PBP Commentary

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

Zhang
vs
Michilov

180 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
23
222 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zoe Zhang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Witaliy Michilov!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhang tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Michilov counters with a nice uppercut.
Zhang tries to clinch up

and Michilov moves into the clinch.
Zhang trying to land knees to the body.
Zhang tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Zhang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zhang closes the distance looking to clinch

and Michilov counters by moving into the clinch.

Zhang breaks from the clinch.
Zhang moves to clinch but Michilov breaks away

and Michilov counters by clinching up.
Zhang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Michilov avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michilov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Michilov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zhang tries to clinch but Michilov moves away
and Michilov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zhang wants to clinch but Michilov slips to the side
and Michilov counters with a nice body shot.
Zhang closes the distance but Michilov moves to the side
and Michilov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Michilov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Michilov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zhang tries to clinch up

and Michilov counters by clinching up.
Michilov avoiding damage as Zhang throws knees to the body.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zhang has managed to clinch.
Michilov managing to block the knees to the body from Zhang.
Michilov is trying to break the clinch but Zhang has him pressed against the cage.
Michilov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zhang misses with a knee strike.
Zhang wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Michilov has him pressed against the cage.
Michilov is trying to force a seperation but Zhang has the dominant position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Michilov avoids it.
Michilov has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Zhang seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Michilov can turn it around.
Zhang has Michilov pressed against the cage.

Michilov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zoe Zhang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Zhang moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhang misses with a knee strike.
Zhang is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Michilov blocks a body shot from Zhang.
Zhang with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zhang tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zhang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Michilov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Michilov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zhang wants to clinch but Michilov slips to the side
and Michilov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Michilov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Michilov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zhang's guard.
Michilov lands a couple of digs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Michilov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zhang is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michilov postures up in Zhang's guard and throws a big left but Zhang blocks it.

Zhang is looking for a triangle but Michilov pushes his legs off easily.

Michilov gets to his feet - Zhang follows without any prompting.
Zhang tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Michilov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zhang tries to clinch up
letting Michilov counter with a right hand.
Zhang looks to clinch

and Michilov moves into the clinch.
Michilov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Michilov jumps guard and drags Zhang to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Michilov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zhang trying to stand up but can't free himself from Michilov's guard.
Michilov has control of Zhang's left arm, preventing Zhang from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Witaliy Michilov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zhang wants to clinch but Michilov slips to the side

and Michilov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Michilov.
Zhang can't break the clinch.
Michilov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Michilov has had enough of the clinch but Zhang keeps him there for the moment.
Zhang trying to land knees to the body.
Zhang trying to land knees to the body.
Zhang tries a knee to the head but Michilov blocks it.
Zhang scores with a knee to the head.
Michilov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zhang scores with a knee to the head.
Zhang misses with a punch to the body.
Michilov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Michilov pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhang prevents Michilov from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhang wants to stand but Michilov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zhang trying to control but Michilov is working from the bottom.
Michilov is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Zhang won't allow Michilov to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zhang looks to clinch
and Michilov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhang tries to clinch but Michilov moves away

and Michilov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Zhang is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Michilov is keeping busy.

Michilov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zhang darts in trying to clinch

and Michilov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Michilov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Zhang, up you get!
Zhang tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Michilov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Michilov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zhang wants to clinch but Michilov slips to the side
and Michilov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhang moves into the clinch.
Zhang keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Michilov's efforts to push away.
Michilov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zhang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Michilov avoids it.
Zhang lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Michilov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zhang tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Michilov counters by clinching up.
Michilov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Michilov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zhang just stands there and leans against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Zhang's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Michilov blocks a body shot from Zhang.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Zhang.

It looks like Witaliy Michilov has been cut.
Zhang landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Zhang looking to throw knees to the head but Michilov is blocking nicely.
Michilov has had enough of the clinch but Zhang keeps him there for the moment.

Zhang breaks the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Zhang clinches with his opponent.

Michilov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Witaliy Michilov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zhang tries to close the distance and clinch up but Michilov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michilov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Michilov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Witaliy Michilov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Witaliy Michilov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Zhang wants to clinch

and Michilov counters by moving into the clinch.
Zhang struggles to land a body shot inside as Michilov controls his hands.
Zhang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Michilov avoids it.
Michilov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Michilov avoids the elbow strike from Zhang, against the cage.
Michilov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zhang just leaning against Michilov, taking a breather.
Zhang tries to circle away but Michilov has him pinned against the cage.
Zhang misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zhang misses with a knee strike.
Michilov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michilov avoiding damage as Zhang throws knees to the body.

Michilov breaks the clinch.
Zhang tries to clinch but Michilov moves away

and Michilov counters with a shoot takedown. Zhang fights it but they end up in guard.
Michilov postures up.
Michilov tries to stand but Zhang is controlling from the bottom.
Michilov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Michilov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Michilov stops Zhang from standing up.
Michilov is looking to work some ground and pound but Zhang has wrist control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Michilov chips away with some ground and pound.
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!

Michilov stands up and waves to Zhang to follow him.
Zhang looks to clinch
and Michilov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zhang tries to clinch but Michilov moves away

and Michilov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Michilov.
Zhang has momentary wrist control but Michilov slips an elbow through the middle.

Zhang is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michilov throws a big right hand that misses.
Oh Zhang is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Michilov stands and steps away. Zhang gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Zhang tries to clinch
and Michilov counters with a nice uppercut.
Zhang tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Michilov moves into the clinch.

Zhang's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zhang seems to have got his legs back now.
Zhang tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Michilov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Michilov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Michilov decides to return to a standing position.
Zhang tries to clinch
and Michilov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zhang tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Michilov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zoe Zhang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michilov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Michilov counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zhang closes the distance looking to clinch

and Michilov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zhang's guard now.

Michilov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Zhang closes the distance looking to clinch

and Michilov counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhang trying to land knees to the body.
Zhang trying to land knees to the body.
Michilov avoids a wild elbow strike from Zhang.
Zhang lands an elbow inside.
Zhang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Michilov is defending well for now.
Michilov avoiding damage as Zhang throws knees to the body.
Michilov tries to break free but Zhang pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Michilov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zhang closes the distance but Michilov moves to the side

and Michilov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Michilov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zhang pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zoe Zhang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Witaliy Michilov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Michilov checks a leg kick nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Witaliy Michilov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Michilov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Witaliy Michilov!