PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gina Carano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Zhirkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Carano
vs
Zhirkov

173 cm
27
141 lbs
22 - 4 - 0

180 cm
30
141 lbs
14 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Hellbent, Inc.™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gina Carano!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robert Zhirkov!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhirkov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Carano can pounce on him.
A head kick misses from Carano.
Good exchange - Zhirkov coming out on top.
A lazy body kick from Carano

and Zhirkov counters with a takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Carano is looking to reverse the position.
Zhirkov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Zhirkov throws an elbow but Carano slips to the side and avoids it well.
Carano sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Zhirkov prevents Carano from improving his position.
Carano is trying to maintain the position but Zhirkov is very close to passing his half guard.
Zhirkov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Carano is refusing to be controlled, as Zhirkov sits in half guard.
Carano is looking for a sweep. Zhirkov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Carano is trying to get back to full guard.
Zhirkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zhirkov misses with a head shot. Carano uses the momentum to regain guard.
Zhirkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Carano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zhirkov's guard.
Zhirkov wants to sweep here but Carano controlling him for the moment.
Zhirkov is trying to keep Carano in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Carano stopping the sweep attempt from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov keeping full guard, as Carano tries to pass.
Zhirkov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zhirkov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Carano's head.
Carano is staying active underneath Zhirkov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zhirkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Carano is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zhirkov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zhirkov's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhirkov tries to escape but Carano has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov manages to reverse the position and now he's in Carano's guard. Nice work there by Zhirkov.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zhirkov is looking for a sweep. Carano is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zhirkov regains full guard. Nicely done.

Zhirkov working for a triangle but Carano defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov trying to control the position.
Carano trying to control but Zhirkov is working from the bottom.
Carano has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zhirkov wants to sweep here but Carano controlling him for the moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Zhirkov trying to keep a closed guard but Carano is proving a slippery customer.
Zhirkov looking for a sweep. Not yet Zhirkov, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Zhirkov dominated that round.
That's time! Carano's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Carano is looking to chop away at Zhirkov's legs.
Carano throws a low kick but Zhirkov avoids it.
Nice takedown defense from Carano. No joy for Zhirkov on that attempt.
Carano is looking to chop away at Zhirkov's legs.
Carano scores with a kick to the midsection.
Zhirkov swings for the body but Carano moves out of range.
Carano scores with a head kick. Zhirkov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Zhirkov misses with a hook
and Carano counters with a straight right hand.
Zhirkov looks to land a right hand but Carano moved out of range.
Carano misses with a low kick.
Carano lands a jab.
Carano throws a hook to the side of Zhirkov's head but Zhirkov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carano swings widly with a right hand

and Zhirkov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Carano's guard.
Carano trying to control the position here.
Carano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zhirkov.
Carano wants to sweep here but Zhirkov controlling him for the moment.
Zhirkov being controlled here momentarily.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gina Carano wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Carano scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zhirkov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Carano defends it nicely.
Carano tries to land a leg kick but Zhirkov saw it coming and moves away.
Carano throws an off balance right hand
and Zhirkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A head kick misses from Carano.
Zhirkov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Carano. Carano obviously looking to wear him down.
Zhirkov throws a hook to the side of Carano's head but Carano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Carano scores with a head kick. Zhirkov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov lands with a kick to the ribs.
Zhirkov blocks the body kick.
Carano chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Carano throws a lazy head kick
and Zhirkov counters with a nice body shot.

Zhirkov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Carano's guard.
Carano is looking to sweep but instead, Zhirkov has passed into half guard.
Zhirkov is trying to control. Carano wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zhirkov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Carano has his hands clasped together around Zhirkov's back. He's all about the action.
Zhirkov throws a strike but Carano avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carano manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Zhirkov sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Carano is just content to waste time from the top position. Zhirkov takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Zhirkov wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zhirkov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Carano won't allow Zhirkov to sweep him here.
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 Gina Carano will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zhirkov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Carano throws out the jab.
Zhirkov misses with an uppercut.
Carano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov fails with a takedown attempt.
Carano pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zhirkov is out of range and Carano settles back down.
Carano tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhirkov shoots in looking for a takedown but Carano manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zhirkov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zhirkov avoids the head kick by Carano.
Carano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carano throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Carano lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zhirkov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Carano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Robert Zhirkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhirkov misses with a left hand
and Carano counters with an inside leg kick.
Carano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zhirkov.
Carano swings widly with a right hand
and Zhirkov counters with a three punch combo that has Carano backing up. Carano nods at Zhirkov to acknowledge the strikes.
Zhirkov lands a nice shot that snaps Carano's head back.
Zhirkov scores with the left hand. Carano knows he should have avoided that one.
Zhirkov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Zhirkov fails with the takedown.
Gina Carano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Zhirkov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carano connects with a body shot.
Zhirkov fails with a takedown attempt.
Gina Carano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Carano takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Carano throws a low kick, looking for Zhirkov's leg but Zhirkov calmly moves out of range.
Zhirkov shoots in but Carano avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Carano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zhirkov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Carano avoids it really well and circles away.
Zhirkov tries for a takedown but Carano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov shoots for a double leg takedown but Carano sprawls well. He's pushed Zhirkov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Carano works the jab nicely.
Zhirkov misses with a left hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zhirkov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zhirkov thows a leg kick but Carano checks it
and Carano counters with a leg kick.
Zhirkov throws a sloppy body shot
and Carano counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zhirkov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Carano counters with a nice leg kick.
Gina Carano is winning the standup battle so far.
Zhirkov misses with a lunging right hand
and Carano counters with an outside leg kick.
Carano misses with a wild combination.
Zhirkov on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov throws an off balance right hand
and Carano counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zhirkov's knee momentarily.
Carano throws a head kick that misses.
An inside leg kick from Carano misses.
Zhirkov throws a series of punches but Carano moves out of range.
Carano connects with a solid leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Carano, right into the meat.

