PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Panda Four (ranked 1926 p4p, 2410 weight class) and Pinina Zhikova (ranked 253 p4p, 301 weight class). Pinina Zhikova has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Panda Four's chin.

Four
vs
Zhikova

150 cm
22
205
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
205
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Panda Four!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pinina Zhikova!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Paul Tew and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Four gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zhikova looking to pass the guard.

Four has his foot on Zhikova's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zhikova works his way back into a safe position though.
Zhikova looking to pass the guard.

Four working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zhikova doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zhikova manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Four working for a triangle but Zhikova defends it easily.
Zhikova's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Four escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zhikova gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zhikova looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Four had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zhikova defends it easily.
Zhikova content to stall in guard here.

Four throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Zhikova got a little sloppy there for a moment and Four has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zhikova has managed to get both his arms back between Four's legs - danger averted.

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

That's two 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.

Four looking for a guillotine here but Zhikova defends easily.
Zhikova showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zhikova trying to control but Four is working from the bottom.

Four is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zhikova defends well.

Four working for submissions but it's allowed Zhikova to get to half guard.
Four might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zhikova wants to control but Four is keeping him busy.

Four looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Four actively working from the bottom here.

Zhikova is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Zhikova is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Four doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zhikova.

Zhikova is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Zhikova wants to lay and pray for a moment but Four keeps working.

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.

Four actively working from the bottom here.

Four looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Zhikova is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Four doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zhikova.

Zhikova looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Four looking for submissions off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pinina Zhikova dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Four closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zhikova did well to prevent Four getting side control.
Zhikova slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zhikova wants to control but Four passes easily into half guard.

Four is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zhikova is just riding it out for now. Four eventually gives up the hold.
Zhikova has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Four is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhikova is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Four jumps into side control!
Zhikova is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Four is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Four looking for a guillotine from mount but Zhikova is having none of it.
Zhikova sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Panda Four overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhikova moves into full guard.

Zhikova throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Four advances position into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhikova is looking to reverse the position.

Four is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zhikova has escaped the position, nice work there.
Zhikova manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Four works his foot free and advances to mount.
Zhikova gets back to half guard.
Zhikova tries to get to full guard but Four has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Four is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zhikova has managed to free his arm - good work.
Four prevents Zhikova from improving his position.
Zhikova gets back to full guard.

Zhikova isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Four stacks Zhikova on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Four!

Four is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zhikova is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zhikova gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Four is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zhikova sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhikova slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Four stopping the sweep attempt from Zhikova.

Four drops back looking for a leg! Zhikova is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zhikova manages to kick Four off! Four jumps back into Zhikova's guard.
Zhikova is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Four looking to pass the guard.
Four won't allow Zhikova to sweep him here.

Four drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Four jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Four thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Zhikova bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Four's guard.

Zhikova's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Four looking for a guillotine here but Zhikova defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zhikova avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Panda Four dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Four closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Zhikova slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Our spies down at at Doom's Gym inform us that Zhikova has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Zhikova has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Four can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zhikova wants to sweep but no luck.
Zhikova trying to control the position.

Zhikova looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhikova looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Four looking to pass the guard.

Zhikova working for a triangle but Four defends it easily.
Four passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Four is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zhikova is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zhikova is trying to improve his position.

Four looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zhikova is looking to reverse the position.

Four is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zhikova knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Four tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Four has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zhikova is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Four working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Zhikova is looking to regain half guard here but Four keeps moving and retains side control.
Zhikova is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Zhikova wants to control but Four is keeping busy.

Four is working for a kimura but Zhikova is defending it quite comfortably.

Four is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zhikova is just riding it out for now. Four eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Four is trying to work for a kimura but Zhikova is defending well.
Zhikova tries to get to full guard but Four has control of the leg.
Four tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zhikova knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Zhikova is looking to improve his position.

Four wants to work for an arm triangle but Zhikova is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zhikova slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Zhikova looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zhikova pulls Four in close to his closed guard and prevents Four from doing any damage or advancing position.
Zhikova wants to hit a sweep here but Four passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Zhikova there!
Zhikova tries to hold on but Four postures up.
Zhikova gets back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zhikova is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Four's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Four's back!

Zhikova has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Four is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Crapollas Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Four is trying to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Panda Four showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Four has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Panda Four!