PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Robert Zhirkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alphons Draclau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alphons Draclau has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zhirkov
vs
Draclau

180 cm
37
141 lbs
30 - 15 - 1

168 cm
29
143 lbs
20 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

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 30 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Robert Zhirkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alphons Draclau!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhirkov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Draclau on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zhirkov. Zhirkov obviously looking to wear him down.
Zhirkov misses with an uppercut. Draclau saw that one coming.
Draclau throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zhirkov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Zhirkov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Zhirkov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Zhirkov looks to land a right hand but Draclau moved out of range.
Draclau is looking to clinch but Zhirkov is avoiding it.
Draclau just misses with a punch to the body.
Zhirkov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zhirkov connects with a body shot.
Draclau lands a leg kick that knocks Zhirkov off balance momentarily.
Zhirkov throws a shot from downtown. Draclau moves away and avoids it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
That kick from Zhirkov tenderised Draclau's leg. Draclau is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zhirkov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zhirkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhirkov misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draclau slips a straight right by Zhirkov.
Zhirkov misses with a hook.
Zhirkov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Draclau sprawls well. Draclau wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zhirkov gets slowly back to his feet.
Draclau finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zhirkov moves out of range of the body kick from Draclau.
Zhirkov connects with a nice looking jab.
Zhirkov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Draclau counters with a head kick.
Zhirkov avoids the head kick by Draclau.
Zhirkov misses with a hook
enabling Draclau to counter with a crisp jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Draclau.
A jab from Zhirkov misses.
Draclau looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Draclau throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Zhirkov connects with a solid leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Draclau misses the body punch
and Zhirkov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Draclau closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zhirkov circles away.
Zhirkov pushes Draclau away with a front kick.
Robert Zhirkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Draclau lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Draclau chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zhirkov can pounce on him.
Draclau is looking to clinch.
A low kick from Draclau is predictable there

and Zhirkov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Draclau!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Draclau gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Draclau is looking to improve his position.
Zhirkov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov working Draclau over with strikes.
Zhirkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zhirkov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zhirkov thows a huge punch but Draclau dodges it nicely.
Zhirkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zhirkov drops an elbow to the side of Draclau's head.
Zhirkov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Draclau is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zhirkov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Zhirkov working Draclau over with strikes.
Zhirkov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zhirkov lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Draclau trying to control from the bottom.
Draclau blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zhirkov.
Draclau is refusing to be controlled, as Zhirkov sits in half guard.
Zhirkov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Draclau is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Draclau is defending against the submission attempts here by Zhirkov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zhirkov trying to control from half guard but Draclau is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Zhirkov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Draclau throws a low kick but Zhirkov moves out of range easily.
Jab, jab by Zhirkov - just one landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zhirkov. Draclau does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zhirkov slips under a jab from Draclau.
Draclau is looking to chop away at Zhirkov's legs.
Draclau doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zhirkov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Draclau moves out of range of the body kick.
Draclau fails with an attempt to clinch.
Draclau moves in looking to clinch but Zhirkov pushes him off.
Zhirkov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zhirkov wants it to stay on the feet.
Zhirkov misses with an uppercut.
Draclau walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zhirkov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Zhirkov gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Zhirkov lands but Draclau takes it in his stride.
Draclau moves out of range as Zhirkov strikes.
Draclau explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Zhirkov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Draclau throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Zhirkov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Draclau is trying to defend but Zhirkov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Draclau looking for submissions off his back.
Zhirkov works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Draclau tries to buck Zhirkov off but Zhirkov is having none of it.
Zhirkov is working Draclau over with some ground and pound from side control.
Zhirkov cracks Draclau with a big right hand but Draclau just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhirkov scores with punches from side control.
Zhirkov trying to control the action but Draclau is working from the bottom.

Zhirkov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Draclau has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Zhirkov but great work by Draclau.
Draclau gets to mount! Zhirkov was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draclau tries to control but Zhirkov wriggling away.
Draclau breaks from Zhirkov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Draclau looking to finish Zhirkov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Zhirkov!
Zhirkov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Draclau working Zhirkov over with strikes.
Zhirkov tries to get to full guard but Draclau has control of the leg.
Zhirkov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Draclau in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Draclau postures up.
Draclau with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhirkov looking to control but Draclau passes into half guard.
Zhirkov is trying to get back to full guard.
Draclau looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zhirkov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Draclau prevents Zhirkov from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Draclau landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zhirkov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Robert Zhirkov will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zhirkov misses with a straight right.
Draclau throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhirkov takes one on the button.
Draclau throws a solid leg kick but Zhirkov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Draclau.
A jab from Zhirkov does it's job there.

Zhirkov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zhirkov lands in his opponent's guard.
Draclau utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zhirkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Draclau is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov stands up over Draclau, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Zhirkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Draclau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Draclau tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zhirkov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov connects with a couple of short punches.
Zhirkov wants to control from the top but Draclau keeps moving.
Draclau trying to keep a closed guard but Zhirkov is proving a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Draclau looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Alphons Draclau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A combination from Zhirkov does no damage.
Draclau slips a jab from Zhirkov.
Draclau shoots in looking for a takedown but Zhirkov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Draclau's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Draclau avoids a kick to the body.
Draclau tried to score with a low kick but Zhirkov checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov scores with a punch to the head.
Zhirkov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zhirkov sizes up Draclau with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Draclau misses with an attempted mid kick.
Zhirkov shoots for a takedown but Draclau saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Draclau fails with the takedown.
Draclau throws a body punch but Zhirkov moves out of range.
Zhirkov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Draclau as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Zhirkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhirkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Draclau.
Draclau chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zhirkov can pounce on him.
Zhirkov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zhirkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Draclau is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov lands a leg kick that knocks Draclau off balance momentarily.
Zhirkov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Draclau momentarily.
Draclau connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zhirkov. Zhirkov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Zhirkov lands a nice looking body shot.
Robert Zhirkov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Draclau throws a chopping leg kick but Zhirkov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhirkov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Draclau thows a leg kick but Zhirkov checks it
and Zhirkov counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zhirkov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Draclau throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Draclau steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zhirkov.
Draclau misses with a wild body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhirkov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Draclau.
Draclau takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Draclau takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Zhirkov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zhirkov 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27

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