PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Zrinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oleg Susechin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Susechin has chosen 5'Nizza - Солдат as his entrance music. Nikola Zrinski had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 187.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Oleg Susechin has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Zrinski
vs
Susechin

185 cm
23
189 lbs
2 - 17 - 0

182 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikola Zrinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleg Susechin!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zrinski throws a head kick that misses
and Susechin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zrinski looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Susechin wants to clinch up but Zrinski keeps it at a distance.
Susechin blocks a head kick by Zrinski.
Susechin wants to clinch.
Zrinski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Susechin shoots for a double leg takedown but Zrinski sprawls well. He's pushed Susechin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Susechin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zrinski avoids it really well and circles away.

Susechin takes the fight into the clinch.
Zrinski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Susechin to keep the fight standing.
Susechin works on Zrinski's body with a couple of short punches.

Zrinski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Susechin shoots in looking for a takedown. Zrinski tries to sprawl out of it but Susechin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zrinski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nikola Zrinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleg Susechin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Susechin keeps the fight on the outside.
Susechin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Susechin has managed to clinch.

Susechin lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Zrinski is not content to let Susechin control the position.
Susechin controlling the action here.

Susechin stands up from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Susechin.
Susechin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zrinski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Susechin shoots in but Zrinski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Susechin tries to clinch there but Zrinski circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Susechin shoots for a takedown but Zrinski saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Susechin moves into the clinch.

Susechin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Susechin throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zrinski.
Zrinski misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Susechin shoots in for a takedown but Zrinski shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zrinski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Susechin wants to clinch.
Susechin scores with the left hand. Zrinski knows he should have avoided that one.
Susechin tries to clinch but Zrinski is having none of it.
Susechin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zrinski defends it nicely.
Susechin avoids the head kick by Zrinski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Susechin tries to close the distance and clinch but Zrinski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zrinski throws a head kick that misses.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Susechin.
Zrinski tries a head kick but it misses.
Zrinski throws a leg kick but Susechin checks it.
Susechin tries to clinch but Zrinski moves out of range.
Susechin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zrinski tries to avoid it but Susechin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zrinski to the ground. Zrinski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zrinski throws a head kick that Susechin semi-blocks.
Susechin tries to clinch but Zrinski moves out of range.
Nikola Zrinski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zrinski throws a right and a left that Susechin avoids nicely.
Zrinski tries a head kick but it misses.
Zrinski throws a sloppy head kick and Susechin moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Susechin dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Susechin fails to land the takedown.
Susechin lands with a good body shot.
Susechin shoots in and drives through. Zrinski sprawls well.

Susechin clinches up with Zrinski and pushes him back against the cage.
Zrinski is trying to break the clinch but Susechin has him pressed against the cage.
Zrinski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zrinski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zrinski has had enough of the clinch but Susechin keeps him there for the moment.
Susechin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Susechin breaks the clinch.
Zrinski stuffs the takedown attempt from Susechin. Susechin gets slowly back to his feet.
Nikola Zrinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleg Susechin.
Susechin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zrinski defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Susechin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Susechin tries for a takedown but Zrinski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zrinski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Susechin throws a sloppy head kick and Zrinski moves out of range easily.
Oleg Susechin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zrinski tries a head kick but it misses.
Susechin moves in looking to clinch but Zrinski pushes him off.
Susechin avoids the head kick by Zrinski.
Susechin scores with a three punch combo!
Susechin scores with a jab. Zrinski acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Zrinski throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Susechin gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Susechin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zrinski smiles and moves away.
Zrinski stuffs the takedown attempt from Susechin. Susechin gets slowly back to his feet.
Zrinski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Zrinski forces Susechin back against the cage and clinches.
Susechin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zrinski has him pressed against the cage.
Zrinski stops a takedown attempt from Susechin.
Susechin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zrinski walks away with a smile on his face. Susechin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Susechin dives in and grabs Zrinski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zrinski pushes down on Susechin's head and hops out.
Susechin leaves Zrinski with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Susechin shoots for a double leg takedown but Zrinski sprawls well. He's pushed Susechin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zrinski throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zrinski doesn't manage to clinch there - Susechin circles away.
Zrinski takes a kick to the side of the head.
Zrinski throws a head kick that misses
and Susechin counters with a head kick.
Zrinski tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Susechin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Susechin has a takedown stuffed.
Zrinski throws a head kick that misses.
Zrinski keeps the fight on the outside.

Zrinski gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Susechin trying to control the position from guard on top but Zrinski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zrinski wants to stand up but Susechin is controlling him.
Susechin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zrinski's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Susechin postures up in Zrinski's guard and throws a big left but Zrinski blocks it.
Susechin prevents Zrinski from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Susechin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Susechin tries to clinch but Zrinski is having none of it.

Susechin closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Zrinski quickly recovers to half guard.
Zrinski is looking to escape.
Susechin is trying to control. Zrinski wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Susechin trying to pass the guard but Zrinski defending well.

Susechin stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Zrinski to get to his feet.

Susechin rushes Zrinski and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zrinski tries to circle away but Susechin has him pinned against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A frustrated look appears on Zrinski's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Susechin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Susechin jumps guard but Zrinski stands there with Susechin around his waist. Susechin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Susechin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Susechin has picked Zrinski up - he's going for a ride! Susechin dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zrinski manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Zrinski wriggles free and stands up.
Susechin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Zrinski on the side of the head.
Zrinski tries a head kick but it misses.
Susechin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Zrinski keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nikola Zrinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleg Susechin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski slaps away a takedown attempt from Susechin, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Zrinski gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Zrinski breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Zrinski.
Zrinski pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Zrinski throws a head kick that misses.
Sloppy strikes from Zrinski. Those never looked like landing.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Susechin, right into the meat.

Susechin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Susechin scores with a nice short uppercut.
Susechin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zrinski's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski tries to break the clinch but Susechin is controlling the position.
Zrinski fails to pull guard.
Susechin is looking to take this one to the mat.
Zrinski is looking to break free of the clinch but Susechin has double underhooks.

Zrinski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Susechin shoots in for a takedown but Zrinski shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Susechin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Zrinski rushes Susechin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Susechin is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zrinski to keep the fight standing.
Zrinski is trying to pull guard but Susechin has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Susechin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nikola Zrinski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Susechin jumps into guard, dragging Zrinski to the mat.

Susechin is working an open guard so Zrinski takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Zrinski throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Susechin.
Zrinski lets loose with a powerful body kick. Susechin will feel that in the morning.
Oleg Susechin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Susechin drives through and clinches with Zrinski against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zrinski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zrinski keeps control of Susechin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zrinski breaks from the clinch.
Zrinski throws a sloppy head kick and Susechin moves out of range easily.
Nice jab there from Susechin.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Oleg Susechin.
Well Susechin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oleg Susechin!