PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Warrior (ranked 24403 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khabib Zhirkov (ranked 5891 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Warrior
vs
Zhirkov

187 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Warrior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khabib Zhirkov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhirkov swinging wildly here.
A little feinted left hand from Warrior on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Zhirkov clinches up against the cage.
Warrior trying to control the position but instead, Zhirkov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Warrior into the cage.
Warrior tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Warrior tries to pull guard but Zhirkov holds him up against the cage and eventually Warrior drops back down to his feet.

Zhirkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Warrior lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

It looks like Khabib Zhirkov has been cut.

Zhirkov takes the fight into the clinch.

Zhirkov pulls guard successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zhirkov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Warrior swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zhirkov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Warrior wants to control the position but Zhirkov says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Warrior is looking to improve his position.
Zhirkov prevents Warrior from standing back up.
Zhirkov wants to pass the guard but Warrior is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhirkov lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zhirkov stands up out of the half guard.

Zhirkov closes the distance and pushes Warrior back into the cage.
Zhirkov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zhirkov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Warrior. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Warrior pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Warrior is trying to pull guard but Zhirkov has him pressed against the cage.
Zhirkov stops a takedown attempt from Warrior.

Zhirkov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zhirkov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Zhirkov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Warrior manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Warrior working a defensive guard but Zhirkov passes into half guard.
Warrior knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zhirkov on the ground.
Zhirkov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Warrior taking some punishment here, with Zhirkov in his half guard.

Warrior actively working from the bottom here.
Zhirkov slips a nice elbow through Warrior's hands, connecting with Warrior's forehead.
Warrior trying to control from the bottom.
Warrior is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Warrior is trying to get back to full guard.
Zhirkov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Zhirkov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Well, if Zhirkov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Zhirkov lands with a punch from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zhirkov lands with a punch from half guard.
Zhirkov working over Warrior with some ground and pound. Warrior looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Zhirkov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Khabib Zhirkov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fight stays on the outside here - Warrior looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zhirkov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Zhirkov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Zhirkov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Zhirkov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Warrior to his feet.
Zhirkov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Warrior attempts a counter takedown but Zhirkov avoids it well and moves away.
Zhirkov throws a head kick but Warrior moves out of range.
A big right from Warrior misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Warrior throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Warrior throws a lazy right hand but Zhirkov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zhirkov ducks under a wild hook from Warrior.
Warrior pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warrior throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And Zhirkov tries to counter it with a takedown but Warrior pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Zhirkov lands with a nice combination. Warrior backs away looking to recover.
Nice jab there from Warrior.
Warrior works Zhirkov's body with a nice hook.

Zhirkov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zhirkov lands in his opponent's guard.
Warrior working a defensive guard but Zhirkov passes into half guard.
Zhirkov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhirkov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Warrior tries to get to full guard but Zhirkov has control of the leg.
Zhirkov is pressing down on Warrior's thigh, looking to free his foot. Warrior is holding on for now.
Zhirkov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Warrior strikes from the bottom but Zhirkov uses the opportunity to move to side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Warrior is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhirkov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Warrior has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Zhirkov but great work by Warrior.
Zhirkov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zhirkov regains half guard.
Zhirkov moves into full guard.
Zhirkov is pulling down on Warrior's head to control his posture.

Zhirkov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Warrior is aware though and is defending well.
Warrior wants to pass the guard but Zhirkov is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zhirkov looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Warrior is defending well. Zhirkov quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Warrior has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Zhirkov celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Khabib Zhirkov!