PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vevrin Betlach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Zhirkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Betlach comes to the cage accompanied by My Saddle Horse Has Died. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Betlach
vs
Zhirkov

176 cm
29
144 lbs
23 - 9 - 0

180 cm
32
141 lbs
19 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vevrin Betlach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robert Zhirkov!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Betlach lands a leg kick that knocks Zhirkov off balance momentarily.
Betlach checks a leg kick.
Betlach moves out of range of the strikes.
Zhirkov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Zhirkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Betlach.
Zhirkov loads up on a big right hand but Betlach slips the punch.
Zhirkov throws a series of punches but Betlach moves out of range.
Betlach defending well as Zhirkov loads up on a big left hand.
Zhirkov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zhirkov misses with a double jab
and Betlach connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zhirkov looks to land a right hand but Betlach moved out of range.
Betlach slips a jab from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Betlach.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zhirkov.
Zhirkov loads up on a big right hand but Betlach slips the punch.
Betlach thows a left - swing and a miss!
Robert Zhirkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Betlach keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zhirkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov punishes Betlach's body with a nice straight punch.
Betlach is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhirkov.
Zhirkov looks to land a body kick but Betlach moved away.
A big left from Zhirkov misses.
Zhirkov ducks under a wild hook from Betlach.
Betlach misses with a looping left.

Zhirkov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Betlach tries to reverse the position but Zhirkov maintains control.
Zhirkov tries to control but Betlach wriggling away.
Betlach tries to hold on but Zhirkov postures up.
Betlach can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Betlach regains half guard.
Zhirkov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhirkov is taking a breather. Betlach says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Betlach wants to control but Zhirkov is keeping busy.
Betlach won't allow Zhirkov to pass to mount.
Betlach is looking to control Zhirkov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Betlach avoid being mounted?
Zhirkov wants to control but Betlach is keeping him busy.
Betlach wants to improve his position but Zhirkov is controlling well.
Zhirkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Betlach defending well though.
Zhirkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betlach trying to hold on to Zhirkov's head to control him but Zhirkov postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Vevrin Betlach.
Zhirkov slips a jab from Betlach.
Zhirkov ducks under a wild hook from Betlach.
Betlach throws a body punch but Zhirkov moves out of range.
Betlach misses with a looping left.
Betlach throws a right hand that Zhirkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Zhirkov also avoids with ease.
Betlach with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zhirkov to score with a decent uppercut.
Zhirkov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Betlach moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Zhirkov tries a head kick but it misses.
Zhirkov moves out of range as Betlach throws a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov throws a shot from downtown. Betlach moves away and avoids it.
Betlach doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zhirkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A swing and a miss from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov tries to land a body kick
and Betlach counters with a good low kick that Zhirkov was not able to check.
Betlach scores with a jab to the body.
Zhirkov thuds a left hand into Betlach's body.
Zhirkov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Betlach as he jumps to the side.
Betlach pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zhirkov is out of range and Betlach settles back down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhirkov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Zhirkov misses with an uppercut.
Zhirkov misses with an uppercut.
Betlach lands a head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Robert Zhirkov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zhirkov scores with a jab to the body.
Betlach throws a shot from downtown. Zhirkov moves away and avoids it.
Zhirkov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Zhirkov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Betlach looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zhirkov connects with a nice looking jab.
Betlach blocks a jab.

Zhirkov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Betlach keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Betlach is trying to maintain the position but Zhirkov is very close to passing his half guard.
Zhirkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Betlach defending well though.

Betlach actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zhirkov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Zhirkov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Betlach tries to get to full guard but Zhirkov has control of the leg.
Betlach is staying active underneath Zhirkov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zhirkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Betlach defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Betlach is refusing to be controlled, as Zhirkov sits in half guard.

Betlach looking for submissions off his back.
Betlach gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov wants to pass the guard but Betlach is keeping the position.
Betlach lands an upkick as Zhirkov stands over him.
Zhirkov wants to control from the top but Betlach keeps moving.
Zhirkov postures up in Betlach's guard and throws a big left but Betlach blocks it.
Betlach trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Betlach is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zhirkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Betlach looking to control.
Zhirkov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zhirkov postures up in Betlach's guard and throws a big left but Betlach blocks it.
Betlach controlling Zhirkov's posture.
Zhirkov preventing the sweep.
Betlach trying to control the position.
Betlach wants to sweep here but Zhirkov controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Vevrin Betlach wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Zhirkov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Betlach pinned against the cage. Betlach gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zhirkov ducks under a wild hook from Betlach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Betlach.
Zhirkov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Betlach.
Zhirkov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Betlach misses with a looping left.
Zhirkov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Betlach slips a jab from Zhirkov.
Betlach shoots in for a takedown but Zhirkov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zhirkov avoids the body shot from Betlach.
Zhirkov avoids the body shot from Betlach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhirkov is looking to land body kicks.
Betlach moves out of range of the body kick from Zhirkov.
Betlach connects with a leg kick. Zhirkov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Zhirkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Zhirkov cracks Betlach with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Betlach throws a low kick but Zhirkov avoids it.
Good shot there by Zhirkov.
Betlach takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Robert Zhirkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zhirkov throws a jab when Betlach was well out of range.
Zhirkov moves out of range of the body kick.
Betlach avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zhirkov throws a leg kick
and Betlach counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A big right from Betlach misses.
Betlach ducks under a wild hook from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Zhirkov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Zhirkov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Betlach misses with a hook. Zhirkov ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betlach misses the jab.
Betlach misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zhirkov lunges at Betlach with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Betlach's hand.
Zhirkov stuffs the takedown attempt from Betlach. Betlach gets slowly back to his feet.
Zhirkov fails with the takedown.
Zhirkov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Betlach shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Betlach connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Zhirkov lands with a straight right. Betlach didn't see that one coming.
Zhirkov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Good work by Zhirkov as he checks the leg kick.
Zhirkov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Betlach pinned against the cage. Betlach gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Betlach counters with a nice body kick.
A big right from Zhirkov misses.
A big left from Betlach misses.
Betlach lands a lovely overhand right.
Betlach uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Betlach scores with a decent looking hook.
Betlach throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Betlach avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zhirkov.
Zhirkov lands a jab to the nose.
Betlach takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Zhirkov cracks Betlach with a good jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Betlach but Betlach pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Vevrin Betlach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Zhirkov.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zhirkov is defended easily by Betlach.
Betlach steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zhirkov.
Vevrin Betlach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Good shot there by Betlach.
Zhirkov throws a shot from downtown. Betlach moves away and avoids it.
Betlach leaves Zhirkov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zhirkov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Betlach checks a low kick from Zhirkov.
Betlach gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Betlach scores with a push kick.
Zhirkov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Betlach.
A nice inside leg kick there by Betlach. That's going to slow Zhirkov down.
Robert Zhirkov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Betlach needs to keep his hands up - Zhirkov had a free shot at his head there.
Zhirkov throws a right hand that misses
and Betlach counters with an outside leg kick.
Zhirkov staying out of range there.
Zhirkov jabs at Betlach's body.
Betlach attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Betlach scores with a decent looking hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Betlach swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Betlach on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zhirkov. Betlach does a little dance to reset his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Robert Zhirkov.
Well Zhirkov 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Zhirkov!
Robert Zhirkov bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.