PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Robert Zhirkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lance McBruce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Zhirkov
vs
McBruce

180 cm
24
135 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

170 cm
24
140 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Malicious Intent Fight Gear - The Pit Inc

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 4 - 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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lance McBruce!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Felipe Paraventi and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McBruce misses with a head kick.

McBruce feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Zhirkov wants to sweep but no luck.
McBruce tries to free his leg and advance position but Zhirkov is retaining full guard.
McBruce postures up in Zhirkov's guard and throws a big left but Zhirkov blocks it.
McBruce postures up and lands a big shot to Zhirkov's brow.

McBruce avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McBruce scoring with some ground and pound.
McBruce takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Zhirkov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McBruce.

Zhirkov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McBruce doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McBruce manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhirkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McBruce sitting in guard, not really doing much.
McBruce loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McBruce throws a big right hand that misses.
Zhirkov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Zhirkov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zhirkov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McBruce.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Danga de danga de dang - Zhirkov scores with a four punch combination!
McBruce looks for a takedown but Zhirkov sprawls well.
McBruce defending well as Zhirkov loads up on a big left hand.

McBruce closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zhirkov to the mat! Zhirkov manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Zhirkov looking to control.
Zhirkov tries to strike from the bottom.
Zhirkov strikes from his own guard.
McBruce works a leg free and moves into half guard.
McBruce working the head and body with strikes.
Zhirkov is trying to get back to full guard.
Zhirkov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
McBruce is trying to control. Zhirkov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Zhirkov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McBruce working Zhirkov over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBruce is thwarting Zhirkov's attempts to control the position.
Zhirkov is staying active underneath McBruce, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McBruce lands a glancing blow to the side of Zhirkov's head.
McBruce scores with a hook.
McBruce tests Zhirkov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zhirkov staying out of range there.
McBruce just misses with a punch to the body.
McBruce tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zhirkov swivels and escapes.

McBruce scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zhirkov tries to roll over but McBruce keeps him under control.
McBruce is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
McBruce stalling away here and it's allowed Zhirkov to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

McBruce drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zhirkov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now McBruce has Zhirkov in his guard.
McBruce looks gassed!
Zhirkov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zhirkov is looking to take a break and control but McBruce is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McBruce looks to move to half guard but instead Zhirkov has passed into mount! Damn!

Zhirkov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but McBruce is surviving well by controlling Zhirkov's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance McBruce dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McBruce moves into range and connects with a jab.
McBruce stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zhirkov misses with a jab, cross combination.
McBruce looks to score with a jab to the body but Zhirkov is just out of range.
Zhirkov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zhirkov misses with a straight left.
McBruce throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zhirkov's waist but Zhirkov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McBruce off to one side.
Zhirkov misses with a straight right.
Robert Zhirkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zhirkov stuffs the takedown attempt from McBruce. McBruce gets slowly back to his feet.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zhirkov.
Zhirkov slips under a jab from McBruce.
Zhirkov misses with a jab, cross combination.
McBruce thows a left - swing and a miss!
McBruce throws a nice looking combination but Zhirkov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McBruce steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zhirkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McBruce shoots in and bounces Zhirkov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
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.
McBruce is breathing heavily.
McBruce postures up.
Zhirkov keeping full guard, as McBruce tries to pass.
Zhirkov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
McBruce is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
McBruce stands up over Zhirkov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
McBruce pushes down on Zhirkov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zhirkov blocking the ground and pound attempt from McBruce.
Zhirkov punching from the bottom.

Zhirkov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McBruce is thwarting Zhirkov's attempts to control the position.

McBruce is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McBruce looks to land a strike but Zhirkov avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Zhirkov had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. McBruce is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Zhirkov Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take McBruce's back instead.

Zhirkov working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Zhirkov is hanging on to McBruce's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBruce rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
McBruce tries to get to full guard but Zhirkov has control of the leg.
Zhirkov is looking to take a break and control but McBruce is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McBruce misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Zhirkov winds up and cracks McBruce with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
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.
McBruce wants to control but Zhirkov is keeping busy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zhirkov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McBruce.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McBruce looks to land a left hand but Zhirkov moved out of range nicely.
McBruce slips a jab and a cross from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McBruce throws a hook but Zhirkov blocks it.
Zhirkov with a nice cross.

McBruce closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zhirkov to the mat! Zhirkov manages to get full guard.
McBruce wants to control from the top but Zhirkov keeps moving.
McBruce won't allow Zhirkov to sweep him here.

McBruce avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zhirkov wants to sweep here but McBruce controlling him for the moment.
McBruce works over Zhirkov with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance McBruce showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Zhirkov scores with a nice right hand.
McBruce slips under a jab from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov throws a shot from downtown. McBruce moves away and avoids it.
Zhirkov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McBruce lands a two punch combo.
Zhirkov throws a lazy right hand but McBruce sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zhirkov stuffs the takedown attempt from McBruce. McBruce gets slowly back to his feet.
McBruce scores with a jab to the body.
McBruce looks for a takedown but Zhirkov sprawls well.
Zhirkov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zhirkov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McBruce.
McBruce throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McBruce steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov lands the left hand.
McBruce changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zhirkov tries to avoid it but McBruce manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zhirkov to the ground. Zhirkov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Robert Zhirkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lance McBruce.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McBruce misses the jab.
McBruce keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McBruce misses with an uppercut. Zhirkov saw that one coming.
Zhirkov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Zhirkov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
McBruce throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McBruce moves out of range as Zhirkov strikes.
Zhirkov scores with a nice head shot.
McBruce scores with a nice head shot.
A telegraphed right hand from McBruce misses the target.
McBruce swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zhirkov counters with a stiff right hand.
Zhirkov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
McBruce misses with a jab to the body
and Zhirkov counters with a three punch combo that has McBruce backing up. McBruce nods at Zhirkov to acknowledge the strikes.

McBruce is rocked!
McBruce throws an overhand right that lands on Zhirkov's shoulder, as Zhirkov tries to avoid the shot.
McBruce is still on wobbly legs! Can Zhirkov finish him?
Zhirkov lands a nice hook to McBruce's body. McBruce takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Zhirkov as McBruce shoots in.
McBruce seems to have recovered his senses.
Zhirkov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Lance McBruce seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Zhirkov.
Nice takedown defense from Zhirkov. No joy for McBruce on that attempt.
A left and a right from Zhirkov both land. Nice combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhirkov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

McBruce looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zhirkov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McBruce.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhirkov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Zhirkov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

McBruce is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zhirkov is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBruce manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
McBruce lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Zhirkov hang on?

McBruce swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Zhirkov is now in McBruce's guard. A big mistake from McBruce there, giving up the dominant position!
McBruce is trying to control the position but Zhirkov postures up.
McBruce keeping moving, preventing Zhirkov from controlling successfully.

Zhirkov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McBruce keeping moving, preventing Zhirkov from controlling successfully.
McBruce manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zhirkov manages to get himself to full guard.
McBruce thows a big elbow that misses.
Robert Zhirkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McBruce is looking to work some ground and pound but Zhirkov has wrist control.

Zhirkov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McBruce can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McBruce distracts Zhirkov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Zhirkov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McBruce has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lance McBruce!