PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bob Brophy (ranked 558 p4p, 20 weight class) and Dmitri Zaitsev (ranked 379 p4p, 16 weight class). Brophy comes to the cage accompanied by The Grumpy Song. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Brophy
vs
Zaitsev

187 cm
32
243 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

192 cm
28
278 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing

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 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Bob Brophy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dmitri Zaitsev!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brophy on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zaitsev. Zaitsev obviously looking to wear him down.
Zaitsev lands a jab to Brophy's midsection.
Brophy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Brophy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zaitsev.
Brophy ducks under a wild hook from Zaitsev.
Brophy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Zaitsev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zaitsev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zaitsev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Brophy's head.
Brophy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Brophy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Brophy has Zaitsev pulled in close to control his posture.
Brophy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zaitsev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Brophy's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaitsev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Brophy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zaitsev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zaitsev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brophy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Brophy wants to sweep but no luck.
Zaitsev with a nice head shot there.
Zaitsev won't allow Brophy to sweep him here.
Brophy pulls Zaitsev in to control the position.
Zaitsev trying to control but Brophy is working from the bottom.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Zaitsev working his ground and pound in the gym.
Brophy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zaitsev postures up in Brophy's guard and throws a big left but Brophy blocks it.
Brophy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brophy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Brophy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zaitsev.
Zaitsev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Brophy's head.
Zaitsev lands a couple of elbows.
Zaitsev is in close to Brophy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zaitsev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zaitsev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zaitsev lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zaitsev postures up in Brophy's guard and throws a big left but Brophy blocks it.
Zaitsev scoring with some ground and pound.
Zaitsev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zaitsev cracks Brophy with a solid left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaitsev lands a couple of digs.
Zaitsev content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brophy working a defensive guard here.
Zaitsev is looking to pass into half guard but Brophy pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Brophy is in guard.

Brophy preventing the sweep.

Zaitsev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Brophy defends well.
Brophy has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zaitsev looking for a sweep. Not yet Zaitsev, not yet.
Zaitsev is looking to sweep but instead, Brophy has passed into half guard.
Zaitsev moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brophy trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Zaitsev manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Zaitsev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Brophy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zaitsev working some strikes from top position.
Zaitsev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zaitsev passes Brophy's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ground and pound from Zaitsev.
Zaitsev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Brophy has hold of Zaitsev's hands but Zaitsev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Zaitsev working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brophy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zaitsev.
Zaitsev is looking to take a break and control but Brophy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zaitsev lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Zaitsev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A nice side step and Zaitsev releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Zaitsev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zaitsev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Brophy tries a head kick but it misses.
Brophy throws a hook but Zaitsev blocks it.
Zaitsev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zaitsev lunges at Brophy with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Brophy's hand.
Brophy with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaitsev connects with a right hand. Brophy shakes it off.
Zaitsev looks to land a left hand but Brophy moved out of range nicely.
Brophy is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Zaitsev throws a lazy right hand but Brophy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brophy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zaitsev.
Zaitsev tries to clinch there but Brophy circles away.
Brophy half committed to a counter leg kick.
Nice body kick there by Zaitsev.
Brophy fakes the leg kick and cracks Zaitsev in the body.
Zaitsev connects with a right hand. Brophy shakes it off.
Zaitsev misses with a body shot.
Brophy was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Zaitsev fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Brophy stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zaitsev.
Dmitri Zaitsev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab by Zaitsev.
Zaitsev lands with a thumping leg kick.
Brophy's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zaitsev connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Brophy scrambles back to his feet.
Brophy lands with a slapping head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brophy fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zaitsev cracks Brophy with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A swing and a miss from Zaitsev.
Brophy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zaitsev.
Brophy throws a shot to the body.
A shot to the body from Brophy misses
enabling Zaitsev to counter with a crisp jab.
Brophy blocks a low kick nicely.
Brophy swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Brophy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Brophy looks to throw the jab but Zaitsev is out of range.
Zaitsev bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Brophy avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brophy tries to clinch there but Zaitsev circles away.
Zaitsev takes one on the button.
Zaitsev scores with a shot to the body.
Zaitsev turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Zaitsev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zaitsev fails with the takedown.
Brophy swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zaitsev.
Brophy throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zaitsev counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Brophy thinking.
Zaitsev throws a lazy uppercut
and Brophy counters with a leg kick.
Zaitsev just misses with a punch to the body.
Brophy swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brophy throws a jab when Zaitsev was well out of range.
Zaitsev slips under a jab.
Zaitsev appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Brophy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zaitsev.
Bob Brophy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zaitsev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brophy missing with a left hand there. Zaitsev was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Brophy looks to throw a body kick
and Brophy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zaitsev lands the left hand.
Zaitsev swinging wildly here.
Zaitsev throws a lazy uppercut
and Brophy counters with a straight right hand.
Brophy throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitri Zaitsev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Brophy slips a jab from Zaitsev.
Brophy throwing a counter right hand but Zaitsev manages to avoid it.
Zaitsev throws a right hand that misses
and Brophy counters with a straight right hand.
Brophy throws a hook to the side of Zaitsev's head but Zaitsev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Zaitsev misses.
Brophy looks to land a body kick but Zaitsev moved away.
Zaitsev takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Zaitsev lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Brophy throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Zaitsev to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaitsev throws a lazy uppercut
and Brophy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zaitsev throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zaitsev throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zaitsev fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Brophy has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaitsev looks to land a left hand but Brophy moved out of range nicely.
And Brophy counters with a quick kick to the body but Zaitsev blocks it.
Brophy tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zaitsev fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Brophy checks it well.
It looked like Brophy wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Brophy 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 Zaitsev has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Zaitsev and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Brophy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zaitsev.
Zaitsev looks to throw the jab but Brophy is out of range.
Brophy feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Zaitsev throws a jab but it's blocked by Brophy.
Zaitsev takes one to the side of the head.
Jab by Zaitsev.
A swing and a miss from Zaitsev.
Brophy thumps Zaitsev with a low kick.
Bob Brophy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dmitri Zaitsev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brophy walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zaitsev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zaitsev throws a quick inside leg kick.
Brophy throws a half hearted mid kick.
Brophy is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Zaitsev tried to score with a low kick but Brophy checks it.
Zaitsev misses with the combination.
Brophy thinks about countering with a body kick.
Zaitsev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Brophy.
Zaitsev misses with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaitsev throws a hook to the side of Brophy's head but Brophy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zaitsev jabs at Brophy's body.
Zaitsev finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zaitsev just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromBrophy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaitsev tries to clinch there but Brophy circles away.
Brophy is looking to score with low kicks.
Brophy ducks under a wild hook from Zaitsev.
Zaitsev lands a jab to the head.
Zaitsev lands a jab to Brophy's midsection.
Zaitsev scores with a hook.
Zaitsev scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A jab lands there for Zaitsev.
Zaitsev lands with a cross.
Zaitsev misses the jab.
Brophy swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zaitsev thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brophy ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Brophy on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Brophy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Zaitsev.
Brophy looks for the body kick but Zaitsev saw that one coming.
Brophy misses with a double jab
and Zaitsev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zaitsev fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Brophy defending well as Zaitsev loads up on a big left hand.
Zaitsev paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Brophy takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dmitri Zaitsev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zaitsev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dmitri Zaitsev!
Dmitri Zaitsev seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.