PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Zirkhov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yuri Zirkhov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Santos
vs
Zirkhov

191 cm
25
184 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

167 cm
23
169 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Russian Top Team 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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pablo Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Zirkhov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zirkhov tries to close the distance and clinch but Santos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Zirkhov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Santos tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Zirkhov is in Santos's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Santos is looking for a triangle here but Zirkhov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Santos tries to improve position but can't.
Zirkhov takes a little break here. Santos wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Santos struggling a bit here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Zirkhov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santos keeps working.
Santos is trying to buck Zirkhov off.
Zirkhov trying to control the position but Santos is working away.
Santos gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zirkhov is keen to just control but Santos is a slippery customer.
Santos is trying to stand up here but Zirkhov is controlling him well.
Santos is trying to get back to full guard.

Santos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Santos actively working from the bottom here.

Santos looking for a kimura from the bottom but Zirkhov passes into side control!
Santos is breathing heavily.
Zirkhov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Zirkhov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santos, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Santos's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zirkhov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santos keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zirkhov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Santos is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zirkhov trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
Santos is trying to buck Zirkhov off.

Zirkhov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zirkhov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Zirkhov is trying to get an arm triangle but Santos is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zirkhov is looking to take a break and control but Santos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Santos is trying to get back to half guard.

Santos throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Santos drives through with a takedown into guard.
Santos wants to pass the guard but Zirkhov is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zirkhov is trying to keep Santos in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zirkhov wants to sweep here but Santos controlling him for the moment.
Santos wants to control from the top but Zirkhov keeps moving.
Zirkhov wants to stand up but Santos is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos wants to control from the top but Zirkhov keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Zirkhov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Santos's half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No luck with that takedown attempt from Zirkhov.
Zirkhov closes the distance and clinches up with Santos, looking for a takedown. Zirkhov pushes Santos against the cage but Santos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Santos clinches with his opponent.
Santos prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pablo Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Zirkhov.
Santos working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Santos is stalling here.
Santos is pressed up against the cage. Zirkhov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Santos down to the mat. Santos avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pablo Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zirkhov tries for a takedown but Santos sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pablo Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Santos gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zirkhov to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Santos pushes a forearm under Zirkhov's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Zirkhov is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Pablo Santos!