PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hedrig Pokousha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven NZonzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pokousha
vs
NZonzi

189 cm
24
180 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

176 cm
32
160 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hedrig Pokousha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steven NZonzi!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
NZonzi just misses with a punch to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for NZonzi.
Pokousha keeps the fight on the outside.
NZonzi needs to keep his hands up - Pokousha had a free shot at his head there.
Pokousha moves out of range of the body kick from NZonzi.
NZonzi tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Pokousha manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
NZonzi misses with a body shot.

Pokousha clinches with his opponent.
NZonzi blocks an uppercut.
Pokousha wants a takedown but no success here.
NZonzi cracks Pokousha with a nice body shot.
Pokousha has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by NZonzi after a bit of a struggle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

NZonzi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
NZonzi throws a quick inside leg kick.
NZonzi digs a good body shot into Pokousha's ribs.
NZonzi lands an overhand right.
Pokousha changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. NZonzi tries to avoid it but Pokousha manages to keep hold of a leg and drag NZonzi to the ground. NZonzi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hedrig Pokousha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
NZonzi pushes Pokousha away with a front kick.
Pokousha is breathing heavily.
NZonzi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
NZonzi throws a leg kick which misses Pokousha's front leg but catches the back leg as Pokousha tries to avoid it.
Pokousha takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Horrible takedown by NZonzi or perhaps it was just good defense by Pokousha which made him look bad.
NZonzi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
NZonzi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pokousha sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Pokousha drives through and clinches with NZonzi against the ropes.
NZonzi can't find room to land a body shot as Pokousha controls the action.

NZonzi tightens his grip and picks Pokousha up, before dumping him to the ground. Pokousha manages to land in guard.
NZonzi sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
NZonzi wants to control from the top but Pokousha keeps moving.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw NZonzi working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha 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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Steven NZonzi wasn't active enough on the ground.
NZonzi shoots in for a double leg but Pokousha sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Pokousha clinches.
NZonzi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pokousha smiles and moves away.

Pokousha fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with NZonzi, pushing him back against the ropes.
Pokousha blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

NZonzi breaks from the clinch.
Pokousha shoots in for a takedown but NZonzi shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Pokousha clinches with his opponent.

NZonzi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pokousha fails with a takedown attempt.

Pokousha moves into the clinch successfully.
Pokousha misses with a hook from the clinch.
NZonzi prevents the takedown attempt.

NZonzi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Pokousha forces NZonzi back against the ropes and clinches.
NZonzi is trying to force a seperation but Pokousha has the dominant position.

Pokousha has clasped his hands together around NZonzi's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Pokousha working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
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!
Pokousha fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Pokousha tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NZonzi is trying to control Pokousha's posture but Pokousha avoids it.
NZonzi takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
NZonzi dodges the ground and pound from Pokousha.
Pokousha in side control lands a decent elbow.
Pokousha will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
NZonzi wants to control but Pokousha postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pokousha trying to control the position but NZonzi is working away.
NZonzi is trying to control Pokousha's posture but Pokousha avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

NZonzi shoots in for a double leg but Pokousha sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
NZonzi lands a leg kick that knocks Pokousha off balance momentarily.

Pokousha has NZonzi up against the ropes in a clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for NZonzi. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
A short right from Pokousha.
Pokousha blocks the elbow strike.

NZonzi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
NZonzi scores with a push kick.
NZonzi shoots for a double leg takedown but Pokousha sprawls well. He's pushed NZonzi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pokousha darts in looking for a takedown but NZonzi gets double underhooks and turns Pokousha into the ropes.
Pokousha is trying to stall.
NZonzi wants to stall.
NZonzi tries to land knees in the clinch but Pokousha avoids the damage to the body.
NZonzi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pokousha blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pokousha stalling the fight.
Pokousha taking a breather.
NZonzi misses with a short punch on the inside.

NZonzi breaks from the clinch.
NZonzi loads up on a big right hand but Pokousha slips the punch.
NZonzi tries a low kick but Pokousha avoids it.
Pokousha with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Pokousha needs to keep his hands up - NZonzi had a free shot at his head there.

