PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ramindoza Zibrakola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kimbo Shank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zibrakola
vs
Shank

188 cm
18
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ramindoza Zibrakola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kimbo Shank!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Zibrakola looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zibrakola fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shank misses with a straight right.
Shank throws a right hand that Zibrakola ducks under and follows up with a left that Zibrakola also avoids with ease.
Shank throws a series of punches but Zibrakola avoids them all with ease.
Kimbo Shank seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shank throws a right hand that Zibrakola ducks under and follows up with a left that Zibrakola also avoids with ease.
Shank tries to bum rush Zibrakola with a series of wild strikes but Zibrakola uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zibrakola shoots in looking for a takedown but Shank manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zibrakola's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zibrakola throws a head kick but Shank moves out of range.
Zibrakola tries to clinch up but Shank circles away and keeps his distance.
Shank looks to land a combination but Zibrakola avoids it well.
Zibrakola tries to clinch there but Shank circles away.
Zibrakola moves in looking to clinch but Shank pushes him off.
Zibrakola shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shank pinned against the cage. Shank gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shank throws a right and a left that Zibrakola avoids nicely.
Shank misses with a series of wild punches.
Zibrakola shoots for a double leg takedown but Shank sprawls well. He's pushed Zibrakola's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ramindoza Zibrakola. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zibrakola looks for a takedown but Shank sprawls well.
Shank has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Shank lands a left and a right that send Zibrakola crashing to the mat, dazed. Shank thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Zibrakola is rocked!

It looks like Ramindoza Zibrakola has been cut.
Zibrakola is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shank throws a combination that misses

and Zibrakola moves into the clinch.
Oh Zibrakola is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Shank breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zibrakola seems to have got his legs back now.
Shank throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zibrakola counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Zibrakola is looking to clinch.
Shank swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zibrakola counters with a stiff right hand.
Zibrakola misses with an attempted mid kick.
Zibrakola could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Shank misses with a combination

and Zibrakola counters with a single leg into guard. Shank didn't expect that.
Zibrakola trying to control the position from guard on top but Shank is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zibrakola would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zibrakola looking to sit in guard and control but Shank gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Shank is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Zibrakola pulls Shank in to control the position.
Shank stands and throws Zibrakola's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Zibrakola is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zibrakola struggling a bit here.
Shank landing a few strikes.
Shank tries to advance to mount but can't.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Shank decides to stand up, so the ref orders Zibrakola to his feet.
Shank looks to land a right hand but Zibrakola moved out of range.
Zibrakola bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Shank misses with a double jab
and Zibrakola counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shank falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zibrakola counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zibrakola has a takedown stuffed.
Shank throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zibrakola counters with a three punch combo that has Shank backing up. Shank nods at Zibrakola to acknowledge the strikes.
Zibrakola closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shank circles away.
Shank looks to land a right hand but Zibrakola moved out of range.
Zibrakola shoots in for a double leg but Shank sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shank misses with a double jab
and Shank takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shank throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Zibrakola counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shank gets underhooks to prevent Zibrakola's takedown attempt.

Shank breaks the clinch.
Shank throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zibrakola counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zibrakola tries to clinch but Shank is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shank circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shank falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zibrakola counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimbo Shank dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ramindoza Zibrakola's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horrible takedown by Zibrakola or perhaps it was just good defense by Shank which made him look bad.
Shank misses with a combination
and Zibrakola counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zibrakola misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shank swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zibrakola counters with a three punch combo that has Shank backing up. Shank nods at Zibrakola to acknowledge the strikes.
Shank misses with a wild combination.
Shank tries to bum rush Zibrakola with a series of wild strikes but Zibrakola uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shank stuffs the takedown.
Zibrakola looks for a takedown but Shank sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ramindoza Zibrakola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zibrakola changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shank tries to avoid it but Zibrakola manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shank to the ground. Shank escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zibrakola slips a jab from Shank.
Shank with a nice cross.
Shank misses with a double jab
and Zibrakola counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shank throws a left and a right that both miss

and Zibrakola counters with a takedown into side control.
Zibrakola is trying to move to mount but Shank reverses beautifully and ends up in Zibrakola's guard.
Zibrakola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shank sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zibrakola's guard.
Zibrakola tries to get to full guard but Shank has control of the leg.
Shank moves into full mount! Zibrakola won't be happy about that!
Shank landing shots from mount.
Shank lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zibrakola is squirming around, avoiding Shank's attempts to control the action.
Zibrakola is looking to improve his position but Shank isn't that keen on the idea.
Zibrakola on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zibrakola tries to get out of the position.
Shank trying to control but Zibrakola is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shank pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Shank tries to control but Zibrakola wriggling away.
Zibrakola really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Shank has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shank lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shank postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zibrakola looks a forlorn figure.
A nice elbow there by Shank.
Zibrakola is in a horrible position here. Shank smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zibrakola is in a horrible position here. Shank smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zibrakola really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shank can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zibrakola is looking to escape.

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.
Zibrakola tries to hold on but Shank postures up.
Zibrakola is squirming around, avoiding Shank's attempts to control the action.
Shank avoids the attempt from Zibrakola to control.
Zibrakola is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimbo Shank showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ramindoza Zibrakola's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Shank misses with a looping left.
Zibrakola tries to clinch up.

Zibrakola gets a clinch.

Shank breaks from the clinch.
Shank misses with a double jab
and Zibrakola counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zibrakola.
Shank swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zibrakola counters with a left and a right that stings Shank.
A head kick misses from Shank.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zibrakola.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zibrakola wants to clinch up but Shank keeps it at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zibrakola closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Shank throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zibrakola counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zibrakola tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shank paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shank throws a combination that misses
and Zibrakola counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Shank throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zibrakola counters with a series of strikes. Shank will be more careful next time no doubt.
Shank keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ramindoza Zibrakola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zibrakola throws a combination. Shank tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Zibrakola throws a sloppy head kick and Shank moves out of range easily.
Shank misses with a double jab
and Zibrakola counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Shank throws a left and a right that both miss

and Zibrakola counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Shank keeping full guard, as Zibrakola tries to pass.
Zibrakola postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zibrakola looking to sit in guard and control but Shank gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Shank stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zibrakola swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zibrakola seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Shank pushes down on Zibrakola's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zibrakola wants to get back to full guard.
Zibrakola is looking to control Shank's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zibrakola avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shank decides to return to a standing position.
Shank moves out of range of the body kick from Zibrakola.
Shank swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Zibrakola counters with a shoot takedown. Shank fights it but they end up in guard.
Zibrakola throws a strike but Shank rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Shank passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Shank has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Zibrakola!
Shank trying to control but Zibrakola is having none of it.
Shank avoids the attempt from Zibrakola to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zibrakola in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Zibrakola wants to control but Shank is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Shank.
Zibrakola is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Shank avoids the attempt from Zibrakola to control.
Shank landing shots from mount.
Zibrakola keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ramindoza Zibrakola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kimbo Shank is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shank controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ramindoza Zibrakola showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shank 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kimbo Shank!