PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Zhuravlevich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rar Dead (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rar Dead has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zhuravlevich
vs
Dead

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
18
298 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Zhuravlevich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rar Dead!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhuravlevich lands a nice looking body kick.
Zhuravlevich changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dead tries to avoid it but Zhuravlevich manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dead to the ground. Dead escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zhuravlevich fails with a takedown attempt.
Dead misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dead shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zhuravlevich but Zhuravlevich pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dead tries to clinch

and Zhuravlevich counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Zhuravlevich gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dead.
Sergey Zhuravlevich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rar Dead.

Zhuravlevich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dead blocks a head kick by Zhuravlevich.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dead is defended easily by Zhuravlevich.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dead fails with an attempt to clinch.

Zhuravlevich moves into the clinch.
Zhuravlevich misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dead.
Dead tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zhuravlevich just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zhuravlevich is looking for a takedown.

Zhuravlevich breaks the clinch.
Dead fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Zhuravlevich shoots in and bounces Dead off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zhuravlevich is breathing heavily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dead wants to sweep here but Zhuravlevich controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhuravlevich is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Zhuravlevich with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dead throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Dead looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhuravlevich controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dead keeping moving, preventing Zhuravlevich from controlling successfully.
Zhuravlevich keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dead's head.
Zhuravlevich trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dead looking for a sweep. Not yet Dead, not yet.
Zhuravlevich wants to pass the guard but Dead is keeping the position.

Dead pushes Zhuravlevich off and scrambles back to his feet.

Dead gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dead tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dead is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zhuravlevich gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dead tries to break the clinch but Zhuravlevich is controlling the position.
Dead has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zhuravlevich avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dead tries to pull guard but Zhuravlevich won't allow it.
Zhuravlevich lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dead stalling in the clinch but Zhuravlevich improves position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhuravlevich scores a nice knee to the body.
Zhuravlevich can't get the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dead pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sergey Zhuravlevich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zhuravlevich shoots in looking for a takedown. Dead tries to sprawl out of it but Zhuravlevich keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dead manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zhuravlevich tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dead sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zhuravlevich somewhat.
A clash of legs there as Zhuravlevich blocks the low kick.
Dead tries to clinch but Zhuravlevich is having none of it.
Zhuravlevich swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zhuravlevich fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Zhuravlevich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zhuravlevich fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dead to the ground. Zhuravlevich is now in Dead's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dead is trying to control the position but Zhuravlevich postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dead utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zhuravlevich stops Dead from standing up.
Zhuravlevich has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dead manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dead tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zhuravlevich knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dead on the ground.

Dead wants to finish this one by submission but Zhuravlevich is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Dead.
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.
Zhuravlevich is squirming around, avoiding Dead's attempts to control the action.

Dead is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Zhuravlevich keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dead fails with a takedown attempt.
Dead has a takedown stuffed.

Dead pushes Zhuravlevich up against the cage in a clinch.
Zhuravlevich tries to score a body lock takedown but Dead shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Dead has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zhuravlevich uses from the top position.
Dead trying to control the position.
Zhuravlevich throws an elbow that misses. Dead uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zhuravlevich's guard. Nice move by Dead!
Dead 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rar Dead hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Dead tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zhuravlevich swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dead shoots in looking for a takedown. Zhuravlevich tries to sprawl out of it but Dead keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zhuravlevich manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dead throws a nice looking combination but Zhuravlevich bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dead throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Zhuravlevich slaps away a takedown attempt from Dead, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Dead gets caught flat footed, as Zhuravlevich shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rar Dead showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zhuravlevich tries to keep at a distance but Dead has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dead can't get the takedown.
Zhuravlevich is pressed up against the cage. Dead has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zhuravlevich down to the mat. Zhuravlevich avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Zhuravlevich shoots in for a takedown but Dead shows good takedown defense.
Dead slips under a jab from Zhuravlevich.
Zhuravlevich shoots for a double leg takedown but Dead sprawls well. He's pushed Zhuravlevich's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dead fails with a takedown attempt.
Sergey Zhuravlevich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rar Dead.
Dead changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zhuravlevich tries to avoid it but Dead manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zhuravlevich to the ground. Zhuravlevich escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Zhuravlevich rushes Dead and presses him up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Dead pulls guard successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhuravlevich postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zhuravlevich postures up and lands a big shot to Dead's brow.
Dead is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Dead looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dead 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.
Zhuravlevich sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dead's guard.

Zhuravlevich looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zhuravlevich seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dead does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhuravlevich trying to control from Dead's half guard. Dead has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Dead wants to stand but Zhuravlevich is controlling the position.
Dead working a defensive guard here.

Dead is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zhuravlevich is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dead had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zhuravlevich defends it easily.
Dead is looking to stand back up but Zhuravlevich counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Dead.
Zhuravlevich throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zhuravlevich wants to take a breather but Dead is having none of it.

Zhuravlevich is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zhuravlevich misses with a head shot. Dead uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhuravlevich stopping the sweep attempt from Dead.

Dead looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zhuravlevich trying to control the position from guard on top but Dead is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dead trying to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sergey Zhuravlevich.
Well Zhuravlevich 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sergey Zhuravlevich!