PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Zlobin (ranked 2959 p4p, 3669 weight class) and Don Diego (ranked 372 p4p, 443 weight class). Andrey Zlobin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zlobin
vs
Diego

190 cm
19
222
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
26
213
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Zlobin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Don Diego!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diego thows a leg kick but Zlobin checks it
and Zlobin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zlobin misses with a double jab.
Diego walks into a straight right hand from Zlobin.
An inside leg kick lands from Zlobin.
Diego throws a leg kick
and Zlobin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Zlobin misses with a few strikes there.
Zlobin misses with a head kick.
Diego is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Zlobin.
Zlobin tests Diego's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diego. Zlobin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diego throws a leg kick
and Zlobin counters with a stiff right hand.
Zlobin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zlobin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Diego.
Zlobin went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Diego wants to clinch but Zlobin slips to the side
and Zlobin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Good shot there by Zlobin.
Zlobin scores with a three punch combo!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zlobin connects with an inside leg kick.
Zlobin lands with a cross.
It looks like Zlobin has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Diego throws a low kick but Zlobin moves out of range easily.
Zlobin lands a jab to Diego's midsection.
A bone on bone clash there as Zlobin blocks the leg kick.
Zlobin tests Diego's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Diego is looking to score with low kicks.
Diego throws a low kick, looking for Zlobin's leg but Zlobin calmly moves out of range.
Zlobin missing with a left hand there. Diego was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zlobin throws a front kick aimed at Diego's knee but Diego avoids it well.
Diego tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zlobin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Diego somewhat.
Zlobin throws a hook but Diego blocks it.
Zlobin lands a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zlobin slaps away a takedown attempt from Diego, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Diego fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zlobin manages to avoid it.
Diego wants to clinch.
Diego throws a lazy right hand but Zlobin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Diego takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zlobin throws a head kick that half lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zlobin thumps Diego with a low kick.

Diego shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Zlobin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Diego on the ground.
Diego is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zlobin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diego landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Diego is pressing down on Zlobin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zlobin is holding on for now.
Ground and pound from Diego.
Zlobin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Diego.
Diego looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Diego is pressing down on Zlobin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zlobin is holding on for now.
Diego working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Diego lands with a punch from half guard.
Diego is nestled in close to Zlobin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Zlobin is trying to stand back up but Diego is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zlobin taking some punishment here, with Diego in his half guard.
Diego has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Diego working over Zlobin with some ground and pound. Zlobin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zlobin is trying to stand up here but Diego is controlling him well.
Zlobin tries to get to full guard but Diego has control of the leg.
Diego working the head and body with strikes.
Diego is trying to control. Zlobin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Diego missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Diego trying to control from half guard but Zlobin is working away.
Diego landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Zlobin dominated that round.
That's time! Zlobin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Diego slips a jab and a cross from Zlobin.
Diego misses with a wild body shot.
Diego throws a leg kick but Zlobin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Zlobin lands with a straight right. Diego didn't see that one coming.
Zlobin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Diego has time to react.
Nice body kick there by Zlobin.
Diego looks to clinch
and Zlobin counters with a straight right hand.
A low kick from Diego misses
and Zlobin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That kick from Zlobin tenderised Diego's leg. Diego is trying to keep his angry face on.
Diego attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diego tries to clinch there but Zlobin circles away.
Zlobin appears to be looking for a big counter.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zlobin.
Diego shoots in but no luck this time.
Zlobin fails to land with a series of punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slow jab from Diego misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diego is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zlobin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zlobin keeps the fight on the outside.
Zlobin was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Diego fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zlobin avoids it really well and circles away.
Zlobin is looking to counter punch.
Andrey Zlobin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Diego.
Zlobin defending well as Diego loads up on a big left hand.
Zlobin lands a front kick.
Zlobin cracks Diego with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Diego misses with a takedown attempt - Zlobin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zlobin dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Diego. That did some damage!
Diego takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Diego closes the distance looking to clinch
and Zlobin counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zlobin lands a jab.
Diego tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zlobin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diego tries for a takedown but Zlobin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Andrey Zlobin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zlobin swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Diego.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zlobin lunges at Diego with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Diego's hand.
Don Diego seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zlobin stuffs the takedown.
Andrey Zlobin is winning the standup battle so far.
Zlobin misses with a series of wild punches.
Zlobin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zlobin throws a hook to the side of Diego's head but Diego sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zlobin throws a leg kick that misses.

Diego throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zlobin was covering up waiting for the punch and Diego finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Zlobin has his feet on Diego's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diego moves to clinch but Zlobin breaks away
and Diego takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zlobin lands with a right hand.
Diego wants to clinch but Zlobin slips to the side
and Zlobin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Diego is rocked!
Diego is keeping his hands low and just asking to be knocked out. Zlobin Raises his leg and lands a stunning axe kick! Diego is out cold, face down on the mat!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Andrey Zlobin!
Our winner, Andrey Zlobin, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.