PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roman Zhdanov (ranked 1751 p4p, 2311 weight class) and Sovor Trandel (ranked 215 p4p, 284 weight class). Trandel is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Fuel and Fire - Bride. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zhdanov
vs
Trandel

196 cm
21
263
3 - 1 - 0

198 cm
21
265
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roman Zhdanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sovor Trandel!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Chad Campbell and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Trandel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zhdanov can pounce on him.
Trandel avoids the body shot from Zhdanov.
Trandel tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Zhdanov is looking to chop away at Trandel's legs.
And Trandel tries to counter it with a takedown but Zhdanov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Zhdanov throws a shot from downtown. Trandel moves away and avoids it.
Zhdanov throws a hook but Trandel blocks it.
Zhdanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Trandel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhdanov.
Trandel drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Zhdanov defends it well.
Zhdanov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zhdanov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhdanov lands a jab to Trandel's midsection.
Zhdanov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Zhdanov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

It looks like Sovor Trandel has been cut.
Zhdanov tries to bum rush Trandel with a series of wild strikes but Trandel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And Trandel tries to counter it with a takedown but Zhdanov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Trandel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zhdanov.
Zhdanov is looking to clinch.
Zhdanov misses with a lunging right hand

and Trandel counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trandel engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Zhdanov pulls Trandel in close to his closed guard and prevents Trandel from doing any damage or advancing position.
Zhdanov is trying to control the position but Trandel postures up.
Trandel trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhdanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhdanov looking for a sweep. Not yet Zhdanov, not yet.
Trandel's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trandel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zhdanov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Trandel advances position into side control!
Zhdanov seems a little lost for a moment, as Trandel dominates the positioning.
Trandel is looking to take a break and control but Zhdanov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zhdanov is looking for a sweep.
Trandel in the domination position with Zhdanov hanging on.
Trandel trying to control the action but Zhdanov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zhdanov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Trandel moves out of range as Zhdanov strikes.
Trandel is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zhdanov takes a swing at Trandel's ribcage but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Zhdanov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sovor Trandel's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Trandel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zhdanov throws out the jab.
Zhdanov throws a hook to the side of Trandel's head but Trandel sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Trandel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zhdanov can pounce on him.
Zhdanov swings for the body but Trandel moves out of range.
Trandel with the counter takedown but Zhdanov avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Zhdanov misses its intended target.
Trandel tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Trandel shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Trandel is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trandel is trying to work for a kimura but Zhdanov is defending well.
Zhdanov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Trandel not doing much here.
Zhdanov is not content to let Trandel control the position.

That's two 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.
Trandel performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Trandel tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zhdanov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Zhdanov is refusing to be controlled, as Trandel sits in half guard.

Trandel seems to be working for a kimura but Zhdanov defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhdanov is trying to control but can't.
Trandel wants to pass to mount but Zhdanov is defending the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Zhdanov misses with a leg kick.
Zhdanov throws a nice looking combination but Trandel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Trandel drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Zhdanov defends it well.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Zhdanov throws an off balance right hand

and Trandel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Trandel is looking for a kimura here.

Trandel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
You can see that Trandel has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks

Trandel is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zhdanov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Trandel.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Trandel trying to control the action but Zhdanov is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sovor Trandel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sovor Trandel's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Trandel drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Trandel seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhdanov keeping full guard, as Trandel tries to pass.
Zhdanov wants to sweep here but Trandel controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trandel's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Trandel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Trandel trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhdanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zhdanov missing with a left hand there. Trandel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zhdanov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Trandel checks it well.
Trandel feints the counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zhdanov throws a big shot that misses.
Zhdanov throws a body shot but no joy.
Zhdanov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Trandel manages to avoid it.
Zhdanov throws a hook to the side of Trandel's head but Trandel sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zhdanov connects with a right hand. Trandel shakes it off.
Zhdanov throws a low kick, looking for Trandel's leg but Trandel calmly moves out of range.
Trandel feints the counter takedown.

Zhdanov lands a big uppercut and Trandel crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Trandel looks OK. Zhdanov waves Trandel back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Zhdanov misses.
Trandel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zhdanov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And Trandel tries to counter it with a takedown but Zhdanov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Roman Zhdanov is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zhdanov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Trandel with the counter takedown but Zhdanov avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zhdanov throws a right and a left that Trandel avoids nicely.

Trandel darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Zhdanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Trandel can do to turn this around?
Zhdanov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Zhdanov working a defensive guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trandel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zhdanov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Zhdanov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zhdanov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Zhdanov!
A very excited looking Roman Zhdanov made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.