PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zell Dincht (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slava Tikhonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dincht's entrance music is Fanfare. A fine choice. Slava Tikhonov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Dincht
vs
Tikhonov

179 cm
21
181 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

180 cm
28
177 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Crashforce Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zell Dincht!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Slava Tikhonov!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikhonov misses with an uppercut
and Dincht counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Slava Tikhonov has been cut.

Tikhonov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dincht, pushing him back against the cage.
Tikhonov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dincht is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Tikhonov pulls guard effortlessly.
Dincht has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dincht trying to control but Tikhonov is working from the bottom.
Dincht trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tikhonov trying to keep a closed guard but Dincht is proving a slippery customer.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tikhonov is on top in guard.
Dincht looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tikhonov is one step ahead there.

Tikhonov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dincht trying to control the position.
Tikhonov wants to pass the guard but Dincht is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tikhonov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Dincht is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Dincht looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Tikhonov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dincht swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tikhonov pushing down on Dincht's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Tikhonov is looking for a kimura here.

Tikhonov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dincht has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dincht wants to get back to his feet.

Tikhonov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dincht blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tikhonov.
Tikhonov wants to free his trapped foot but Dincht is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tikhonov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dincht wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dincht tries to kick Tikhonov off but Tikhonov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Dincht is trying to get back to full guard.

Tikhonov wants to work for an arm triangle but Dincht is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Dincht kicks Tikhonov off and gets back to his feet.
Dincht is breathing heavily.
Dincht misses with a body kick.

Tikhonov has closed the distance and engaged Dincht in a clinch.

Dincht's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tikhonov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Dincht counters with a left and a right that stings Tikhonov.
Tikhonov throws a series of punches but Dincht avoids them all with ease.
Dincht looks to land a body kick but Tikhonov moved away.
Dincht dips to his left and cracks Tikhonov with an uppercut!
Tikhonov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dincht counters with a low kick, right behind Tikhonov 's knee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov misses with a left hand
and Dincht counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tikhonov's knee momentarily.
Tikhonov misses with a jab to the body
and Dincht counters with a good low kick that Tikhonov was not able to check.

Dincht clinches with his opponent.
Tikhonov looking to slow down the pace here.
Tikhonov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dincht digs a right hand into Tikhonov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tikhonov's gas tank.
Dincht gets underhooks to prevent Tikhonov's takedown attempt.
Zell Dincht has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slava Tikhonov.

Dincht manages to break the clinch.
Dincht feints and then cracks Tikhonov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tikhonov down.
Tikhonov throws a poor cross that misses
and Dincht counters with an outside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dincht scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tikhonov doesn't seem bothered though.
Dincht fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tikhonov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zell Dincht dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Slava Tikhonov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dincht goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Tikhonov swings widly with a right hand
and Dincht connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tikhonov throws a sloppy body shot

and Dincht holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tikhonov wants a takedown.

Dincht breaks from the clinch.
Dincht lands a nice looking body kick.
Slava Tikhonov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tikhonov closes the distance and clinches.

Dincht pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tikhonov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Dincht counters with a nice leg kick.
Dincht lands with a thumping leg kick.
Dincht lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Dincht clinches with his opponent.
Tikhonov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dincht prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A shot in the inside from Dincht.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dincht leaning his opponent against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Dincht.
A hook to the body from Dincht.

Dincht manages to break the clinch.
Dincht throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dincht throws a series of punches but Tikhonov moves out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dincht.

Tikhonov clinches up with Dincht and pushes him back against the cage.

Dincht escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Dincht.
Tikhonov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dincht counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Zell Dincht has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slava Tikhonov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov misses with a left hand
and Dincht finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Tikhonov tries for a takedown but Dincht circles away easily
and Dincht counters with a nice uppercut.
Jab, jab by Dincht - just one landing.
Tikhonov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Dincht moves into the clinch.

Dincht breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tikhonov misses with a shot to the body

and Dincht counters by clinching up.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Dincht as Tikhonov tries to tie him up.
Dincht manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Dincht breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zell Dincht is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tikhonov gets a clinch.
Dincht scores with a nice hook to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Dincht.
Dincht lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Dincht will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tikhonov up against the cage.

Dincht's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tikhonov misses with a hook to the body
and Dincht counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Tikhonov tries for a takedown but Dincht circles away easily
and Dincht counters with a good low kick that Tikhonov was not able to check.
Dincht connects with a body shot that sends Tikhonov's belly button to the back.
Dincht tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tikhonov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tikhonov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Zell Dincht is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Dincht counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Tikhonov swings for the body but Dincht moves out of range.
Dincht rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tikhonov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Tikhonov moves into the clinch successfully.

Dincht breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tikhonov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tikhonov misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Dincht moves into the clinch.
Tikhonov is trying to break the clinch but Dincht has him pressed against the cage.
Dincht stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Dincht breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tikhonov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dincht.
Tikhonov misses with a left hand
and Dincht counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zell Dincht dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Slava Tikhonov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Tikhonov has his takedown stuffed
and Dincht counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Tikhonov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tikhonov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dincht is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A hook to the body from Dincht.
Good body shot from Dincht.

Dincht breaks from the clinch.
Tikhonov shoots and misses
and Dincht counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zell Dincht has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slava Tikhonov.
Dincht dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tikhonov. That did some damage!
Dincht lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tikhonov's sensitive parts.

Dincht forces Tikhonov back against the cage and clinches.

Dincht's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tikhonov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Dincht rather than just go for the knockout.
Tikhonov misses with a jab to the body
and Dincht counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice shot by Dincht.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov misses with a right hand
and Dincht counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dincht's corner calls for a 1-2. Dincht obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Dincht lands with a nice body kick.
Dincht scores with a spinning back kick!
An inside leg kick lands from Dincht.
Tikhonov misses with a jab to the body

and Dincht holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dincht throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tikhonovs head.
Dincht lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tikhonov backwards.
Dincht lands with a light punch inside.
Dincht will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tikhonov up against the cage.
Dincht works on Tikhonov's body with a couple of short punches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov tries to pull guard but Dincht won't allow it.
Come on Dincht - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Dincht pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tikhonov throws a poor cross that misses
and Dincht counters with a left and a right that stings Tikhonov.
Tikhonov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Dincht counters with a right hand to the body.
Tikhonov tries for a takedown but Dincht circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Tikhonov misses with an uppercut

and Dincht counters by moving into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Dincht.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Dincht.
Zell Dincht is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Dincht breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tikhonov throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Dincht moves into the clinch.

Tikhonov successfully pulls guard.
Slava Tikhonov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dincht passes Tikhonov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tikhonov gets full guard.

Dincht drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dincht jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tikhonov keeping full guard, as Dincht tries to pass.
Dincht trying to control the position from guard on top but Tikhonov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tikhonov looking for a guillotine here but Dincht defends easily.

Tikhonov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Dincht has picked Tikhonov up and slammed him! Tikhonov can't keep hold of the triangle and Dincht manages to pass to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dincht wants to control but Tikhonov is keeping him busy.

Dincht is trying to get an arm triangle but Tikhonov is defending well.
Dincht trying to control the action but Tikhonov is working from the bottom.
Tikhonov tries to bench press Dincht off him but Dincht keeps the position.
Tikhonov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zell Dincht showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dincht, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zell Dincht!