PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tony Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kostya Zhuravlev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhuravlev has chosen Aria - Volja i Razum as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Kostya Zhuravlev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Jaa
vs
Zhuravlev

180 cm
29
180 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

162 cm
30
170 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
KO power

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tony Jaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kostya Zhuravlev!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhuravlev misses with a takedown attempt - Jaa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No luck for Zhuravlev with that takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jaa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jaa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice sprawl there from Jaa as Zhuravlev shoots in.
Tony Jaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kostya Zhuravlev.
Zhuravlev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jaa pinned against the ropes. Jaa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zhuravlev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jaa.
Zhuravlev has a takedown stuffed.
Zhuravlev shoots in but no luck this time.
Zhuravlev shoots in looking for a takedown. Jaa tries to sprawl out of it but Zhuravlev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Jaa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zhuravlev has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhuravlev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jaa defends it nicely.
Jaa throws the kick towards the body but Zhuravlev avoids it.
Jaa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jaa shoots for a double leg takedown but Zhuravlev sprawls well. He's pushed Jaa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jaa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zhuravlev but Zhuravlev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jaa tries to clinch there but Zhuravlev circles away.
Jaa stuffs the takedown attempt from Zhuravlev. Zhuravlev gets slowly back to his feet.
Zhuravlev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jaa swivels and escapes.
Kostya Zhuravlev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jaa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zhuravlev.
Zhuravlev shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jaa wants it to stay on the feet.

Jaa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jaa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zhuravlev avoids it.
Zhuravlev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jaa smiles and moves away.
Zhuravlev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zhuravlev avoids the body shot from Jaa.
A shot to the body from Zhuravlev misses

and Jaa counters by clinching up.
Jaa lands a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhuravlev can't get the takedown.
Zhuravlev tries to pull guard but Jaa forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Jaa lands a knee to the body.
Zhuravlev looks gassed!
Zhuravlev tries to pull guard but Jaa holds him up against the ropes and eventually Zhuravlev drops back down to his feet.
Jaa connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Jaa.
Jaa lands a nice knee to the body.
Jaa lands a good knee to the midsection. Zhuravlev won't want to take too many of those.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zhuravlev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jaa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A knee to the head by Jaa.
Zhuravlev jumps guard but Jaa stands there with Zhuravlev around his waist. Zhuravlev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jaa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jaa misses with a knee strike.

Zhuravlev jumps guard and drags Jaa to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Jaa postures up.
Jaa will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhuravlev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zhuravlev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Jaa defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa wants to control from the top but Zhuravlev keeps moving.
Zhuravlev wants to sweep but no luck.
Jaa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zhuravlev working a defensive guard here.
Jaa slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhuravlev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jaa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice sprawl there from Jaa as Zhuravlev shoots in.

Zhuravlev looking to score a takedown here. Jaa is defending well but Zhuravlev drives through and ends up in Jaa's guard.
Zhuravlev wants to control from the top but Jaa keeps moving.
Zhuravlev pushing down on Jaa's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zhuravlev landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zhuravlev is looking to take a break and control but Jaa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zhuravlev passes to side control.
Zhuravlev trying to control the action but Jaa is working from the bottom.
Zhuravlev throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Jaa tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Zhuravlev thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhuravlev working away.
Zhuravlev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jaa keeps working.

Zhuravlev is trying to get an arm triangle but Jaa is defending well.

Zhuravlev looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zhuravlev is breathing heavily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Zhuravlev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Jaa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Jaa prevents Zhuravlev from improving position.
Jaa is trying to control Zhuravlev's posture but Zhuravlev avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhuravlev trying to control the position but Jaa is working away.
Zhuravlev tries to move into full mount but can't pass Jaa's legs.
Zhuravlev trying to control the position but Jaa is working away.
Zhuravlev throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Zhuravlev postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Zhuravlev lands some shots froms side control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Jaa wants to control but Zhuravlev postures up.
Kostya Zhuravlev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zhuravlev tries to move to mount but Jaa blocks the move with his legs.
Zhuravlev advances to mount.
Jaa is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zhuravlev is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Zhuravlev fails to land the takedown.
Jaa tries to clinch there but Zhuravlev circles away.
Zhuravlev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jaa sprawls well. Jaa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zhuravlev gets slowly back to his feet.
Tony Jaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kostya Zhuravlev.
Jaa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A slow jab from Zhuravlev misses its intended target.
Zhuravlev circles away from the clinch attempt.

Zhuravlev gets tackled into the ropes by Jaa. Jaa maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostya Zhuravlev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zhuravlev shoots in for a double leg but Jaa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zhuravlev misses with a takedown attempt - Jaa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zhuravlev shoots in looking for a takedown. Jaa tries to sprawl out of it but Zhuravlev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Jaa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tony Jaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kostya Zhuravlev.
Jaa doesn't manage to clinch there - Zhuravlev circles away.
Zhuravlev slips a jab and a cross from Jaa.
Zhuravlev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tony Jaa is winning the standup battle so far.
Zhuravlev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jaa pinned against the ropes. Jaa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jaa thuds his shin into the meat of Zhuravlev's side.

Jaa clinches with his opponent.
Jaa lands a knee to the head.
Zhuravlev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tony Jaa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Jaa tries a knee to the head but Zhuravlev blocks it.
Zhuravlev tries to pull guard but Jaa forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zhuravlev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Jaa to keep the fight standing.
Jaa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Jaa scores with a knee to the head.
Jaa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Zhuravlev takes a knee to the side of the body.
Jaa misses with a knee to the head.
Jaa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
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!
Zhuravlev jumps guard but Jaa turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Jaa scores a nice knee to the body.
Jaa connects with a knee to the head.
Zhuravlev is trying to pull guard but Jaa has him pressed against the ropes.
Jaa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhuravlev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jaa obliges.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zhuravlev lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Jaa lands a knee to the body.
Jaa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Zhuravlev pulls guard effortlessly.
Zhuravlev is trying to keep Jaa in close.
Zhuravlev trying to control the position here.
Jaa pushing down on Zhuravlev's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Zhuravlev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jaa pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jaa trying to mount his opponent but Zhuravlev defends it.
Zhuravlev regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zhuravlev pulls Jaa in close to prevent any damage.
Zhuravlev working a defensive guard here.
Zhuravlev seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Jaa wants to pass the guard but Zhuravlev is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zhuravlev is on top in guard.
Zhuravlev trying to control but Jaa is working from the bottom.

Jaa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Jaa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jaa keeping moving, preventing Zhuravlev from controlling successfully.
Zhuravlev advances to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Jaa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jaa 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Tony Jaa!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Tony Jaa!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Tony Jaa!

Tony Jaa wins by unanimous decision!