PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brook Anderson (ranked 3512 p4p, 3564 weight class) and Ruslan Zerkovski (ranked 411 p4p, 413 weight class). Ruslan Zerkovski will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Anderson
vs
Zerkovski

185 cm
25
153
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
160
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brook Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruslan Zerkovski!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anderson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zerkovski pinned against the cage. Zerkovski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As Anderson backs off Zerkovski throws a huge counter combo but Anderson manages to avoid it all.
Zerkovski uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Anderson.
Zerkovski is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Anderson has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zerkovski is trying to break the clinch but Anderson has him pressed against the cage.
Anderson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Anderson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson fails with the takedown.
Zerkovski is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brook Anderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Anderson throws a head kick but Zerkovski moves out of range.
Anderson fails with the takedown.

Anderson forces Zerkovski back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Anderson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Anderson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Anderson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zerkovski just stands there and leans against the cage.
Anderson has been working on his balance at For Pride and Prodigies, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Zerkovski.
Zerkovski is trying to push Anderson away but Anderson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Anderson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zerkovski pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Anderson is trying to pull guard but Zerkovski turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Zerkovski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Anderson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zerkovski smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zerkovski counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Anderson shoots in but Zerkovski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zerkovski lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Anderson moves into the clinch.
Zerkovski is looking to break free of the clinch but Anderson has double underhooks.
Zerkovski looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zerkovski wants to get back to striking at distance but Anderson won't allow it.
Zerkovski looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zerkovski tries to circle away but Anderson has him pinned against the cage.
Anderson tries to pull guard but Zerkovski forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Anderson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Anderson tries to pull guard but Zerkovski holds him up against the cage and eventually Anderson drops back down to his feet.
Zerkovski misses with a punch to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zerkovski working hard to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ruslan Zerkovski will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zerkovski stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zerkovski wants it to stay on the feet.
Zerkovski is looking for the big counter here.

Anderson darts in and clinches Zerkovski up against the cage.

Anderson pulls guard effortlessly.

Anderson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Zerkovski working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Anderson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

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

Anderson working for a triangle but Zerkovski defends it easily.
Zerkovski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Anderson is keeping the position for now.
Zerkovski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Anderson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zerkovski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zerkovski trying to control but Anderson is working from the bottom.
Zerkovski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zerkovski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Anderson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zerkovski looking to pass the guard.
Zerkovski connects with a couple of short punches.
Zerkovski makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zerkovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anderson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Anderson tries to get out of the position.
Zerkovski throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zerkovski works over Anderson with some ground and pound from guard.
Zerkovski keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Anderson's head.
Anderson keeping full guard, as Zerkovski tries to pass.

Anderson working for a triangle but Zerkovski defends it easily.

Anderson is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Zerkovski rolls with it to try and escape but Anderson cranks on the arm and Zerkovski is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Brook Anderson!