PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jorik Vartanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zvon Stakanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zvon Stakanov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Vartanov
vs
Stakanov

190 cm
25
265 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

195 cm
25
260 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jorik Vartanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zvon Stakanov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stakanov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Stakanov.
A right hand to the body from Stakanov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Stakanov.

It looks like Jorik Vartanov has been cut.
Vartanov is breathing heavily.
Stakanov blocks an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Stakanov.
Vartanov takes a shot to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Stakanov.
A left hand lands to the body for Stakanov.
A hook to the body from Stakanov.

Stakanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stakanov lands a big uppercut and Vartanov crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Vartanov looks OK. Stakanov waves Vartanov back to his feet!

Vartanov is rocked!

Stakanov instigates a clinch.
Stakanov lands a body punch in the clinch.

Stakanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stakanov closes the distance and pushes Vartanov back into the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Stakanov.
A right hook to the body lands for Stakanov.
Stakanov lands a body shot.
Stakanov presses Vartanov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stakanov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Stakanov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Stakanov works on Vartanov's body with a couple of short punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Stakanov.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stakanov.

Jorik Vartanov's cut is getting worse.
Stakanov lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stakanov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Vartanov backwards.
Stakanov cracks Vartanov with a nice body shot.
Stakanov digs a right hand into Vartanov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Vartanov's gas tank.
Stakanov cracks Vartanov with a nice body shot.
Nice body punch from Stakanov - that landed with a thud.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stakanov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Stakanov digs a right hand underneath Vartanov's ribcage. Vartanov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Stakanov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Stakanov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Vartanov or not.
Stakanov pushes Vartanov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A hook to the body from Stakanov.
A short body shot lands from Stakanov as the two fighters clinch.
Stakanov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Vartanov or not.
Stakanov presses Vartanov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A left hand lands to the body for Stakanov.
Good body shot from Stakanov.
Stakanov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Vartanov or not.

Stakanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stakanov cracks Vartanov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Vartanov gets tackled into the cage by Stakanov. Stakanov maintains the clinch.

Stakanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stakanov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vartanov is trying to defend but Stakanov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vartanov is looking for a sweep. Stakanov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stakanov is nestled in close to Vartanov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Stakanov throwing shots but Vartanov is blocking nicely.

Stakanov is working for a submission of some sort.
Stakanov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vartanov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stakanov wants to control but Vartanov is keeping him busy.

Stakanov stands up out of the half guard.
Stakanov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Vartanov momentarily.
Stakanov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Jorik Vartanov's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Nice body punch from Stakanov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stakanov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Stakanov gets a clinch.
Vartanov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Stakanov.
Stakanov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short right from Stakanov.
Oh Vartanov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Jeez, Jorik Vartanov's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

Stakanov breaks from the clinch.
Vartanov seems to have got his legs back now.
Stakanov is looking for an opening here. He's unloaded a big left hand that catches Vartanov flush on the jaw and sends him tumbling to the canvas! Vartanov is out cold! Stakanov holds back from landing any unnecessary shots to his unconscious opponent, as the referee reacts slowly to the situation. A brutal knockout and then some excellent sportsmanship - this guy is my new favorite fighter!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Zvon Stakanov!