PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Zhukov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zhukov
vs
Rogers

192 cm
25
245 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
19
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good in bed

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maxim Zhukov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Rogers!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Chad Campbell and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhukov fails with the takedown.
Rogers swats away the attempt to clinch by Zhukov.
Zhukov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rogers pinned against the cage. Rogers gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zhukov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rogers circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Zhukov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zhukov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rogers is trying to defend but Zhukov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Zhukov prevents Rogers from improving his position.
Rogers keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers tries to kick Zhukov off but Zhukov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Rogers makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rogers with a poor takedown

and Zhukov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zhukov.

Rogers uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Zhukov tries for a takedown but Rogers circles away easily

and Rogers counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Zhukov is breathing heavily.
Rogers tries for a takedown but Zhukov manages to get underhooks.
Zhukov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rogers has Zhukov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zhukov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rogers is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zhukov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Zhukov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rogers has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Zhukov clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rogers is hanging on to Zhukov's back as he tries to escape.
Rogers lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Rogers landing with strikes.
Can Zhukov hold on?! Rogers is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Rogers is hanging on to Zhukov's back as he tries to escape.
Rogers landing with strikes.
A lull in the action here.
Rogers has the hooks in. Zhukov is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Rogers landing with strikes.
Zhukov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rogers on the ground.
Rogers lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
You can see the frustration on Zhukov's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Zhukov grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers scores with punches and elbows.
Rogers has Zhukov flattened out and is raining down punches.
Rogers has Zhukov flattened out and is raining down punches.
Zhukov is trying to break free.
Rogers landing with strikes.
Rogers gets his hands free as Zhukov looks to control.
Zhukov rolls, trying to escape but Rogers keeps control of the position.
Rogers lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Zhukov hold on?!
Zhukov turns into Rogers and is now in his guard.
Rogers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zhukov jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

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.

Rogers drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rogers throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Rogers creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rogers works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Zhukov is not content to let Rogers control the position.
Zhukov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zhukov tries to get out of the position.
Rogers working the ground and pound.
Rogers in side control lands a decent elbow.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zhukov can't do much from the bottom here.
Rogers is putting a hurting on Zhukov here, landing some big shots from side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rogers shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zhukov counters with a shoot takedown. Rogers fights it but they end up in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Donk. Zhukov catches Rogers right on the button with a cross.
Rogers tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zhukov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rogers counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zhukov won't be happy with that.
Rogers lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rogers creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rogers has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Zhukov!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogers raining down shots from the mount!
Rogers looking to finish Zhukov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Zhukov!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rogers scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Zhukov is in a horrible position here. Rogers smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
BOOM! Rogers connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhukov taking shots to the head.
The referee warns Zhukov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rogers in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rogers tries to control but Zhukov wriggling away.
Rogers controlling from mount.
Rogers lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Kevin Rogers has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zhukov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Zhukov can't escape the position.
Rogers lands a big shot there that rocks Zhukov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rogers lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rogers with good strikes from the mount here!

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.
Rogers unloading with bombs!
Zhukov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zhukov wants to control but Rogers is having none of it.
Rogers postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zhukov looks a forlorn figure.
Rogers with shots to the head and body - Zhukov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Zhukov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rogers trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rogers working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rogers lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rogers has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zhukov is trying desperately to improve position.
Zhukov flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers unloading with bombs!
Rogers trying to control but Zhukov is having none of it.
Zhukov is trying to escape the mount.
Rogers lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rogers punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rogers punishing his opponent with strikes.
Zhukov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rogers is landing with some decent strikes but Zhukov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Zhukov tries to reverse the position but Rogers maintains control.
Rogers landing punches.

That's four 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.
Rogers landing punches.
A nice elbow there by Rogers.
Rogers is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Zhukov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rogers fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Rogers breaks from Zhukov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rogers dominating with strikes here.
Rogers lands a big shot there that rocks Zhukov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rogers tries to control but Zhukov wriggling away.
Zhukov is working to get back to half guard.
Rogers in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Zhukov taking shots to the head.
Rogers scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Rogers is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Zhukov has managed to escape the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Rogers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rogers shoots and misses

and Zhukov counters with a shoot takedown. Rogers fights it but they end up in guard.

Zhukov gets to his feet - Rogers follows without any prompting.
Zhukov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rogers decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zhukov's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rogers is working Zhukov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rogers preventing the sweep.
Rogers scoring with some ground and pound.
Rogers is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zhukov throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rogers trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhukov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rogers with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rogers tries to free his leg and advance position but Zhukov is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Rogers gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rogers is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Zhukov wants to get back to full guard.
Zhukov is working hard here to advance position.
Rogers is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rogers is keen to just control but Zhukov is a slippery customer.
Rogers missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rogers should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Zhukov trying to hold on to Rogers's head to control him but Rogers postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Zhukov scores with a takedown into Rogers's guard.
Zhukov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rogers's head.
Zhukov trying to control but Rogers is working from the bottom.
Rogers wants to get back to his feet but Zhukov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Zhukov trying to control but Rogers is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers looking to control but Zhukov passes into half guard.
Zhukov throws a strike but Rogers avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Rogers pushes Zhukov off and scrambles back to his feet.

Rogers shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zhukov is trying to defend but Rogers finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ground and pound from Rogers.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Rogers.
Rogers working over Zhukov with some ground and pound. Zhukov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rogers is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Zhukov!
Rogers avoids the attempt from Zhukov to control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rogers cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zhukov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rogers working Zhukov over with strikes here.
Rogers landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rogers landing strikes from the mount and Zhukov is in trouble!
Rogers breaks from Zhukov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
BOOM! Rogers connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Zhukov working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Rogers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rogers has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Rogers!