PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sandro Zito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antoni Solovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sandro Zito has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zito
vs
Solovski

186 cm
20
194 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
187 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Elite Nutrition Supplements

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sandro Zito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antoni Solovski!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danga de danga de dang - Solovski scores with a four punch combination!
Solovski throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Solovski misses with a straight right.
Solovski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Solovski rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zito moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Solovski takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zito swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Solovski throws a looping overhand right but Zito ducks down to avoid it.
Zito takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Solovski just misses with a punch to the body.
Solovski throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zito counters with a straight right hand.
Solovski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zito moves away.
No joy there for Solovski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Solovski takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zito misses with a straight right.
Antoni Solovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zito misses with a body punch
letting Solovski counter with a right hand.
Solovski swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zito throws a series of punches but Solovski moves out of range.
Solovski misses with a double jab
and Zito connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Zito looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Solovski!
Zito thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Zito is working for a guillotine from mount but Solovski frees his head quite easily.

Zito wants to finish this one by submission but Solovski is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Zito.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zito jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Solovski is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Solovski and Zito has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Zito working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Zito tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Solovski manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zito manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Solovski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Solovski stays in close to Zito's body and controls the position.
Zito manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Solovski manages to get himself to full guard.

Zito drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Solovski dives on top into guard.

Zito has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Solovski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zito is breathing heavily.
Solovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Zito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zito has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Solovski is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Zito.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solovski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zito keeps working.
Check out the look on Solovski's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Solovski stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Zito throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Solovski sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zito uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Solovski.
Solovski misses with a body punch

and Zito counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zito is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Solovski is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandro Zito dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Solovski falls off balance throwing a combination

so Zito counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Zito passes Solovski's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zito wants to pass the guard but Solovski is defending well.

Zito seems to be looking for submissions.

Zito seems to be looking for submissions.
Zito working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sandro Zito overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Solovski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Solovski is defending against the submission attempts here by Zito.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zito is trying to work for a kimura but Solovski is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zito is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Solovski!
Solovski is working to get back to half guard.
Solovski wants to hold on but Zito pushes him away.

Zito swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Solovski is now in Zito's guard. A big mistake from Zito there, giving up the dominant position!

Zito looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zito looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Solovski controls from within his opponent's guard.

Zito working for a triangle but Solovski defends it easily.
Solovski is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solovski wants to stand but Zito has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Zito is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Zito looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Solovski passes into side control.
Solovski controlling from side mount.
Zito tries to bench press Solovski off him but Solovski keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Solovski wants to stand but Zito has his arm trapped.
Zito struggling a bit here.
Zito is working to avoid the ground and pound but Solovski connects with a decent elbow.
Zito gets back to half guard.
Zito wants to control but Solovski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zito regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zito wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandro Zito dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Solovski throws a hook but Zito avoids it easily.
Zito showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Solovski.
Solovski takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Zito dodges the punch combination from Solovski.
Solovski thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zito slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zito swinging wilding here.
Zito uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Solovski.
Zito ducks under a wild hook from Solovski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solovski throws a combination that misses
and Zito counters with a series of strikes. Solovski will be more careful next time no doubt.
Solovski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Solovski misses with a hook.
Zito scores with a one two! Solovski had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Solovski misses with a double jab

and Zito counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Solovski!

Zito looking for a guillotine from mount but Solovski is having none of it.
Zito fails to advance to Solovski's back.
Solovski can't escape the position.

Zito moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Solovski has worked his arm free - good work by Solovski!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zito is looking to take a break and control but Solovski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Solovski is looking to get back to his feet here but Zito is keeping cool and he's managed to take Solovski's back.
Solovski trying to control the hands but Zito breaks the grip.

Zito is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Zito working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Antoni Solovski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solovski covering up well under a series of strikes from Zito.

Zito is persistently looking for the submission but Solovski is defending it well.
Zito gets his hands free as Solovski looks to control.
Solovski wants to get back to his feet.

Solovski defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Zito's arms.
Solovski looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solovski breaks Zito's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Zito looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Zito is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Solovski passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Solovski tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Zito gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sandro Zito showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zito has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sandro Zito!