PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Robert Zhirkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kanye Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yamamoto has chosen No Way Out by ZZ as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zhirkov
vs
Yamamoto

180 cm
23
135 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

169 cm
24
145 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robert Zhirkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kanye Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhirkov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zhirkov looks for a takedown but Yamamoto sprawls well.
Yamamoto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Robert Zhirkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slow jab from Zhirkov misses its intended target.
Zhirkov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yamamoto's waist but Yamamoto gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zhirkov off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamamoto fails to land with a series of punches.
Zhirkov shoots for a takedown but Yamamoto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Zhirkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Yamamoto decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov is trying to control but can't.
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.
Yamamoto prevents Zhirkov from improving his position.
Zhirkov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Zhirkov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Yamamoto stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Zhirkov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zhirkov dodges the punch combination from Yamamoto.
Zhirkov misses with a hook.
A head kick misses from Zhirkov.
Yamamoto blocks a jab.

Zhirkov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zhirkov showed some decent athleticism there.
Yamamoto is staying active underneath Zhirkov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhirkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet.
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 is looking for submissions but instead, Yamamoto has regained full guard.
Zhirkov postures up in Yamamoto's guard and throws a big left but Yamamoto blocks it.
Zhirkov throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zhirkov throws a strike but Yamamoto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Yamamoto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Zhirkov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zhirkov pulls Yamamoto in close to prevent any damage.
Zhirkov controls Yamamoto momentarily but Yamamoto frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kanye Yamamoto dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zhirkov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yamamoto throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zhirkov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Zhirkov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yamamoto.
Zhirkov throws a combination. Yamamoto tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Zhirkov throws a combination that misses

and Yamamoto counters with a shoot takedown. Zhirkov fights it but they end up in guard.
Zhirkov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Zhirkov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov working a defensive guard here.
Zhirkov keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.

Yamamoto is sitting in close to Zhirkov's body. Zhirkov has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Yamamoto is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Yamamoto is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Zhirkov.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Robert Zhirkov!