PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Charles (ranked 3123 p4p, 3754 weight class) and Zap Pushkin (ranked 354 p4p, 394 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Charles
vs
Pushkin

181 cm
26
176
7 - 11 - 0

180 cm
24
177
1 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reggie Charles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zap Pushkin!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charles digs a good hook to Pushkin's body.
Charles takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Charles throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pushkin throws a nice looking combination but Charles bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Charles swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Charles keeps the fight on the outside.
Charles looks to land a right hand but Pushkin moved out of range.
Charles checks a low kick from Pushkin.
Charles looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Charles scores with a nice head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Charles misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pushkin.
Pushkin is looking for the big counter here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Charles.
Charles rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Pushkin counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Reggie Charles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles throws a sloppy body shot
and Pushkin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Reggie Charles has been cut.
Pushkin avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Charles misses with a low kick.
No joy there for Pushkin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A counter left hand to the body from Charles misses its target.
Pushkin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Charles throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Pushkin on the side of the head.
Charles throws a hook to the side of Pushkin's head but Pushkin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pushkin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Charles throws out the jab.
Charles dives in for a single leg takedown but Pushkin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Charles goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pushkin throws a punch but it's blocked by Charles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Charles is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pushkin to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reggie Charles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Charles content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Charles throws a head punch that misses.
Charles throws a head punch that misses.
Pushkin has a couple of punches blocked by Charles.
Charles blocking some punches.
Pushkin misses with a punch on the inside.

Charles pulls Pushkin into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Charles has a closed guard, preventing Pushkin from standing up.

Charles had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pushkin defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles has a closed guard, preventing Pushkin from standing up.
Pushkin stopping the sweep attempt from Charles.
Pushkin wants to stand but Charles is controlling his posture from full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Charles avoids a punch combination nicely.
Charles misses with a body shot.
Charles backing away here, and Pushkin unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pushkin scores with a nice head shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pushkin.
Pushkin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Pushkin throws a hook to the side of Charles's head but Charles sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
An attempted straight right counter from Charles misses the target.
Pushkin scores with a sloppy right hand. Charles should have avoided that one.
Charles misses with an uppercut. Pushkin saw that one coming.
Charles throws an overhand right that lands on Pushkin's shoulder, as Pushkin tries to avoid the shot.
Pushkin looks to land a right hand but Charles moved out of range.
Pushkin walks into a jab.
A slow jab from Charles misses its intended target.
A little jabbing left from Pushkin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Charles fails to land the takedown.
Pushkin flicks out a counter leg kick but Charles steps away.
Pushkin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Charles tries to land a leg kick but Pushkin saw it coming and moves away.
Pushkin only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Pushkin misses with a body shot.
The fighters circling - Pushkin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Charles is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pushkin.
Pushkin doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Charles chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pushkin can pounce on him.
Pushkin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Charles lunges at Pushkin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pushkin's hand.
Charles shoots in for a double leg but Pushkin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Charles throws a leg kick
and Pushkin counters with an outside leg kick.
Charles clobbers Pushkin with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Charles avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pushkin has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Pushkin wants to clinch.
Pushkin moves forwards but Charles connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Pushkin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Pushkin breaks from the clinch.
Charles misses with a body shot.

Pushkin rushes Charles and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pushkin throws a punch but it's blocked by Charles.
Charles slowing the pace effectively.
Pushkin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pushkin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Charles is trying to break the clinch but Pushkin is controlling him.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pushkin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pushkin.
Charles tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Charles successfully pulls guard.
Charles wants to sweep here but Pushkin controlling him for the moment.
Pushkin wants to stand but Charles has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Pushkin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Charles, up you get!
Charles throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pushkin.
Charles swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Pushkin with a nice calf kick.
Charles throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pushkin let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Pushkin tries to clinch up.
Pushkin avoids a kick to the body.
Charles keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pushkin.
Charles lands a nice shot that snaps Pushkin's head back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Charles avoids the head kick by Pushkin.
A counter left hand to the body from Charles misses its target.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Charles shoots in and drives through. Pushkin sprawls well.
A nice leg kick lands there from Pushkin.
Pushkin throws a right hand that misses

and Charles counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pushkin wants to stand up but Charles is controlling him.
Charles trying to control the position from guard on top but Pushkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Charles thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Pushkin pushes Charles off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zap Pushkin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Reggie Charles's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Charles uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Pushkin slips under a jab.
Charles missing with a left hand there. Pushkin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Pushkin! But no joy.
Pushkin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A nice leg kick lands there from Pushkin.
Charles lands with a nice body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Charles misses with a hook
and Pushkin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Charles fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pushkin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Charles tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pushkin was well out of range. Poor timing from Charles.
Charles throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles misses with a hook to the body
and Pushkin counters with a straight right hand.
Pushkin scores with a shot to the body.
Charles comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Charles scores with a nice head shot.

Charles closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Pushkin wants to get back to his feet.

