PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Zakarova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brent Celek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zakarova's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Song of the Volga Boatmen. Celek is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 40 oz. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Zakarova
vs
Celek

175 cm
23
165 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
164 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikhail Zakarova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brent Celek!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Celek fails with a takedown attempt.
Celek swinging wildly here.
Zakarova swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Celek changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Celek closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Zakarova moves away from the strike by Celek.
Zakarova lands with a good body shot.
Celek scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Celek ducks under a wild hook from Zakarova.
Celek fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zakarova avoids it really well and circles away.

Celek fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zakarova sprawls well initially but Celek persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Celek missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Celek thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zakarova's head.
Celek not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Celek seems to be looking for submissions.
Celek looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Celek has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Celek throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zakarova manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Celek preventing the sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Celek scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zakarova blocking the ground and pound attempt from Celek.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Celek with the ground and pound but Zakarova uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Celek thows a big elbow that misses.
Celek thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Celek thows a big elbow that misses.
Celek loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zakarova avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zakarova is controlling Celek's posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zakarova. Celek does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zakarova takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A telegraphed right hand from Celek misses the target.
Zakarova misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zakarova, right into the meat.
Celek looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zakarova is fending him off so far but Celek persists. Nope, Zakarova circles away and we're back to standing.
Mikhail Zakarova has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brent Celek.
Zakarova displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Celek throws out the jab.
Zakarova scores with a punch to the head.
Celek swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Celek throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zakarova counters with a two punch combo.
Celek misses the shot to the body.
No joy there for Celek, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Celek throws a hook but Zakarova blocks it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zakarova.
Zakarova misses with a wild combination.
Celek loads up on a big right hand but Zakarova slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Celek shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zakarova manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Celek throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zakarova trying to control the position.
Celek landing some decent shots from guard.
Celek throws a big right hand that misses.
Celek working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zakarova's head.
Celek throwing strikes but missing.
Zakarova throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Zakarova dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Celek throws out a loose jab but Zakarova uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zakarova slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Celek works the jab nicely.
Celek connects with a nice looking jab.
Zakarova lands a nice leg kick that just misses Celek's sensitive parts.
Zakarova bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Celek swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Celek might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A bone on bone clash there as Celek blocks the leg kick.
Zakarova pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zakarova swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Celek counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zakarova's guard now.
Celek working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Celek prevents Zakarova from getting back to his feet.
Celek loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Celek postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zakarova is pulling down on Celek's head. It's preventing any offense from Celek, at least for the moment.
Celek throws a strike but Zakarova rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Celek wants to stand and escape but Zakarova is having none of it.
Zakarova trying to control the position from guard on top but Celek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zakarova lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Zakarova finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Celek scores with a jab to the jaw.
A big right from Zakarova misses.

Celek shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Zakarova's guard.
Celek in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Celek stopping the sweep attempt from Zakarova.
Celek in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Celek chips away with some ground and pound.
Celek preventing the sweep.
Celek stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zakarova swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakarova avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Celek throws and elbow that misses. Zakarova uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Celek's guard. Nice move by Zakarova!

Celek has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zakarova off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
A punch combination from Celek misses.
Celek looks to throw the jab but Zakarova is out of range.
Celek throws the left hand but Zakarova avoids the punch easily.
Mikhail Zakarova is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Celek steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zakarova.
Zakarova's corner calls for a 1-2. Zakarova obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Zakarova moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zakarova connects with a solid leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Celek.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Zakarova.
Zakarova is looking to chop away at Celek's legs.
Zakarova tries to bum rush Celek with a series of wild strikes but Celek uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Some bone on bone action there as Zakarova checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Celek slips a straight right by Zakarova.
Zakarova swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Celek closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Zakarova bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Zakarova scores with a sloppy right hand. Celek should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brent Celek will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Celek throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Celek scores with a jab. Zakarova acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Zakarova lands a head kick. Celek smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Celek swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Decent striking displayed by Zakarova there.
Celek lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Zakarova misses with an uppercut.
Celek digs a good body shot into Zakarova's ribs.
Celek falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zakarova counters with a nice leg kick.
Celek misses with a double jab
and Zakarova counters with an outside leg kick.
Mikhail Zakarova is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Celek lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zakarova at a distance.
Zakarova throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Celek shoots in and drives through. Zakarova sprawls well.
A low kick from Zakarova misses
and Celek connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mikhail Zakarova is winning the standup battle so far.
Zakarova takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Celek uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zakarova.
Zakarova throws a series of punches but Celek moves out of range.
Celek misses with a hook to the body
and Zakarova counters with a nice uppercut.
Zakarova ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Zakarova throws a right and a left that Celek avoids nicely.
Zakarova moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Celek throws a hook to the side of Zakarova's head but Zakarova sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zakarova waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Celek.
Zakarova keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zakarova steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Celek.
Celek misses with a two punch combination.
Zakarova misses with the combination.
Zakarova misses with a combination
and Celek counters with a nice leg kick.
A big left from Zakarova misses.
Zakarova chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Celek lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zakarova circles away quickly and effectively.
Celek throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zakarova misses with a double jab
and Celek counters with a low kick, right behind Zakarova 's knee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakarova throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zakarova uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Celek.
Zakarova blocks a jab.
Zakarova cracks the inside of Celek's front leg.
Zakarova is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Celek.
Celek misses with a leg kick
and Zakarova counters with a stiff right hand.
Zakarova wants to slow Celek down by chopping away at his legs.
Celek is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zakarova sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Celek scores with a nice strike.
Zakarova is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Celek misses with a few strikes there.
Zakarova misses with a leg kick
and Celek counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zakarova throws a sloppy head kick and Celek moves out of range easily.
Zakarova tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Good work by Celek as he checks the leg kick.
Zakarova throws a solid leg kick but Celek takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Zakarova.
Zakarova slips a jab and a cross from Celek.
Zakarova works Celek's body with a nice hook.
Celek moves out of range as Zakarova strikes.
Celek throws a combination that misses
and Zakarova counters with a left and a right that stings Celek.
Zakarova looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zakarova missing with a left hand there. Celek was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikhail Zakarova showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zakarova 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Mikhail Zakarova!
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight for Mikhail Zakarova!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Mikhail Zakarova!

Mikhail Zakarova wins by unanimous decision!