PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Rozhkov (ranked 338 p4p, 492 weight class) and Chad Billingsly (ranked 40 p4p, 57 weight class). Chad Billingsly has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rozhkov
vs
Billingsly

195 cm
30
275
18 - 11 - 0

192 cm
35
226
28 - 14 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

30th Century Beer Store
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Rozhkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chad Billingsly!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Billingsly bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Billingsly throws a shot from downtown. Rozhkov moves away and avoids it.
Jab by Billingsly.
Rozhkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Billingsly.
Rozhkov has a takedown stuffed.
A little jabbing left from Billingsly on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Billingsly uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rozhkov.
Rozhkov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Billingsly is fending him off so far but Rozhkov persists. Nope, Billingsly circles away and we're back to standing.
Billingsly connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Billingsly misses with a looping right.
Billingsly swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rozhkov lands a lovely overhand right.
Billingsly scores with a shot to the body.
Rozhkov throws a hook but Billingsly blocks it.
A little jabbing left from Billingsly on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rozhkov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Billingsly doesn't seem bothered though.
Rozhkov throws a body shot but no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rozhkov shoots in looking for a takedown but Billingsly manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rozhkov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Billingsly looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Rozhkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billingsly throws an overhand right that lands on Rozhkov's shoulder, as Rozhkov tries to avoid the shot.
Rozhkov scores with the left hand. Billingsly knows he should have avoided that one.
Billingsly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rozhkov was well out of range. Poor timing from Billingsly.
Billingsly throws a right and a left that both miss.
Billingsly avoids the body shot from Rozhkov.
Rozhkov misses with a looping left.
It seemed like Billingsly was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rozhkov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rozhkov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Billingsly avoids it really well and circles away.
Billingsly lands with a right hand.
Billingsly with a jab.
Rozhkov misses with a double jab
and Billingsly counters with a stiff right hand.
Chad Billingsly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rozhkov tries for a takedown but Billingsly sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A nice side step and Billingsly releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Billingsly looks to land a left hand but Rozhkov moved out of range nicely.
Billingsly leaves Rozhkov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice uppercut there from Rozhkov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Billingsly throws a lazy right hand but Rozhkov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rozhkov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Billingsly counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rozhkov tries for a takedown but Billingsly circles away easily
and Billingsly counters with a stiff right hand.
Billingsly lands with a shot to the body.
Billingsly misses with a body shot.

Rozhkov shoots in and gets a takedown into Billingsly's guard.
Rozhkov stopping the sweep attempt from Billingsly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rozhkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Billingsly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rozhkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rozhkov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rozhkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Billingsly works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rozhkov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Billingsly utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rozhkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rozhkov throwing strikes from guard but Billingsly blocks nicely.
Billingsly tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rozhkov throwing strikes but missing.
Rozhkov works over Billingsly with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rozhkov stopping the sweep attempt from Billingsly.
Rozhkov wants to control from the top but Billingsly keeps moving.
Billingsly preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rozhkov passes into half guard.
Rozhkov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Billingsly is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Rozhkov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Rozhkov seems to be working for a kimura but Billingsly defends the submission attempt.
Rozhkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chad Billingsly will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Billingsly. Rozhkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Billingsly scores with a jab to the jaw.
Chad Billingsly seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Billingsly misses with a wild body shot.

Rozhkov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Billingsly is trying to get back to full guard.
Billingsly felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rozhkov lands a nice short elbow.
Rozhkov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rozhkov wants to work for an arm triangle but Billingsly is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Rozhkov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Billingsly is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rozhkov scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rozhkov working the head and body with strikes.
Rozhkov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Billingsly to regain full guard.
Billingsly keeping moving, preventing Rozhkov from controlling successfully.
Rozhkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Billingsly working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rozhkov.
Rozhkov postures up in Billingsly's guard and throws a big left but Billingsly blocks it.
Rozhkov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Billingsly has Rozhkov pulled in close to control his posture.
Rozhkov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Alexander Rozhkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rozhkov stopping the sweep attempt from Billingsly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rozhkov is looking to work some ground and pound but Billingsly has wrist control.
Billingsly looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rozhkov is one step ahead there.
Rozhkov stands up over Billingsly, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Billingsly working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rozhkov.
Rozhkov tries to free his leg and advance position but Billingsly is retaining full guard.
Rozhkov throws a strike but Billingsly rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rozhkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Billingsly gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rozhkov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billingsly wants to control from the top but Rozhkov keeps moving.
Billingsly won't allow Rozhkov to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Billingsly looking to pass the guard.
Billingsly is looking to pass into half guard but Rozhkov pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rozhkov is in guard.

Billingsly is trying to keep Rozhkov in close.
Rozhkov wants to control from the top but Billingsly keeps moving.
Billingsly wants to sweep here but Rozhkov controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Billingsly is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rozhkov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Rozhkov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Billingsly throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Billingsly moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nice uppercut lands for Rozhkov. That snapped Billingsly's head back.
A slow jab from Billingsly misses its intended target.
Billingsly stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Billingsly wants it to stay on the feet.
Rozhkov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rozhkov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Billingsly avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Rozhkov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Billingsly's half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rozhkov connects with a nice short shot to Billingsly's temple.
Billingsly is looking to improve his position.
Rozhkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Billingsly defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rozhkov thows a huge punch but Billingsly dodges it nicely.

Rozhkov seems to be working for a kimura but Billingsly defends the submission attempt.
Rozhkov working Billingsly over with strikes.
Billingsly wants to control but Rozhkov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rozhkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rozhkov working over Billingsly with some ground and pound. Billingsly looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Billingsly works his way to full guard. Good work.
Billingsly keeping moving, preventing Rozhkov from controlling successfully.
Rozhkov postures up in Billingsly's guard and throws a big left but Billingsly blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rozhkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rozhkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Billingsly controls Rozhkov momentarily but Rozhkov frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rozhkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Billingsly works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Billingsly keeping moving, preventing Rozhkov from controlling successfully.
Rozhkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rozhkov throws a big right hand that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Billingsly looks to land a right hand but Rozhkov moved out of range.
A shot to the liver by Rozhkov. Beautiful body shot.
Billingsly throws out a loose jab but Rozhkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rozhkov tries to counter with a takedown but Billingsly is quick to defend against it.
Billingsly scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rozhkov misses with a looping right.
Despite the aggression on Billingsly's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rozhkov misses with a straight left.

Rozhkov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Billingsly tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rozhkov is in Billingsly's guard.
Rozhkov postures up and lands a big shot to Billingsly's brow.
Rozhkov lands a couple of elbows.
Rozhkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Billingsly avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rozhkov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rozhkov wants to control from the top but Billingsly keeps moving.
Billingsly tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rozhkov with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rozhkov wants to control from the top but Billingsly keeps moving.
Billingsly manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rozhkov manages to get himself to full guard.

Rozhkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rozhkov wants to sweep here but Billingsly controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rozhkov working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Rozhkov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rozhkov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Rozhkov!
An out of breath Alexander Rozhkov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.