Pokousha takes the fight into the clinch.
Pokousha looking to stall.
NZonzi landing knees to the body.
Pokousha tries to stall but NZonzi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
NZonzi wants to break free but Pokousha has control.

NZonzi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
NZonzi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
NZonzi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pokousha swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

NZonzi has Pokousha up against the ropes in a clinch.
Pokousha lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of NZonzi backwards.

Pokousha has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but NZonzi regains guard immediately.
Pokousha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. NZonzi is keeping the position for now.
NZonzi 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.
Pokousha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Pokousha working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha is looking to work some ground and pound but NZonzi has wrist control.
NZonzi is trying to control the position but Pokousha postures up.
NZonzi seems keen to control Pokousha's posture.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Pokousha trying to control the position from guard on top but NZonzi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hedrig Pokousha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pokousha stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. NZonzi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
NZonzi keeping moving, preventing Pokousha from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pokousha avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pokousha has taken the fight to the clinch.
NZonzi trying to stall but Pokousha improves his position.
Pokousha drops to a knee looking for a takedown but NZonzi gets the underhooks and prevents it.

NZonzi breaks from the clinch.
NZonzi throws an off balance right hand
and Pokousha counters with a nice uppercut.
Horrible takedown by NZonzi or perhaps it was just good defense by Pokousha which made him look bad.
Hedrig Pokousha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven NZonzi.
Pokousha shoots in for a takedown but NZonzi shows good takedown defense.

Pokousha shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pokousha not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
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 Hedrig Pokousha will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

NZonzi tries to work over Pokousha's front leg with a kick but Pokousha checks it.
NZonzi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
NZonzi throws a wild body kick that Pokousha sees coming a mile off.

Pokousha moves into range and clinches up with NZonzi.
NZonzi tries to break the clinch but Pokousha is controlling the position.
NZonzi throws an elbow but it misses.

NZonzi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
NZonzi throws a solid leg kick but Pokousha takes the impact on his shin and smiles at NZonzi.
Pokousha moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Pokousha has managed to clinch.
NZonzi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pokousha just stands there and leans against the ropes.
NZonzi is trying to pull guard but Pokousha has him pressed against the ropes.
A head punch on the inside from NZonzi fails to land.
NZonzi struggles to land a body shot inside as Pokousha controls his hands.
Pokousha managing to block the knees to the body from NZonzi.
Pokousha looking to stall.
Pokousha tries to break the clinch but NZonzi is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

NZonzi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
NZonzi shoots in for a takedown but Pokousha shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hedrig Pokousha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven NZonzi.
That kick from NZonzi tenderised Pokousha's leg. Pokousha is trying to keep his angry face on.
Pokousha keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
NZonzi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Pokousha clinches with his opponent.
NZonzi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
NZonzi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Pokousha's face.
NZonzi is trying to break free.
NZonzi is trying to pull guard but Pokousha turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Pokousha lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pokousha is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Pokousha breaks the clinch.
NZonzi fails with a takedown attempt.
Steven NZonzi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pokousha drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pokousha in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
NZonzi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pokousha misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
A lull in the action here.
Sloppy strikes there by Pokousha.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha advances nicely into full mount.
Pokousha misses with a head shot.
Pokousha landing strikes from the mount.
Pokousha tries to control but NZonzi wriggling away.
Pokousha connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
NZonzi is squirming around, avoiding Pokousha's attempts to control the action.
Pokousha connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Pokousha content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha throwing strikes here but NZonzi is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Pokousha lands a big shot there that rocks NZonzi but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pokousha raining down hammerfists from mount.
Pokousha looking to finish NZonzi with some ground and pound. This is bad for NZonzi!
Pokousha scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish NZonzi?
Pokousha controlling the pace for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pokousha can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as NZonzi is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hedrig Pokousha showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pokousha 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Hedrig Pokousha!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Hedrig Pokousha!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Hedrig Pokousha!

Hedrig Pokousha wins by unanimous decision!
Hedrig Pokousha decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.