Pushkin kicks Charles off and gets back to his feet.
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!
Charles throws a jab when Pushkin was well out of range.
Pushkin lands with a thumping leg kick.
Charles lunges at Pushkin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pushkin's hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles misses with an uppercut
and Pushkin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Charles misses with a low kick.
Pushkin moves out of range as Charles strikes.
Pushkin moves out of range as Charles strikes.
Pushkin let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Zap Pushkin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Charles throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Charles shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pushkin as he jumps to the side.
Zap Pushkin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Charles misses with a low kick as Pushkin jumps back.
Charles throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pushkin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Pushkin jabs at Charles's body.
Pushkin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Charles looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Charles throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pushkin appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Charles looks to throw a body kick
and Pushkin counters with a one-two to the body.
Pushkin throws a leg kick that is checked

and Charles counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pushkin can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pushkin wants to stand and escape but Charles is having none of it.
Charles pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pushkin is keeping the position for now.
Charles won't allow Pushkin to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles wants to pass the guard but Pushkin is keeping the position.
Pushkin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Charles is controlling him.
Pushkin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pushkin wants to stand up but Charles is controlling him.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Charles trying to control the position from guard on top but Pushkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pushkin misses with a low kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Charles misses the target.
Charles misses with a hook. Pushkin ducked under it nicely.
Pushkin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Charles throws a body punch but Pushkin moves out of range.
Pushkin flicks out a counter leg kick but Charles steps away.
Charles tries for a takedown but Pushkin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Charles throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Pushkin instigates a clinch.
Pushkin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pushkin lands a body shot.
Pushkin swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Pushkin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pushkin throws a sloppy head kick
and Charles counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Pushkin moves out of range as Charles throws a body kick.
Pushkin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Pushkin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Charles thuds a left hand into Pushkin's body.
Charles swings widly with a right hand
and Pushkin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Pushkin lands a left and a right that send Charles crashing to the mat, dazed. Pushkin thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Charles is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Charles throws a lazy uppercut
and Pushkin counters with a low kick, right behind Charles 's knee.
Charles moves away from the strike by Pushkin.
Charles tries to work over Pushkin's front leg with a kick but Pushkin checks it.
Charles backing away here, and Pushkin unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Pushkin leaves Charles with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reggie Charles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Charles throws a looping overhand right but Pushkin ducks down to avoid it.
Pushkin moves away from the strike by Charles.
Pushkin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Charles misses with a body shot.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin misses with a wild body shot.
Charles shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pushkin pinned against the cage. Pushkin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pushkin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pushkin leaves Charles with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Charles backing away here, and Pushkin unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pushkin.
Pushkin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin is looking to score with low kicks.
Charles misses with a body shot.
Pushkin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pushkin misses with a leg kick.
Charles smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Pushkin lands a jab to Charles's midsection.

Charles drives through with a takedown into Pushkin's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Pushkin pushes Charles off and scrambles back to his feet.
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!
A looping hook to the body misses from Charles. Pushkin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Charles fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pushkin manages to avoid it.
Pushkin is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Charles with a body shot.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Pushkin rushes Charles and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Charles misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Charles looking to stall.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Charles blocks an uppercut.
Pushkin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pushkin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pushkin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pushkin tries a body shot but Charles blocks it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Pushkin working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Charles is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Pushkin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pushkin throws a punch but it's blocked by Charles.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zap Pushkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Reggie Charles's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Charles has a takedown stuffed.
Pushkin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Pushkin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Pushkin rushes Charles and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pushkin throws a head punch that misses.
Pushkin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Charles drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pushkin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Charles avoids the head kick by Pushkin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Pushkin checks a leg kick.
Charles tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pushkin swivels and escapes.
Pushkin appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reggie Charles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pushkin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Charles manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles lands with a cross.
Pushkin moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pushkin misses with a straight left.
Pushkin fails to land with a series of punches.
Pushkin throws a nice inside leg kick.
Charles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Despite the aggression on Pushkin's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Charles tries to move into range but Pushkin moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Charles closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pushkin circles away.
A little jabbing left from Pushkin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Charles takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The fighters circling - Charles throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Despite the aggression on Pushkin's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles keeps the fight on the outside.
Charles pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pushkin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Charles connects with a nice looking jab.
Charles fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Pushkin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pushkin throws a series of punches but Charles avoids them all with ease.
Charles fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pushkin manages to avoid it.
Charles takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pushkin.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Pushkin! But no joy.
Pushkin looks to land a left hand but Charles moved out of range nicely.
Charles appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Charles misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pushkin.
Pushkin throws out a counter right but Charles avoids it with no problem.
Charles throws a push kick but Pushkin slaps the foot to one side.
Charles shoots in for a double leg but Pushkin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Charles backing away here, and Pushkin unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Charles shoots and misses
and Pushkin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Charles tries to land a body kick
and Pushkin counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Charles is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Pushkin scores with a decent looking hook.
A low kick from Pushkin is predictable there

and Charles counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Pushkin manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Charles misses with an uppercut
letting Pushkin counter with a right hand.
Oh Charles is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pushkin checks a leg kick.
Charles misses with a left hand
and Pushkin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pushkin throws an overhand right that drops Charles like a sack of potatoes! Pushkin dives in to finish the fight with more strikes and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zap Pushkin!
Zap Pushkin decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.