PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rhajit Zemenov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodion Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Zemenov
vs
Gracie

183 cm
19
183 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rhajit Zemenov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodion Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zemenov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Zemenov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Zemenov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracie, who protects the arm well.

Zemenov is trying to get an arm triangle but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.

Zemenov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.

Zemenov is trying to get an arm triangle but Gracie is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zemenov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zemenov is breathing heavily.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.

Zemenov is trying to get an arm triangle but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zemenov's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie is pressing down on Zemenov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zemenov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie moves into full guard.
Zemenov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zemenov manages to get himself to full guard.
Gracie wants to stand and escape but instead Zemenov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zemenov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gracie manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zemenov has Gracie in his guard.

Zemenov wriggles free and stands up.

Gracie gets caught flat footed, as Zemenov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zemenov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zemenov stops Gracie from standing up.

Gracie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zemenov defends well.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zemenov is one step ahead there.

Zemenov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gracie looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gracie looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gracie!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zemenov is trying to buck Gracie off.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zemenov, who protects the arm well.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Zemenov is defending well.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zemenov, who protects the arm well.
Zemenov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gracie's best efforts.

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.
Zemenov wants to get back to his feet.
Zemenov is trying to control but can't.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Zemenov is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rhajit Zemenov will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zemenov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gracie looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Zemenov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gracie has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Zemenov but great work by Gracie.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie tries to stand but Zemenov is controlling his head.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Zemenov is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zemenov wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zemenov struggling a bit here.
Gracie tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Zemenov tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zemenov gets the takedown into side control.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zemenov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Zemenov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracie, who protects the arm well.

Zemenov is trying to get an arm triangle but Gracie is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zemenov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gracie is keen to just control but Zemenov is a slippery customer.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Zemenov is defending well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zemenov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zemenov managing to control the position.
Zemenov keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zemenov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zemenov's guard.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zemenov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zemenov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zemenov!

Zemenov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Zemenov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zemenov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gracie regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Zemenov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.
Gracie gets back to full guard.

Zemenov postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gracie is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Zemenov, into his guard.
Zemenov wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.

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

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie 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.

Rhajit Zemenov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gracie connects with a single shot there.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Zemenov moves out of range.
Rhajit Zemenov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zemenov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Zemenov moves out of range.
Gracie lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Gracie closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gracie scores with a three punch combo!
Rodion Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice takedown defense from Gracie. No joy for Zemenov on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Gracie duly obliges.
Zemenov checks a leg kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zemenov looks for a takedown but Gracie sprawls well.
Gracie scores with a one two! Zemenov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gracie jabs Zemenov right on the nose. Zemenov blinks but takes it well.
Zemenov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zemenov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gracie tries to avoid it but Zemenov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gracie to the ground. Gracie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhajit Zemenov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie lands with a straight right. Zemenov didn't see that one coming.
Gracie scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Gracie throws a one two combo.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie stuffs the takedown attempt from Zemenov. Zemenov gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zemenov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gracie.
Rodion Gracie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie misses with the combination.
Zemenov dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Gracie moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Zemenov avoids them all with ease.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Zemenov moves out of range.
Gracie throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gracie misses with a two punch combination.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Zemenov shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie cracks Zemenov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Some wild striking there from Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zemenov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Zemenov moves out of range.
Zemenov fails to land the takedown.
Zemenov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gracie sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zemenov somewhat.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A combination from Gracie does no damage.
Zemenov shoots in looking for a takedown. Gracie tries to sprawl out of it but Zemenov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gracie manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie stalks Zemenov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Zemenov's face. Zemenov staggers backwards, shaken.
Rodion Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Gracie lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zemenov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gracie as he avoids it easily.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zemenov.
Gracie looks to land a combination but Zemenov avoids it well.
Gracie listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Zemenov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Nice uppercut there from Gracie.
Rhajit Zemenov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zemenov slips under a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodion Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zemenov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!