PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexandr Zuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mathias Djuric (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Zuev
vs
Djuric

189 cm
20
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexandr Zuev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mathias Djuric!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Djuric scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Alexandr Zuev has been cut.
Djuric will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A combination from Djuric does no damage.
Zuev closes the distance and clinches up with Djuric, looking for a takedown. Zuev pushes Djuric against the cage but Djuric circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Zuev closes the distance and clinches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Djuric just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zuev's brow.
Djuric just leaning against Zuev, taking a breather.
Zuev swings wildly with an uppercut but Djuric uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zuev tries for a takedown but Djuric manages to get underhooks.

Zuev manages to break the clinch.
Zuev throws a body punch but Djuric moves out of range.
A punch combination from Djuric misses.

Zuev forces Djuric back against the cage and clinches.
Zuev using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Djuric has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Djuric manages to break the clinch.
Zuev fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandr Zuev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Djuric throws a sloppy head kick and Zuev moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuev shoots in for a double leg but Djuric sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Djuric throws an elbow but it misses.
Djuric wants to break the clinch but can't.

Zuev manages to break the clinch.
A slow jab from Djuric misses its intended target.
Djuric misses with a wild combination.
Zuev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Djuric's waist but Djuric gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zuev off to one side.

Djuric closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zuev to the mat! Zuev manages to get full guard.
Zuev is breathing heavily.
Djuric thows a big elbow that misses.
Djuric wants to control from the top but Zuev keeps moving.
Djuric throws a strike but Zuev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Djuric is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zuev is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Djuric had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zuev defends it easily.
Zuev trying to control the position from guard on top but Djuric is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zuev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Djuric has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zuev has managed to get both his arms back between Djuric's legs - danger averted.
Djuric is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zuev is controlling him.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zuev postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Djuric is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Zuev, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Djuric trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Djuric trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Djuric makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Djuric keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zuev's head.
Djuric landing some decent shots from guard.

Djuric drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Djuric jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Djuric with a nice head shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathias Djuric dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexandr Zuev's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Djuric listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Djuric throws a right and a left that Zuev avoids nicely.
Zuev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
No luck for Zuev with that takedown attempt.
Djuric throws a right hand that Zuev ducks under and follows up with a left that Zuev also avoids with ease.

Djuric pushes Zuev up against the cage in a clinch.
Zuev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Djuric smiles and moves away.
Zuev looks for a takedown but Djuric sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandr Zuev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick from Djuric lands but Zuev takes it in his stride.

Djuric gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Djuric scores with a nice hook to the head.

Djuric manages to break the clinch.
Djuric throws a series of punches but Zuev moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Djuric.
Djuric lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Zuev has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Djuric throws a series of punches but Zuev moves out of range.
Djuric connects with the punch.

Zuev gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Djuric decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Zuev tries to close the distance and clinch but Djuric swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mathias Djuric seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zuev walks into a left hand.
Zuev has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Djuric cracks Zuev with a good jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Djuric, right into the meat.
Zuev has his takedown stuffed
and Zuev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Djuric misses with the combination.
Zuev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Djuric lands a head shot.
Djuric throws a combination. Zuev tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Nice takedown defense from Djuric. No joy for Zuev on that attempt.
Djuric throws a jab but it's blocked by Zuev.

Djuric closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Djuric is trying to control the action in half guard but Zuev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zuev is trying to maintain the position but Djuric is very close to passing his half guard.
Zuev is staying active underneath Djuric, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Djuric not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Djuric has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Djuric.
Djuric throwing shots but Zuev is blocking nicely.
Zuev wants to improve his position but Djuric is controlling well.
Zuev is trying to stand up here but Djuric is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Djuric fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Djuric throws a right and a left that Zuev avoids nicely.
Zuev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Djuric.
Zuev wants to clinch
and Djuric counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Djuric throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Djuric looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zuev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Djuric tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zuev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Donk. Djuric catches Zuev right on the button with a cross.
Djuric fails to land with a series of punches.
Djuric throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zuev.
Djuric lands a head kick!
Djuric avoids the head kick by Zuev.
Zuev takes one to the chin there.
Djuric throws a head kick that misses

and Zuev counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Djuric!
Zuev looking to control but Djuric is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathias Djuric showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alexandr Zuev's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zuev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Djuric circles away quickly and effectively.
Zuev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Djuric scores with a nice strike.
Djuric throws a sloppy head kick

and Zuev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zuev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zuev trying to move into half guard but instead Djuric has managed to sweep!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Djuric trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zuev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Djuric doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Djuric manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuev is trying to keep Djuric in close.
Djuric wants to control from the top but Zuev keeps moving.

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

Zuev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Djuric throws a combination that misses

and Zuev counters with a single leg into guard. Djuric didn't expect that.

Djuric had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zuev defends it easily.
Djuric looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Zuev puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zuev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Djuric makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Djuric.
Mathias Djuric is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Djuric looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mathias Djuric has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zuev thows a big elbow that misses.
Zuev throws and elbow that misses. Djuric uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zuev's guard. Nice move by Djuric!
Djuric looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four 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.
Djuric's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexandr Zuev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Djuric 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mathias Djuric!