PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Dzhugashvili (ranked 4158 p4p, 4293 weight class) and Evan Weiss (ranked 395 p4p, 404 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dzhugashvili
vs
Weiss

168 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
160
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joseph Dzhugashvili!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Evan Weiss!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dzhugashvili throws a series of punches but Weiss moves out of range.
Weiss showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dzhugashvili.
Dzhugashvili fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Weiss rushes Dzhugashvili and presses him up against the cage.
Weiss lands an elbow inside that Dzhugashvili shrugs off.
Weiss fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dzhugashvili tries to break the clinch but Weiss is controlling the position.
Weiss lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Joseph Dzhugashvili has been cut.
Dzhugashvili tries to score a body lock takedown but Weiss shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Weiss obliges.
Weiss lands an elbow that stopped Dzhugashvili in his tracks for a moment.

Weiss breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Weiss fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dzhugashvili, pushing him back against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Weiss lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A knee to the head by Weiss.
Weiss keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dzhugashvili's efforts to push away.
Weiss is stalling here.
Dzhugashvili wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dzhugashvili tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Weiss smiles and moves away.

Weiss rushes Dzhugashvili and presses him up against the cage.
Weiss throws a punch but it's blocked by Dzhugashvili.
Dzhugashvili has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Weiss avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Dzhugashvili. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Weiss lands an elbow just above Dzhugashvili 's eye.
Dzhugashvili takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Weiss obliges.
Dzhugashvili is breathing heavily.
Weiss lands an elbow just above Dzhugashvili 's eye.
Dzhugashvili takes an elbow to the forehead.
Dzhugashvili takes an elbow to the temple.
Weiss gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Dzhugashvili has had enough of the clinch but Weiss keeps him there for the moment.
Weiss lands a good knee to the midsection. Dzhugashvili won't want to take too many of those.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Weiss takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Weiss lands a damaging elbow.
Weiss lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Weiss escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Weiss fails with an attempt to clinch.
It looked like Dzhugashvili was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Weiss has closed the distance and engaged Dzhugashvili in a clinch.
Weiss lands an elbow inside that Dzhugashvili shrugs off.
Weiss gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Weiss lands an elbow inside that Dzhugashvili shrugs off.

Joseph Dzhugashvili's cut is getting worse.
Weiss landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Weiss obliges.
Weiss lands an elbow just above Dzhugashvili 's eye.
Weiss misses with a short punch on the inside.

Weiss breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Weiss moves into the clinch successfully.
Weiss lands an elbow that stopped Dzhugashvili in his tracks for a moment.
Weiss with a knee to the head.
Weiss gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Weiss lands a nice elbow.
Dzhugashvili being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Weiss obliges.
Weiss leaning against his opponent.
Weiss lands an elbow inside.

Weiss pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Weiss takes the fight into the clinch.
Weiss lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Weiss lands an elbow that stopped Dzhugashvili in his tracks for a moment.
Weiss lands a damaging elbow.

Weiss breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Weiss clinches up with Dzhugashvili and pushes him back against the cage.
Weiss prevents Dzhugashvili from breaking the clinch.
Weiss landing knees to the body.

Weiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Weiss is looking to chop away at Dzhugashvili's legs.
As Weiss looks to move away, Dzhugashvili throws a big counter combo but Weiss just gets out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Weiss lands a nice leg kick that just misses Dzhugashvili's sensitive parts.
Dzhugashvili misses with a looping left.

Weiss instigates a clinch.
Weiss lands an elbow inside.
Weiss misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Weiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Weiss clinches with his opponent.
Weiss lands a nice elbow.
Dzhugashvili tries to break free but Weiss pushes him back against the cage.
Weiss gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Weiss lands a nice elbow.
Weiss creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dzhugashvili's defenses.

Joseph Dzhugashvili's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Weiss unloads a knee to the mid-section. Dzhugashvili lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Weiss lands a damaging elbow.
A knee to the head by Weiss.

Dzhugashvili is rocked!
Weiss misses with a punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Weiss dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joseph Dzhugashvili's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Weiss gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dzhugashvili is trying to push Weiss away but Weiss has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Dzhugashvili wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Weiss unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Dzhugashvili is trying to break the clinch but Weiss has him pressed against the cage.
Weiss landing knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Weiss.

Weiss breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Weiss has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Weiss moves into range and clinches up with Dzhugashvili.
Weiss has Dzhugashvili pressed against the cage, preventing Dzhugashvili from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dzhugashvili blocks a body shot from Weiss.
Weiss stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Weiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Weiss fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dzhugashvili, pushing him back against the cage.
Weiss creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dzhugashvili's defenses.
Weiss swings wildly with an uppercut but Dzhugashvili uses good head movement to avoid it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dzhugashvili takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weiss comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Evan Weiss seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Weiss lands an elbow inside.
Weiss lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Weiss lands an elbow inside that Dzhugashvili shrugs off.
Oh Dzhugashvili is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A knee to the head by Weiss.
Dzhugashvili blocking some punches.

Weiss manages to break the clinch.
Dzhugashvili throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dzhugashvili seems to have got his legs back now.