Carano drives through and clinches with Zhirkov against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gina Carano clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zhirkov.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zhirkov.
Carano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zhirkov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zhirkov throws a lazy uppercut
and Carano counters with an inside leg kick.
Zhirkov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Carano lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zhirkov swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Carano counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Carano misses with a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zhirkov.
Carano lands a body shot in the clinch.
Zhirkov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carano lands a nice uppercut.
Zhirkov takes a knee to the side of the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zhirkov.
Carano works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Carano digs a right hand underneath Zhirkov's ribcage. Zhirkov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Carano digs a right hand into Zhirkov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zhirkov's gas tank.
Zhirkov is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Carano lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Carano lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Zhirkov takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zhirkov takes a knee to the side of the body.
Carano digs a right hand into Zhirkov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zhirkov's gas tank.
A nice left hand lands by Carano.
Zhirkov is working for takedown but Carano is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gina Carano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Zhirkov.
A right handed body shot lands from Carano.
Carano landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Carano scores with a shot to the side of Zhirkov's head.
Carano lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carano pushes Zhirkov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Carano.
Carano lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zhirkov.
A shot in the inside from Carano.
Carano gets through Zhirkov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zhirkov.
Carano lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zhirkov backwards.
Zhirkov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Carano lands with a short shot to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Carano.
Carano landing knees to the head.
Carano with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Carano landing knees to the body.
Carano trying to land knees to the body.
Zhirkov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Carano with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Carano.
Carano connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zhirkov's face.
Zhirkov wants to get back to striking at distance but Carano won't allow it.
Carano lands a body shot in the clinch.
Carano stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Zhirkov throws a punch but it's blocked by Carano.
Nice body punch from Carano - that landed with a thud.
Carano tries a knee to the head but Zhirkov blocks it.
Zhirkov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Carano walks away with a smile on his face. Zhirkov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Carano scoring well with a low kick there.
Carano thows a left - swing and a miss!
Carano tries a low kick but Zhirkov avoids it.
Carano displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zhirkov throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Carano.
A big right from Carano misses.
Zhirkov connects with an inside leg kick.

Carano has managed to clinch.
Carano lands a left hand.
Carano lands a knee to the head.
Zhirkov lands a hook that snaps the head of Carano backwards.
Carano lands with a short shot to the head.
Zhirkov is pushing Carano up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Zhirkov jumps guard but Carano stands there with Zhirkov around his waist. Zhirkov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zhirkov misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gina Carano had his way with Robert Zhirkov in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zhirkov closes the distance and clinches up with Carano, looking for a takedown. Zhirkov pushes Carano against the cage but Carano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zhirkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhirkov scores with a nice right hand.
Carano looks for the body kick but Zhirkov saw that one coming.
Carano lands a high kick!
Carano lets loose with a powerful body kick. Zhirkov will feel that in the morning.
Zhirkov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Carano walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zhirkov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Carano throws a head kick that Zhirkov semi-blocks.
Zhirkov throws an off balance right hand
and Carano counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zhirkov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Carano counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Carano counters with a left and a right that stings Zhirkov.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Carano, as that shot connected.
Zhirkov throws a wild body kick that Carano sees coming a mile off.
Carano fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Carano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Carano throws a quick inside leg kick.
Carano bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Zhirkov is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Nice sprawl there from Carano as Zhirkov shoots in.
Carano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhirkov.
A slow jab from Zhirkov misses its intended target.
Gina Carano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carano looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zhirkov misses with a right hand
and Carano counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Carano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zhirkov misses with a double jab
and Carano counters with a good, hard body kick but Zhirkov shrugs it off.
Carano connects with a solid leg kick.
Zhirkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Carano.
Zhirkov misses with an uppercut. Carano saw that one coming.
Zhirkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Carano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Carano moves out of range of the strikes.
Carano throws a poor cross that misses
and Zhirkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zhirkov misses with a hook
and Carano counters with a low kick, right behind Zhirkov 's knee.
Zhirkov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Carano uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zhirkov.
Carano tries to close the distance and clinch but Zhirkov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Carano looks to land a right hand but Zhirkov moved out of range.
Horrible takedown by Zhirkov or perhaps it was just good defense by Carano which made him look bad.
Gina Carano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Zhirkov.
Carano moves out of range as Zhirkov strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zhirkov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Carano wants to land a leg kick but Zhirkov is out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Zhirkov misses the target.
Zhirkov throws a hook to the side of Carano's head but Carano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Carano swings widly with a right hand
and Zhirkov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Robert Zhirkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carano takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Zhirkov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Carano counters with a body kick.
Zhirkov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Carano takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gina Carano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Carano 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 49:46
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 49:46
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gina Carano!
Gina Carano retains his bantamweight title!