a triangle but Zhonum defends it easily.

Lopescu working for a triangle but Zhonum defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zhonum stopping the sweep attempt from Lopescu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Lopescu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zhonum can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Lopescu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zhonum trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopescu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhonum pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lopescu is keeping the position for now.
Lopescu working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopescu trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Zhonum pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lopescu is keeping the position for now.

Zhonum thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Lopescu working for a triangle but Zhonum defends it easily.

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

Zhonum thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Zhonum thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Zhonum wants to pass the guard but Lopescu is keeping the position.

Zhonum 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.

Lopescu working for a triangle but Zhonum defends it easily.
Lopescu can't keep his opponent in guard - Zhonum advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopescu is looking for a sweep. Zhonum is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lopescu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zhonum is working away from the top position though.
Lopescu is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Lopescu is trying to stand.

Zhonum is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Lopescu has managed to free his arm - good work.
Lopescu tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dimitry Lopescu dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lopescu fails with the takedown

and Zhonum counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Lopescu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lopescu can't keep his opponent in guard - Zhonum advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Lopescu is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Zhonum pulls his head out easily.

Zhonum seems to be looking for submissions.

Lopescu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lopescu missing with punches from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zhonum wants to work for an arm triangle but Lopescu is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lopescu is defending against the submission attempts here by Zhonum.
Lopescu punching from the bottom.
Lopescu is pressing down on Zhonum's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Lopescu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zhonum is aware though and is defending well.

Zhonum 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.

Zhonum drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zhonum jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zhonum trying to control but Lopescu is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lopescu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zhonum manages to get himself to full guard.

Zhonum working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lopescu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lopescu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lopescu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lopescu postures up.

Zhonum has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lopescu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lopescu throwing strikes but missing.

Zhonum has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lopescu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Zhonum looking for a guillotine here but Lopescu defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhonum has his foot on Lopescu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lopescu works his way back into a safe position though.

Lopescu thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Zhonum keeping moving, preventing Lopescu from controlling successfully.

Zhonum escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lopescu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lopescu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lopescu wants to control from the top but Zhonum keeps moving.

Zhonum has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Lopescu doesn't defend quickly enough and Zhonum has managed to lock this one up! Can Lopescu escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Zhonum on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Athus Zhonum!