Weiss moves into the clinch.
Weiss content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Dzhugashvili takes an elbow to the temple.
Dzhugashvili wants to break the clinch but can't.

Weiss pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Weiss circles away from the clinch attempt.

Weiss clinches up with Dzhugashvili and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knees in the clinch landing for Weiss.
Weiss comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Dzhugashvili takes an elbow to the temple.
Nice elbow from Weiss.
Nice elbow from Weiss.
Dzhugashvili takes an elbow to the forehead.
Weiss misses with a punch to the body.
Weiss lands a knee to the head.
Dzhugashvili takes a knee to the side of the body.

Weiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Weiss drives through and clinches with Dzhugashvili against the cage.
Weiss lands an elbow just above Dzhugashvili 's eye.
Knees in the clinch landing for Weiss.
Knees to the body from Weiss.
Weiss scores a nice knee to the body.
Weiss lands an elbow inside that Dzhugashvili shrugs off.
Weiss landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Weiss breaks from the clinch.
Weiss is looking to clinch.

Weiss forces Dzhugashvili back against the cage and clinches.
Dzhugashvili tries to circle away but Weiss has him pinned against the cage.
Weiss lands an elbow inside.
Dzhugashvili has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Dzhugashvili takes an elbow to the forehead.
Dzhugashvili takes an elbow to the forehead.
Weiss scores with a knee to the head.
Weiss lands an elbow inside.
Nice elbow from Weiss.
Weiss lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Dzhugashvili is trying to push Weiss away but Weiss has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Weiss breaks the clinch.
Dzhugashvili avoids a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weiss is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Weiss using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Weiss avoiding damage.
Weiss lands an elbow that stopped Dzhugashvili in his tracks for a moment.
Weiss has Dzhugashvili pressed against the cage.
Weiss lands an elbow inside that Dzhugashvili shrugs off.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dzhugashvili tries to circle away but Weiss has him pinned against the cage.

Weiss breaks the clinch.

Weiss moves into the clinch successfully.
Weiss lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Weiss showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joseph Dzhugashvili's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Dzhugashvili checks the leg kick nicely there.

Weiss moves into the clinch.
Dzhugashvili is trying to push Weiss away but Weiss has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Weiss breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Weiss fails in his attempt to clinch.
Joseph Dzhugashvili is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Weiss avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Weiss tries to clinch up.
Dzhugashvili throws a right and a left that Weiss avoids nicely.
Weiss takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Weiss gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Weiss lands a good knee to the midsection. Dzhugashvili won't want to take too many of those.
Dzhugashvili wants to get back to striking at distance but Weiss won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A frustrated look appears on Dzhugashvili's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dzhugashvili wants to get back to striking at distance but Weiss won't allow it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Weiss.
Weiss keeps control of Dzhugashvili as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dzhugashvili takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dzhugashvili is trying to break the clinch but Weiss has him pressed against the cage.
Weiss taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Dzhugashvili wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dzhugashvili wants a takedown but no success here.
Weiss lands an elbow just above Dzhugashvili 's eye.
Nice elbow from Weiss.
Weiss creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dzhugashvili's defenses.
Weiss comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Knees in the clinch landing for Weiss.
Dzhugashvili letting Weiss take a breather here.
Dzhugashvili takes an elbow to the temple.

Weiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Evan Weiss is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Weiss misses.
Weiss tries to bum rush Dzhugashvili with a series of wild strikes but Dzhugashvili uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Dzhugashvili gets tackled into the cage by Weiss. Weiss maintains the clinch.

Weiss breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Weiss tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Weiss fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dzhugashvili is looking to land body kicks.
Weiss steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Dzhugashvili.

Dzhugashvili tries to keep at a distance but Weiss has taken the fight into the clinch.

Weiss breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dzhugashvili misses with a wild combination.

Weiss forces Dzhugashvili back against the cage and clinches.
Weiss unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A short right from Weiss.

Weiss breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Evan Weiss seems to be getting the better of the standup.

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

Weiss breaks from the clinch.

Weiss instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dzhugashvili changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Weiss fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dzhugashvili circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dzhugashvili went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Weiss closes the distance and clinches.
Weiss stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Weiss lands a knee to the body.

Weiss escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Weiss doesn't manage to clinch there - Dzhugashvili circles away.

Weiss closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dzhugashvili takes an elbow to the temple.
Dzhugashvili takes an elbow to the temple.
Dzhugashvili blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Weiss putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Dzhugashvili in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Weiss crunches a lovely knee into Dzhugashvili's ribcage.

Weiss pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weiss wants to clinch up but Dzhugashvili keeps it at a distance.
Sloppy strikes from Dzhugashvili. Those never looked like landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Weiss has Dzhugashvili up against the cage in a clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Weiss obliges.

Weiss breaks from the clinch.

Weiss closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Weiss utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Weiss escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Weiss swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Weiss moves into the clinch successfully.
Nice elbow from Weiss.
Weiss prevents Dzhugashvili from breaking the clinch.
Joseph Dzhugashvili has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Evan Weiss is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Weiss takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evan Weiss comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Weiss has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 25:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 25:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evan Weiss!