PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gleb Zheglov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Maldonado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rob Maldonado struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 207.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. 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.

Zheglov
vs
Maldonado

183 cm
28
190 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

194 cm
22
228 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

King of Fists

Phantom Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Gleb Zheglov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rob Maldonado!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maldonado tries for a takedown but Zheglov circles away easily
letting Zheglov counter with a right hand.
Zheglov looks to land a combination but Maldonado avoids it well.
Maldonado swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zheglov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maldonado tries to move into range but Zheglov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Zheglov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maldonado's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zheglov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Maldonado scrambles back to his feet.
Zheglov swings for the body but Maldonado moves out of range.
Zheglov lands with a good body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zheglov leaves Maldonado with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zheglov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Maldonado misses with a takedown attempt - Zheglov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zheglov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Gleb Zheglov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Maldonado.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldonado misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maldonado dives in and grabs Zheglov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zheglov pushes down on Maldonado's head and hops out.
Zheglov jabs at Maldonado's body.
Maldonado takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Maldonado.
Maldonado fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Maldonado gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zheglov.
Zheglov looks to land a combination but Maldonado avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zheglov's waist but Zheglov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maldonado off to one side.
Maldonado tries for a takedown but Zheglov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Maldonado moves out of range of the strikes.
Zheglov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gleb Zheglov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch lands to the side of Maldonado 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Zheglov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zheglov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maldonado moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maldonado shoots in but Zheglov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jab from Zheglov.
Maldonado fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zheglov avoids it really well and circles away.
It looked like Zheglov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zheglov connects with a single shot there.
Zheglov throws out a loose jab but Maldonado uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maldonado has a takedown stuffed.
Maldonado shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zheglov pinned against the cage. Zheglov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Maldonado changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zheglov tries to avoid it but Maldonado manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zheglov to the ground. Zheglov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zheglov blocks the body kick.
A little feinted left hand from Zheglov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zheglov's waist but Zheglov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maldonado off to one side.
Maldonado looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Maldonado misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As Maldonado looks to move away, Zheglov throws a big counter combo but Maldonado just gets out of the way.
Zheglov works over Maldonado's head and body with a nice combination.
Zheglov connects with a body shot.
A nice combination there by Maldonado.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zheglov misses the jab.
Maldonado walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Zheglov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Maldonado takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maldonado fails with a takedown attempt.
Zheglov lands a right hook to the body.
Zheglov throws a jab when Maldonado was well out of range.
Maldonado tries for a takedown but Zheglov circles away easily
and Zheglov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Maldonado's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Maldonado duly obliges.
Zheglov misses with a wild body shot.
Rob Maldonado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maldonado misses with a takedown attempt
letting Zheglov counter with a right hand.
Gleb Zheglov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Maldonado.
Maldonado shoots for a takedown but Zheglov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zheglov misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldonado darts in looking for a takedown but Zheglov gets double underhooks and turns Maldonado into the cage.
Zheglov just misses with a punch to the body.
Maldonado doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Maldonado takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zheglov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maldonado can do to turn this around?
Zheglov throws a hook to the side of Maldonado's head but Maldonado sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maldonado fails with the takedown
and Zheglov counters with a right hand to the body.
Maldonado is breathing heavily.
Maldonado throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zheglov scores with a one two! Maldonado had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Zheglov here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Maldonado will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zheglov tries to bum rush Maldonado with a series of wild strikes but Maldonado uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maldonado has his takedown stuffed
and Zheglov counters with a left and a right that stings Maldonado.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zheglov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Zheglov with a jab.
Maldonado is trying desperately to land a takedown but Zheglov is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Maldonado.
Maldonado shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maldonado.
Zheglov lands a jab.
Maldonado showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zheglov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado fails with the takedown
and Zheglov counters with a right hand to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Maldonado lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Zheglov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Zheglov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Maldonado shoots in looking for a takedown but Zheglov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Maldonado's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Maldonado misses with a takedown attempt
and Zheglov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Zheglov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Zheglov punishes Maldonado's body with a nice straight punch.
Zheglov lands a nice shot that snaps Maldonado's head back.
Maldonado has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Zheglov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Maldonado misses with a takedown attempt - Zheglov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zheglov appears to be looking for a big counter.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Maldonado might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Zheglov has got the better of the exchanges.
Maldonado moves to clinch but Zheglov breaks away
and Zheglov counters with a stiff right hand.

Maldonado is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado fails with the takedown
and Zheglov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Zheglov works Maldonado's body with a nice hook.
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!
Nice takedown defense from Zheglov. No joy for Maldonado on that attempt.
Maldonado slips a straight right by Zheglov.
Maldonado defending well as Zheglov loads up on a big left hand.
Zheglov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maldonado lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Maldonado shoots and misses
and Zheglov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Jab, jab by Zheglov - just one landing.
Maldonado is still on wobbly legs! Can Zheglov finish him?
Maldonado misses with a takedown attempt - Zheglov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Maldonado seems to have recovered his senses.
Maldonado fails with the takedown
letting Zheglov counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gleb Zheglov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zheglov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Maldonado drops his hands momentarily and Zheglov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Maldonado misses with a takedown attempt - Zheglov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Maldonado throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zheglov counters with a series of strikes that practically lifts Maldonado off his feet! He tumbles backwards, his head bouncing off the mat - Zheglov follows up with more strikes before the ref can step in but Maldonado was out before he hit the floor.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Gleb Zheglov!
During a confident post fight interview, Gleb Zheglov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.