PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Dracul (ranked 2316 p4p, 2511 weight class) and Pinina Zhikova (ranked 327 p4p, 361 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Dracul
vs
Zhikova

195 cm
24
215
6 - 3 - 1

180 cm
26
205
10 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 - 1, fighting out of New York, Vlad Dracul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pinina Zhikova!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Dracul, as that shot connected.
Zhikova looks to score with a jab to the body but Dracul is just out of range.
Zhikova fails with a takedown attempt.
Zhikova shoots in and drives through. Dracul sprawls well.
Dracul throws a body punch but Zhikova moves out of range.
Zhikova tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Dracul has been working on his boxing with his coaches at New York Public Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Dracul swings for the body but Zhikova moves out of range.
Zhikova avoids the body shot from Dracul.
Dracul defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zhikova.
Vlad Dracul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pinina Zhikova.

Zhikova looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zhikova sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zhikova postures up in Dracul's guard and throws a big left but Dracul blocks it.
Dracul looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhikova trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhikova content to stall in guard here.
Zhikova throws a big elbow that misses.
Dracul keeping moving, preventing Zhikova from controlling successfully.
Zhikova cracks Dracul with a solid left hand.
Zhikova in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Zhikova has gone for a leg lock! Dracul slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zhikova's guard.

Zhikova controlling the position.
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?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dracul trying to control but Zhikova is working from the bottom.
Dracul knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zhikova on the ground.
Zhikova looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dracul is stalling in the full guard.
Dracul preventing the sweep.
Zhikova has control of Dracul's left arm, preventing Dracul from doing any damage.
Zhikova's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Zhikova has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zhikova looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dracul is one step ahead there.
Zhikova has his hands on Dracul's head, controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dracul lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zhikova misses with a wild combination.
Zhikova has a takedown stuffed.
A swing and a miss from Dracul.
Zhikova lands a right hook to the body.
Zhikova waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dracul.
Zhikova has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Zhikova uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dracul.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A lazy left from Dracul finds it's target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zhikova.
Dracul misses with a straight left.
Dracul is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Dracul misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhikova bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhikova shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dracul sprawls well. Dracul wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zhikova gets slowly back to his feet.
Dracul throws a jab but it's blocked by Zhikova.
Dracul lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Zhikova steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dracul.
Zhikova fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dracul avoids it really well and circles away.
Dracul misses the shot to the body.
A big right from Dracul misses.
Zhikova tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Dracul fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zhikova misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dracul.
Pinina Zhikova seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhikova connects with a body shot that sends Dracul's belly button to the back.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Dracul misses with a wild body shot.
Zhikova swings for the body but Dracul moves out of range.
Dracul keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vlad Dracul is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slow jab from Dracul misses its intended target.

Zhikova shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dracul is trying to defend but Zhikova finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Zhikova wants to free his trapped foot but Dracul is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Dracul dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zhikova slips under a jab from Dracul.
Dracul throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dracul scores with a jab. Zhikova acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Zhikova fails with a takedown attempt.
Dracul keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zhikova fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vlad Dracul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pinina Zhikova.
Zhikova throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dracul's waist but Dracul gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zhikova off to one side.
Zhikova tries for a takedown but Dracul circles away easily
and Dracul counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Zhikova scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Dracul tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dracul regains half guard.
Zhikova is figuring out what he wants to do next.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zhikova is looking for a kimura but Dracul is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zhikova to get the leverage.
Zhikova thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zhikova passes to side control.
Zhikova wants to control but Dracul is keeping him busy.

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

That's two 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.
Zhikova creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dracul sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Zhikova throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Dracul works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Dracul is trying to maintain the position but Zhikova is very close to passing his half guard.
Zhikova content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Let's hope that Zhikova has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhikova sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dracul defending well though.
Zhikova seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dracul on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dracul tries to get out of the position.
Dracul blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zhikova.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zhikova is looking to advance position but Dracul won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zhikova in particular looking to stall.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Zhikova passes to full mount!
Dracul blocking the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zhikova is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Zhikova!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Pinina Zhikova!
Pinina Zhikova decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.