PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Zeitzer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxim Banajev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banajev has chosen Arcana - Autumnal as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zeitzer
vs
Banajev

194 cm
28
210 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

180 cm
21
218 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Zeitzer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maxim Banajev!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zeitzer keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Banajev takes a kick to the side of the head.
Zeitzer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Horrible takedown by Banajev or perhaps it was just good defense by Zeitzer which made him look bad.
Zeitzer stuffs the takedown attempt from Banajev. Banajev gets slowly back to his feet.
Ivan Zeitzer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Banajev.

Banajev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Banajev is thwarting Zeitzer's attempts to control the position.
Zeitzer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Banajev.
Zeitzer has hold of Banajev's hands but Banajev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Banajev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zeitzer knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Zeitzer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banajev trying to control from half guard but Zeitzer is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zeitzer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Banajev.
Zeitzer is controlling Banajev's trapped leg to prevent Banajev from advancing to side control.
Banajev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zeitzer on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zeitzer trying to control but Banajev postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zeitzer looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Banajev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Zeitzer is trying to maintain the position but Banajev is very close to passing his half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Ivan Zeitzer wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Zeitzer smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zeitzer enables Banajev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zeitzer manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Banajev wants to control from the top but Zeitzer keeps moving.
Banajev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banajev controlling from the top position.
Banajev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zeitzer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Banajev trying to control but Zeitzer is working from the bottom.
Banajev throwing strikes but missing.
Banajev passes Zeitzer's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Banajev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

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.
Banajev tries to pass to full mount but Zeitzer defends it.
Banajev trying to control the pace.
Banajev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zeitzer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Banajev is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Banajev dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Banajev scores with a takedown into Zeitzer's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banajev trying to control the position from guard on top but Zeitzer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Banajev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Banajev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zeitzer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Banajev throwing strikes from guard but Zeitzer blocks nicely.
Banajev wants to control from the top but Zeitzer keeps moving.
Zeitzer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeitzer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Banajev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Banajev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Banajev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zeitzer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Banajev.
Banajev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zeitzer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zeitzer controls Banajev momentarily but Banajev frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Banajev trying to control but Zeitzer is working from the bottom.
Banajev throws a strike but Zeitzer rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Banajev is adopting a defensive guard.
Zeitzer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Banajev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Banajev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Banajev.
Banajev stalling.
Banajev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zeitzer wants to control but Banajev is keeping busy.
Banajev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Banajev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zeitzer does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Banajev not doing much here.
Zeitzer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Banajev.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zeitzer goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Banajev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zeitzer but Zeitzer pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zeitzer throws a low kick but it's checked well by Banajev.
Banajev fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Banajev 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. This is the final round!

Banajev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zeitzer sprawls well. Zeitzer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Banajev gets slowly back to his feet.
Zeitzer lands with a shot to the body.
Banajev dives in and grabs Zeitzer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zeitzer pushes down on Banajev's head and hops out.
Zeitzer connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
That kick from Zeitzer tenderised Banajev's leg. Banajev is trying to keep his angry face on.
Banajev shoots in and drives through. Zeitzer sprawls well.
Ivan Zeitzer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Banajev.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Banajev is defended easily by Zeitzer.
Zeitzer scores with a kick to the body.
Banajev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zeitzer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zeitzer fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banajev tries for a takedown but Zeitzer circles away easily
and Zeitzer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ivan Zeitzer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zeitzer lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Banajev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zeitzer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zeitzer lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Maxim Banajev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banajev fails with the takedown
and Zeitzer counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zeitzer misses with a series of wild punches.
Zeitzer scores with a jab. Banajev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Zeitzer is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Banajev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zeitzer counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Zeitzer scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Banajev shoots and misses
letting Zeitzer counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zeitzer stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zeitzer closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Zeitzer scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Zeitzer scores with a one two! Banajev had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Banajev walks into a left hand.
Zeitzer moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Zeitzer moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Zeitzer throws a shot to the body.
Banajev on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Banajev gets caught flat footed, as Zeitzer shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zeitzer tries to stand but Banajev is controlling from the bottom.
Banajev is trying to keep Zeitzer in close.
Zeitzer stands up over Banajev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeitzer passes Banajev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Banajev is trying to stand back up but Zeitzer is controlling him
Zeitzer performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Banajev is refusing to be controlled, as Zeitzer sits in half guard.
Banajev tries to get to full guard but Zeitzer has control of the leg.
Zeitzer not landing any meaningful shots this time.

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.
Banajev tries to kick Zeitzer off in order to stand up. Zeitzer Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Banajev is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Banajev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Banajev wants to get back to his feet but Zeitzer is dominant here and he's now got Banajev's back!
Banajev trying to control the hands but Zeitzer won't let him.
Banajev is trying to stand back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Zeitzer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Banajev has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!