PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maciek Rostecki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Zolotarev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rostecki's entrance music is Kobra "Witamy w mieście". A fine choice. Ivan Zolotarev struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.3lbs 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. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rostecki
vs
Zolotarev

200 cm
23
189 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
25
199 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maciek Rostecki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Zolotarev!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zolotarev fails with the takedown
and Rostecki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rostecki really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zolotarev has his takedown stuffed
and Rostecki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Zolotarev looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rostecki trying to control the position here.
Rostecki is trying to keep Zolotarev in close.

Zolotarev is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rostecki is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rostecki has escaped and now he's on top!

Rostecki gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rostecki feints and as Zolotarev raises his hands in defense, Rostecki changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rostecki passes Zolotarev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rostecki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zolotarev's head.
Rostecki keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Zolotarev is not content to let Rostecki control the position.

Zolotarev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rostecki trying to control the pace.
Rostecki trying to control the action but Zolotarev is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Maciek Rostecki.
Rostecki is looking to land body kicks.
Rostecki misses with a two punch combination.
Zolotarev fails with the takedown

and Rostecki counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Maciek Rostecki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Zolotarev.
Zolotarev looks gassed!
Rostecki is stalling in the full guard.
Rostecki trying to control the position from guard on top but Zolotarev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rostecki showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Maciek Rostecki has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rostecki lands a nice looking body shot.
Ivan Zolotarev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zolotarev darts in and clinches Rostecki up against the cage.
Zolotarev tries for a takedown but Rostecki manages to get underhooks.
Rostecki is trying to force a seperation but Zolotarev has the dominant position.
Zolotarev wants a takedown.

Rostecki gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rostecki is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rostecki wants to pass to mount but Zolotarev is defending the position.
Rostecki 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.
Rostecki controlling the action here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Maciek Rostecki just wasn't active enough.
Rostecki throws a sloppy head kick and Zolotarev moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zolotarev misses with a takedown attempt

and Rostecki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rostecki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zolotarev keeps working.
Rostecki perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
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.
Zolotarev is in trouble now - Rostecki has advanced to mount!
Rostecki content just to control the position here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zolotarev tries to hold on but Rostecki pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maciek Rostecki dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rostecki clinches.

Rostecki has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Zolotarev is trying to keep an underhook but Rostecki manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rostecki is pressing down on Zolotarev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zolotarev is holding on for now.
Rostecki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zolotarev trying to hold on to Rostecki's head to control him but Rostecki postures up.
Rostecki sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rostecki seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Maciek Rostecki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zolotarev is breathing heavily.
Rostecki lands with a punch from half guard.

Rostecki decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Rostecki fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zolotarev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rostecki looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rostecki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rostecki is pressing down on Zolotarev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zolotarev is holding on for now.
Rostecki is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rostecki wants to take a breather but Zolotarev is having none of it.
Nice strikes from Rostecki there.
Rostecki is stalling here. Zolotarev is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rostecki seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Zolotarev has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Zolotarev working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zolotarev tries for a kimura but Rostecki is defending well.
Rostecki gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Zolotarev trying to mount his opponent but Rostecki defends it.
Rostecki trying to control but Zolotarev postures up.

Zolotarev looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rostecki gets full guard.

Zolotarev drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rostecki dives on top into guard.
Rostecki working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rostecki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rostecki wants to get up but he can't break Zolotarev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rostecki controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rostecki wants to control from the top but Zolotarev keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zolotarev being controlled here, momentarily.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rostecki passes Zolotarev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zolotarev is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rostecki stands up out of the half guard.
Zolotarev misses with a takedown attempt

and Rostecki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zolotarev won't be happy with that.
Zolotarev is being controlled here.
Rostecki is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maciek Rostecki dominated that second round.
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!

Rostecki closes the distance and pushes Zolotarev back into the cage.

Rostecki pulls guard successfully.
Rostecki throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Zolotarev postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rostecki is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Zolotarev, into his guard.
Zolotarev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rostecki tries to free his leg and advance position but Zolotarev is retaining full guard.

Rostecki decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rostecki fails with a takedown attempt.
Rostecki works over Zolotarev's head and body with a nice combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rostecki gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zolotarev is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rostecki pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Zolotarev has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rostecki is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rostecki has Zolotarev pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rostecki pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Zolotarev tumbling to the mat - Rostecki dives into Zolotarev's guard.
Rostecki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rostecki forces his way into half guard.
Zolotarev won't allow Rostecki to pass to mount.
Rostecki is thwarting Zolotarev's attempts to control the position.
Rostecki working the head and body with strikes.

Rostecki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rostecki sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rostecki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zolotarev can do to turn this around?
Rostecki is looking to advance position but Zolotarev won't allow it.

Rostecki is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rostecki is thwarting Zolotarev's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zolotarev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rostecki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zolotarev's head.
Zolotarev trying to control here.
Rostecki wants to advance to full mount but Zolotarev doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Rostecki gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Rostecki shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zolotarev napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rostecki landing a few strikes.

Rostecki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zolotarev tries to improve position but can't.
Zolotarev struggling a bit here.
Rostecki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zolotarev keeps working.
Zolotarev can't do much from the bottom here.
Rostecki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zolotarev keeps working.
Ivan Zolotarev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rostecki decides to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maciek Rostecki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rostecki has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maciek Rostecki!