PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tur Cote (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Zai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cote has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Tur Cote has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cote
vs
Zai

187 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

197 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tur Cote!
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, William Zai!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A choreographed right hand from Cote misses the target.

Zai closes the distance and clinches.
Zai keeps control of Cote as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Zai breaks from the clinch.
Zai displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Cote bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cote is breathing heavily.
Zai is looking for a sweep.
Zai manages to work his way to half guard, despite Cote's best efforts.
Zai tries to get to full guard but Cote has control of the leg.
Zai is trying to stand back up but Cote is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cote lands a two punch combo.

Cote clinches.

Zai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cote misses with a looping left.
Zai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zai.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zai darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Zai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zai goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Zai tries to clinch but Cote is having none of it.

Zai clinches.
Zai is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cote is keeping busy.

Zai breaks from the clinch.
Zai swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cote.
Cote misses with a double jab
and Zai counters with an inside leg kick.
Zai fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zai misses with the combination.
Cote avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Zai.
Zai scores with a leg kick.
Cote fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Good leg kick by Zai there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cote falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zai counters with a straight right hand.

Cote shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Zai's guard.

Zai wriggles free and stands up.
Zai tries to clinch up.
Zai misses with a series of wild punches.
Zai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zai scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zai.
Zai is looking to clinch but Cote is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zai scoring well with a low kick there.

Zai has closed the distance and engaged Cote in a clinch.

Zai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cote tries to bum rush Zai with a series of wild strikes but Zai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zai scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zai tries to clinch but Cote is having none of it.
Cote fails with a takedown attempt.
Cote darts in trying to clinch
and Zai counters with a leg kick.

Cote scores with a takedown into Zai's guard.
Cote prevents Zai from getting back to his feet.

Zai is looking for a triangle here but Cote uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Cote controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zai strikes from the bottom but Cote takes advantage and advances to full mount!
Zai is looking to improve his position but Cote isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zai throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Zai working to try and regain half guard.
Cote blocks Zai's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Zai working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but William Zai will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The crowd cheers as Zai lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cote doesn't seem phased though.
Cote tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cote on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zai. Zai obviously looking to wear him down.
Zai is looking to clinch.
Cote sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cote takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cote swats away the attempt to clinch by Zai.
Tur Cote is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zai scores with a three punch combo!

Zai moves into the clinch.
Cote is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zai is keeping busy.
Cote is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Zai crunches a lovely knee into Cote's ribcage.
Cote is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zai pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The referee calls for Zai to work.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cote.
Cote fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cote trying to stall but Zai improves his position.
Cote wants to get back to striking at distance but Zai won't allow it.
Zai taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Zai breaks the clinch.
Cote misses with a body shot
and Zai makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zai chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Zai moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cote walks forward, straight into a front kick from Zai.
Zai scores with a leg kick.
A good leg kick by Zai.
Cote shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zai but Zai pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tur Cote. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A good leg kick by Zai.
Cote walks forward, straight into a front kick from Zai.
Zai circles away from the clinch attempt
and Zai counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cote swinging wilding here.
Zai lunges at Cote with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cote's hand.
Zai feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cote's calf.
Zai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cote's waist but Cote gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zai off to one side.
A combination from Zai does no damage.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cote can't break the clinch.

Zai breaks from the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zai.
Zai throws a nice inside leg kick.
Zai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cote's sensitive parts.
Zai circles away from the clinch attempt
and Zai counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cote's knee momentarily.
Zai chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Zai looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zai lands a two punch combo.
Zai misses with a series of wild punches.
Cote throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zai counters with a nice uppercut.
Tur Cote seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zai scoring well with a low kick there.
Cote on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Zai drives through and clinches with Cote against the cage.
Zai landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cote misses with a body punch.

Zai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zai fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cote.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zai with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Zai scoring well with a low kick there.
Cote wants to clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Zai.
Zai keeps Cote at a distance using the push kick.
Cote tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zai swivels and escapes.
Zai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cote. That did some damage!
Cote will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Cote swinging wilding here.
Zai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zai, right into the meat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zai.
Cote rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Zai counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cote's knee momentarily.
Cote swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zai counters with a nice kick to the body.
Zai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cote throws a combination that misses
and Zai counters with an inside leg kick.
Zai looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Zai has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zai breaks the clinch.
Zai cracks Cote with an open hand slap.
Zai throws a nice looking combination but Cote bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cote swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zai counters with a left to the body.
Zai scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Danga de danga de dang - Zai scores with a four punch combination!
Zai throws a series of punches but Cote moves out of range.
Zai bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Zai clobbers Cote with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Zai chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Zai scores with a leg kick.
Cote gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zai counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Cote tries to clinch
and Zai counters with a nice body shot.
Cote tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Zai counters with a nice leg kick.
Zai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zai moves into the clinch successfully.
Cote lands an uppercut.
Zai is trying to stall.
Zai misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cote.
Cote wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zai has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Zai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Cote throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zai counters with a nice leg kick.
Zai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cote chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zai can pounce on him.
Zai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cote takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cote stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zai.
A head kick by Cote misses
and Zai counters with a nice leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zai, right into the meat.
Cote circles away from the clinch attempt.
William Zai seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Zai has taken the fight to the clinch.

Zai breaks from the clinch.
Cote misses the body punch
and Zai counters with an inside leg kick.
Cote keeps the fight on the outside.
Cote fails in his attempt to clinch.

Zai fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cote, pushing him back against the cage.

Zai breaks from the clinch.

Zai takes the fight into the clinch.
Cote stalling in the clinch but Zai improves position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cote misses with a punch to the body.

Zai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cote is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cote gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cote chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zai can pounce on him.
Zai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Zai moves into the clinch.

Zai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zai.
Zai moves in looking to clinch but Cote pushes him off.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zai, right into the meat.
Zai lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Zai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cote but Cote pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zai looks to land a combination. Cote sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Zai with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Zai throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cote darts in trying to clinch

and Zai counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cote fails to pull guard.
Cote wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cote is trying to break free.
Zai tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cote just stands there and leans against the cage.

Zai breaks from the clinch.

Zai has managed to clinch.
Cote wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zai missing with knees to the body.

Zai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice sprawl there from Zai as Cote shoots in.
Zai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zai takes a jab right on the kisser.

Zai has Cote up against the cage in a clinch.
Zai looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zai.
Cote has had enough of the clinch but Zai keeps him there for the moment.
A bit of stalling here from Cote.
Cote tries to break the clinch but Zai is controlling the position.
Cote wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cote trying to stall but Zai improves his position.

Zai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A good leg kick by Zai.
Zai scores with a leg kick.

Zai clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zai landing knees to the head.

Zai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zai.
Cote scores with a nice head shot.
Zai looks to land a combination. Cote sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cote misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cote misses with a takedown attempt - Zai sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tur Cote has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tur Cote. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cote looks to land a right hand but Zai moved out of range.

Zai closes the distance and clinches.
Cote drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zai pulls his leg out and moves away.

Zai takes the fight into the clinch.

Cote manages to break the clinch.
Zai will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Cote gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cote using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zai has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Zai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cote falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zai counters with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cote darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Zai has a hand on Cote's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Cote takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Zai wants to get back to his feet.
Cote prevents Zai from getting the reversal.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zai is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Zai is trying desperately to improve position.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Zai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zai winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Zai!