PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Tyson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Zolotarev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Zolotarev struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 187.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Mike Tyson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tyson
vs
Zolotarev

181 cm
26
195 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

192 cm
25
199 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™
Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Tyson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Zolotarev!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tyson leaves Zolotarev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tyson stuffs the takedown.
Zolotarev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tyson's waist but Tyson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zolotarev off to one side.
Mike Tyson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Zolotarev.

Tyson clinches with his opponent.
Knees to the body from Tyson.
Zolotarev tries for a takedown but Tyson manages to get underhooks.
Zolotarev looks gassed!
Zolotarev avoiding damage as Tyson throws knees to the body.
Zolotarev changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tyson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Tyson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tyson trying to control but Zolotarev is working from the bottom.
Zolotarev can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tyson controls the pace.
Tyson trying to control but Zolotarev is working from the bottom.
Tyson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tyson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zolotarev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zolotarev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tyson is one step ahead there.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Tyson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tyson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zolotarev's head.
Tyson controlling from the top position.
Tyson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Mike Tyson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Zolotarev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tyson counters with a takedown into side control.
Tyson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Zolotarev prevents Tyson from improving position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tyson controls the position.
Zolotarev is trying to control Tyson's posture but Tyson avoids it.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Zolotarev is not content to let Tyson control the position.
Tyson slows the pace down.

Mike Tyson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tyson is looking to take a break and control but Zolotarev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zolotarev is trying to maintain the position but Tyson is very close to passing his half guard.
Tyson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tyson is controlling the pace.
Tyson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zolotarev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tyson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Zolotarev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tyson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zolotarev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tyson is thwarting Zolotarev's attempts to control the position.
Tyson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Tyson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zolotarev keeps working.

We're going to have a standup here because Mike Tyson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Zolotarev misses with a takedown
and Tyson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zolotarev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tyson counters with a shoot takedown. Zolotarev fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tyson landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tyson trying to control the position from guard on top but Zolotarev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zolotarev controls Tyson momentarily but Tyson frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tyson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zolotarev has his takedown stuffed
and Tyson counters with a straight right hand.
Zolotarev shoots and misses

and Tyson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zolotarev's guard.
Tyson wants to control from the top but Zolotarev keeps moving.
Tyson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tyson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tyson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zolotarev is trying to hold Tyson in close to prevent damage but Tyson has managed to pass into half guard.
Zolotarev is breathing heavily.
Tyson drops an elbow to the side of Zolotarev's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tyson lands a nice short elbow.
Tyson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zolotarev defending well though.
Tyson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tyson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Tyson works his way into full mount!
Tyson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Tyson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Tyson unloading with bombs!
Zolotarev tries to hold on but Tyson pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zolotarev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tyson controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tyson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zolotarev is looking to escape.
BOOM! Tyson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
BOOM! Tyson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tyson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zolotarev can do to turn this around?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tyson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tyson with a couple of short strikes.
Mike Tyson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tyson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Tyson lands with some strikes.
Tyson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Zolotarev is rocked!
Tyson landing punches.
Zolotarev is still in real trouble! Can Tyson finish him?
Tyson breaks from Zolotarev's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Tyson avoids the attempt from Zolotarev to control.
Tyson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tyson with the ground and pound from mount.
Tyson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zolotarev looks a forlorn figure.
Zolotarev seems to have recovered his senses.
A nice elbow there by Tyson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Oooooh, big shot lands for Tyson! Zolotarev is hurt baaadly! Tyson is firing away with more strikes - Zolotarev is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mike Tyson!