PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between ALEX DZEMILLI (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafal Dabrowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafal Dabrowski has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

DZEMILLI
vs
Dabrowski

220 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

198 cm
18
277 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, ALEX DZEMILLI!
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, Rafal Dabrowski!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dabrowski is looking to clinch but DZEMILLI is avoiding it.
Dabrowski throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around DZEMILLI's waist but DZEMILLI gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dabrowski off to one side.
DZEMILLI throws a right hand that Dabrowski ducks under and follows up with a left that Dabrowski also avoids with ease.
Dabrowski tries to clinch but DZEMILLI moves out of range.
Dabrowski doesn't succeed with the takedown
and DZEMILLI counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dabrowski has his takedown stuffed
and DZEMILLI counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
ALEX DZEMILLI has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafal Dabrowski.
Dabrowski has his takedown stuffed
and Dabrowski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
DZEMILLI stuffs the takedown.
Dabrowski looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dabrowski swings away with a body shot that misses

and DZEMILLI counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

DZEMILLI breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
DZEMILLI swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dabrowski counters with a single leg into guard. DZEMILLI didn't expect that.
Dabrowski controls from within his opponent's guard.
DZEMILLI throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
DZEMILLI throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
DZEMILLI punching to the body, from the bottom.
DZEMILLI doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
DZEMILLI throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Dabrowski should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DZEMILLI will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Dabrowski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. DZEMILLI is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dabrowski trying to control the position from guard on top but DZEMILLI is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dabrowski throwing strikes from guard but DZEMILLI blocks nicely.
DZEMILLI wants to sweep but no luck.
DZEMILLI striking from his own guard.
DZEMILLI on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if DZEMILLI tries to get out of the position.
Dabrowski wants to control from the top but DZEMILLI keeps moving.
DZEMILLI trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dabrowski trying to control but DZEMILLI is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Dabrowski wants to stand but DZEMILLI has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
DZEMILLI looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rafal Dabrowski hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Dabrowski tries for a takedown but DZEMILLI circles away easily
and DZEMILLI counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Dabrowski walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
DZEMILLI uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dabrowski moves in looking to clinch but DZEMILLI pushes him off.
DZEMILLI fails to land with a series of punches.
Dabrowski shoots for a double leg takedown but DZEMILLI sprawls well. He's pushed Dabrowski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice shot by DZEMILLI.
Dabrowski throws a left and a right that both miss
and Dabrowski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
DZEMILLI lands with a straight right. Dabrowski didn't see that one coming.
Rafal Dabrowski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
DZEMILLI lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Dabrowski misses with a left hand
and DZEMILLI counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dabrowski throws an off balance right hand
and DZEMILLI counters with a two punch combo.
Dabrowski closes the distance but DZEMILLI moves to the side
and DZEMILLI counters with a three punch combo that has Dabrowski backing up. Dabrowski nods at DZEMILLI to acknowledge the strikes.
Dabrowski closes the distance looking to clinch
and DZEMILLI counters with a series of strikes. Dabrowski will be more careful next time no doubt.
Dabrowski misses with a lunging right hand
and DZEMILLI counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Dabrowski closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

DZEMILLI is defending against the submission attempts here by Dabrowski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dabrowski wants to take a breather but DZEMILLI is having none of it.
Dabrowski perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
DZEMILLI is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dabrowski not doing much here.
DZEMILLI throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two 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.

Dabrowski is working for a kimura but DZEMILLI is defending it quite comfortably.
Dabrowski trying to control from DZEMILLI's half guard. DZEMILLI has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Dabrowski wants to control from the top but DZEMILLI keeps moving.
DZEMILLI tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rafal Dabrowski has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
DZEMILLI moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
DZEMILLI is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Some wild striking there from DZEMILLI.
Dabrowski tries to close the distance and clinch up but DZEMILLI swats him away and circles back towards the center.
ALEX DZEMILLI is winning the standup battle so far.
Dabrowski tries to close the distance and clinch up but DZEMILLI swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dabrowski moves in looking to clinch but DZEMILLI pushes him off.
Dabrowski throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and DZEMILLI counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DZEMILLI looks to land a combination but Dabrowski avoids it well.
No joy there for DZEMILLI, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dabrowski is looking to slow DZEMILLI down with leg kicks.

DZEMILLI tries to sprawl but Dabrowski drives through with a takedown into half guard.
DZEMILLI is trying to get back to full guard.
Dabrowski wants to control but DZEMILLI is keeping him busy.
DZEMILLI flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Dabrowski wants to pass to mount but DZEMILLI is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that ALEX DZEMILLI will probably get the nod.
That's time! DZEMILLI's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

DZEMILLI tries to sprawl but Dabrowski drives through with a takedown into half guard.
DZEMILLI flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
DZEMILLI is refusing to be controlled, as Dabrowski sits in half guard.
Dabrowski tries to stand and escape but DZEMILLI actually recovers to full guard.
DZEMILLI is striking off his back. Dabrowski thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Dabrowski wants to pass to mount but DZEMILLI is defending the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dabrowski blocks the strikes from DZEMILLI.
DZEMILLI won't allow Dabrowski to pass to mount.
Dabrowski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed DZEMILLI's head.
DZEMILLI throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Dabrowski content to control rather than advance.
DZEMILLI punching from the bottom.
DZEMILLI flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Dabrowski controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
DZEMILLI tries to roll over but Dabrowski keeps him under control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Dabrowski tries to stand but his hand is stuck under DZEMILLI.
Dabrowski trying to control the pace.

Rafal Dabrowski has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Dabrowski throws a combination. DZEMILLI tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dabrowski defending well as DZEMILLI loads up on a big left hand.
DZEMILLI misses with a double jab

and Dabrowski counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in DZEMILLI's guard now.
Dabrowski scoring with some ground and pound.
DZEMILLI trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
DZEMILLI keeping moving, preventing Dabrowski from controlling successfully.
Dabrowski stopping the sweep attempt from DZEMILLI.
DZEMILLI is striking from the bottom but Dabrowski uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dabrowski wants to take a breather but DZEMILLI is having none of it.
Dabrowski blocks the strikes from DZEMILLI.
Dabrowski is keen to just control but DZEMILLI is a slippery customer.
Dabrowski not doing much here.
Dabrowski's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafal Dabrowski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think DZEMILLI 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... ALEX DZEMILLI!