PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richard Nixon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Konstantin Zuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Nixon
vs
Zuev

194 cm
26
215 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
215 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Richard Nixon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Konstantin Zuev !
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Sandra Marshall and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Zuev misses the target.
A slow jab from Nixon misses its intended target.
Nixon shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nixon wants to clinch.
Zuev digs a good body shot into Nixon's ribs.
Zuev scores with a sloppy right hand. Nixon should have avoided that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuev sizes up Nixon with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nixon throws a body shot but no joy.
Zuev missing with a left hand there. Nixon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nixon is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Zuev .
Jab by Zuev .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuev lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Zuev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nixon throws out the jab.
Nixon takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nixon definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nixon misses with a hook.
Zuev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zuev throws out a counter right but Nixon avoids it with no problem.
Nixon slips under a jab from Zuev .
Zuev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nixon.
Zuev lands with a right hand.
Nixon walks into a stiff left hand from Zuev .
A combination from Zuev does no damage.
Zuev might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nixon has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Zuev finds it's way round the side to connect with Nixon's head.
Zuev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nixon manages to avoid it.
Nixon swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zuev throws out a loose jab but Nixon uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuev takes one to the chin there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nixon misses with a combination
and Zuev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zuev throws a shot from downtown. Nixon moves away and avoids it.
Nixon is looking to clinch.
Zuev is looking for the big counter here.
Zuev connects with a right hand. Nixon shakes it off.
Zuev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nixon staying out of range there.
Zuev works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zuev scores with a punch to the head.
Zuev is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Nixon had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Nixon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zuev .
Jab by Zuev .
Nixon needs to keep his hands up - Zuev had a free shot at his head there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nixon takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nixon takes one on the button.
Zuev lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Zuev misses with a looping left.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nixon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zuev paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Zuev 's coach down at KING OF PAIN was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Zuev 's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Nixon takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Zuev with a nice cross.
Nixon misses with a two punch combination.
Zuev swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nixon slips under a jab from Zuev .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nixon misses with a straight left.
Zuev throws a hook but Nixon avoids it easily.
As Zuev tries to get set, Nixon tries to push him back and clinch up but Zuev manages to avoid the attempt.
Nixon wants to clinch up but Zuev keeps it at a distance.
It seemed like Zuev was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nixon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zuev moves into range and connects with a jab.
Zuev avoids the body shot from Nixon.
A little jabbing left from Zuev on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zuev darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A slow jab from Zuev misses its intended target.
It looked like Nixon was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Zuev .
Zuev misses with a left hand
and Nixon counters with a two punch combo.
Zuev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zuev catches Nixon with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Zuev lands an overhand right.
Zuev lands a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konstantin Zuev dominated that round.
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.

Zuev scores with a shot to the body.
Zuev misses with a left hand

and Nixon moves into the clinch.
Nixon lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zuev .
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nixon.
Nixon swings wildly with an uppercut but Zuev uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Nixon fails to land.
Nixon lands with a light punch inside.
Nixon misses with a punch on the inside.
Zuev tries to break the clinch but Nixon is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nixon makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zuev .
Good body shot from Nixon.
A nice right hand lands inside from Nixon.
Zuev misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Nixon fails to land.
Zuev blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nixon lands a body shot.
Zuev is struggling to control the position.
Zuev has had enough of the clinch but Nixon keeps him there for the moment.
Nixon is leaning against Zuev and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Nixon misses with a punch on the inside.
Zuev blocks a body shot from Nixon.
A bit of stalling here from Nixon.
Zuev is trying to break the clinch but Nixon has him pressed against the cage.
Nixon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nixon struggles to land a body shot inside as Zuev controls his hands.
Zuev tries to work over Nixon's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nixon throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nixon lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nixon stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Zuev blocking some punches.
Nixon lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nixon makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nixon lands a nice uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Zuev 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nixon lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Zuev is breathing heavily.

Nixon drops Zuev onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Zuev is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!

Zuev is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nixon lands a big right hand that drops Zuev ! The killer instinct kicks in and Nixon finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Nixon!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Richard Nixon!
After winning the bout, Richard Nixon thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.