PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cyril Zakharov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andriy Molotov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Zakharov
vs
Molotov

185 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
152 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cyril Zakharov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andriy Molotov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zakharov swings for the body but Molotov moves out of range.
Zakharov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zakharov throws a leg kick but Molotov moved away.
Zakharov slaps away a takedown attempt from Molotov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Molotov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zakharov.
Zakharov throws a head kick that Molotov semi-blocks.
Molotov shoots in and drives through. Zakharov sprawls well.
Molotov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cyril Zakharov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andriy Molotov.
Zakharov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Molotov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zakharov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zakharov tries to score with a low kick but Molotov moves his leg out of the way.
Zakharov avoids the head kick by Molotov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molotov misses with a low kick.
Molotov doesn't manage to clinch there - Zakharov circles away.
Molotov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zakharov wants to clinch

and Molotov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Zakharov fails to pull guard.
Zakharov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Molotov smiles and moves away.
Zakharov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Molotov sprawls well. Molotov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zakharov gets slowly back to his feet.
Zakharov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Molotov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zakharov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Molotov shoots in looking for a takedown. Zakharov tries to sprawl out of it but Molotov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zakharov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Molotov moves in looking to clinch but Zakharov pushes him off.
Molotov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Zakharov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Molotov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zakharov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Molotov shoots in looking for a takedown. Zakharov tries to sprawl out of it but Molotov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zakharov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Molotov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakharov shoots in for a takedown but Molotov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zakharov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Molotov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Molotov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zakharov pinned against the cage. Zakharov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zakharov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Molotov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Zakharov rushes Molotov and presses him up against the cage.
Zakharov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Molotov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Molotov is trying to pull guard but Zakharov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Zakharov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Molotov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zakharov is breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zakharov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zakharov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Molotov moves into the clinch.
Zakharov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Molotov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Molotov looks to land a combination but Zakharov avoids it well.
Zakharov looks to clinch

and Molotov counters by clinching up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Molotov breaks the clinch.

Zakharov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Molotov's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Molotov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Molotov working for a triangle but Zakharov defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyril Zakharov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zakharov tries to clinch up but Molotov circles away and keeps his distance.
Zakharov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Molotov.
Molotov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zakharov avoids it really well and circles away.
Zakharov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Molotov avoids it really well and circles away.
Molotov closes the distance but Zakharov moves to the side
and Zakharov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molotov throws a nice head kick!
Molotov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Molotov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zakharov. Zakharov obviously looking to wear him down.
Zakharov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Molotov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zakharov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Molotov.
Cyril Zakharov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andriy Molotov.
Molotov is breathing heavily.
Zakharov shoots for a takedown but Molotov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Molotov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zakharov, pushing him back against the cage.

Molotov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Molotov clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molotov stalling the fight.

Molotov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Molotov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zakharov is fending him off so far but Molotov persists. Nope, Zakharov circles away and we're back to standing.

Zakharov closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Molotov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zakharov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Molotov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zakharov prevents it.
Zakharov looking to stall.
Zakharov wants to get back to striking at distance but Molotov won't allow it.
Zakharov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Molotov smiles and moves away.
Zakharov throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molotov shoots in and drives through. Zakharov sprawls well.
Zakharov closes the distance and clinches up with Molotov, looking for a takedown. Zakharov pushes Molotov against the cage but Molotov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Zakharov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Molotov!
Molotov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zakharov controlling from mount.
Zakharov manages to capitalize on a mistake by Molotov to take his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Molotov defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Molotov trying to control but not successfully.
Zakharov controlling well, preventing Molotov from escaping the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Even with his hooks in, Zakharov manages to miss with strikes from the back.

Molotov is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyril Zakharov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Molotov stuffs the takedown attempt from Zakharov. Zakharov gets slowly back to his feet.
Molotov looks to land a body kick but Zakharov moved away.

Zakharov rushes Molotov and presses him up against the cage.
Zakharov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Molotov wants to take the fight to the mat but Zakharov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Zakharov jumps guard but Molotov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Zakharov looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cyril Zakharov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Molotov tries to pull guard but Zakharov holds him up against the cage and eventually Molotov drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molotov is trying to pull guard but Zakharov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Zakharov misses with a body punch.
Molotov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Zakharov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Molotov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Molotov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Molotov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Zakharov is looking for a takedown.
Molotov is trying to drag Zakharov to the mat but Zakharov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zakharov wants to take the fight to the mat but Molotov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molotov stalling the fight.
Molotov tries to pull guard but Zakharov won't allow it.
Molotov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zakharov smiles and moves away.
Molotov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zakharov's waist but Zakharov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Molotov off to one side.
Zakharov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Molotov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Andriy Molotov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molotov stops a takedown attempt from Zakharov.
Molotov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Zakharov fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Molotov pulls guard.
Molotov trying to keep a closed guard but Zakharov is proving a slippery customer.
Zakharov stops Molotov from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Molotov is trying to control the position but Zakharov postures up.
Zakharov is looking to work some ground and pound but Molotov has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molotov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zakharov controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zakharov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zakharov postures up.

Molotov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zakharov defends well.
Molotov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zakharov passes into half guard.
Andriy Molotov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cyril Zakharov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zakharov trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Andriy Molotov.
I think Zakharov 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cyril Zakharov!