PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Igor Zhitnik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kimo Lima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhitnik comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica - Leper Messiah. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Zhitnik
vs
Lima

191 cm
23
280 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
275 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Zhitnik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kimo Lima!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Dmitry Maklakov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lima scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zhitnik throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

Lima is trying to get an arm triangle but Zhitnik is defending well.
Zhitnik regains half guard, as Lima was trying to land strikes.
Lima seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zhitnik does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lima has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zhitnik tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Zhitnik trying to hold on to Lima's head to control him but Lima postures up.
Lima thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lima not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Zhitnik shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zhitnik showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lima tries to roll over but Zhitnik keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhitnik is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

It looks like Kimo Lima has been cut.
Zhitnik prevents Lima from improving his position.
Lima gets back to full guard.
Zhitnik trying to control but Lima is working from the bottom.
Zhitnik content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lima throws a couple of heel strikes.
Zhitnik connects with a couple of short punches.
Zhitnik looking to pass the guard.
Zhitnik controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhitnik tries to stand but Lima is controlling from the bottom.

Zhitnik got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lima has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zhitnik has managed to get both his arms back between Lima's legs - danger averted.
Lima is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zhitnik is controlling him.
Zhitnik trying to control the position from guard on top but Lima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lima with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zhitnik counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lima looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhitnik scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Zhitnik seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lima wants to control but Zhitnik is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lima tries to get to full guard but Zhitnik has control of the leg.
Zhitnik tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lima knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lima has hold of Zhitnik's hands but Zhitnik slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
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. Zhitnik connects with a nice short shot to Lima's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lima looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Zhitnik shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lima's guard.
Zhitnik is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Zhitnik trying to control but Lima is working from the bottom.
Lima wants to stand and escape but Zhitnik is having none of it.
Zhitnik landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zhitnik content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zhitnik postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Zhitnik dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kimo Lima's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zhitnik changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lima tries to avoid it but Zhitnik manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lima to the ground. Lima escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lima stuffs the takedown attempt from Zhitnik. Zhitnik gets slowly back to his feet.

Zhitnik scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lima is looking to reverse the position.
Zhitnik lands some shots froms side control.
Zhitnik trying to control the position but Lima is working away.
Zhitnik creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lima sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Zhitnik tries to score with some ground and pound. Lima controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Lima regains half guard.
Lima regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zhitnik has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lima looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Zhitnik puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zhitnik is looking to take a break and control but Lima is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lima keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lima wants to improve his position but Zhitnik is controlling well.
Lima is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lima manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zhitnik postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lima working for a triangle but Zhitnik defends it easily.
Zhitnik preventing the sweep.
Lima has momentary wrist control but Zhitnik slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zhitnik not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Zhitnik scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zhitnik trying to control the position from guard on top but Lima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lima throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Lima wants to sweep but no luck.
Zhitnik chips away with some ground and pound.
Zhitnik preventing the sweep.
Zhitnik landing with the ground and pound.
Zhitnik trying to control the position from guard on top but Lima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lima looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhitnik postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lima working a defensive guard here.
Zhitnik working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lima's head.
Zhitnik postures up and lands a big shot to Lima's brow.

Lima working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zhitnik doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zhitnik manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zhitnik seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lima is on top in guard.
Zhitnik bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lima's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhitnik with a nice head shot there.
Zhitnik landing some decent shots from guard.
Lima throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Zhitnik sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lima looking for a sweep. Not yet Lima, not yet.
Zhitnik postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zhitnik trying to control but Lima is working from the bottom.

Zhitnik stands up from Lima's guard - Zhitnik perhaps looking for a knockout.
Lima shoots and misses

and Zhitnik counters with a single leg into guard. Lima didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Zhitnik dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kimo Lima's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Zhitnik swinging wilding here.

Zhitnik shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Zhitnik was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lima is wriggling around trying to escape.
Zhitnik controlling his opponent.
Lima tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zhitnik lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lima wants to hold on but Zhitnik pushes him away.
Zhitnik unloading with bombs!

That has opened up Kimo Lima's cut even more.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lima in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Zhitnik working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Zhitnik can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lima is looking to escape.
Lima really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lima is bucking up trying to escape but Zhitnik cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

The cut above Kimo Lima's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Lima tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zhitnik wants to control the pace but Lima is squirming around nicely.
Lima is bucking up trying to escape but Zhitnik cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Kimo Lima's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Kimo Lima's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Igor Zhitnik!