PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Robert Zhirkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dick Grayson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grayson has chosen To the Batmobile as his entrance music. Robert Zhirkov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Zhirkov
vs
Grayson

180 cm
25
135 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

169 cm
21
145 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Hell's Balls Fightwear
Bio-Tech Industries

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robert Zhirkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dick Grayson!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grayson tries to clinch up but Zhirkov circles away and keeps his distance.
Robert Zhirkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Zhirkov as Grayson shoots in.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zhirkov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Zhirkov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Grayson fails to land the takedown.
Zhirkov misses with a two punch combination.
Zhirkov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zhirkov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Grayson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zhirkov, pushing him back against the cage.
Grayson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zhirkov's efforts to push away.
Zhirkov blocks an elbow strike from Grayson.
Grayson tries to land knees in the clinch but Zhirkov avoids the damage to the body.

Zhirkov manages to break the clinch.
Zhirkov catches Grayson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Grayson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Zhirkov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Grayson's best efforts.
Zhirkov wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhirkov trying to control but Grayson postures up.
Zhirkov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Grayson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zhirkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zhirkov is pulling down on Grayson's head. It's preventing any offense from Grayson, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zhirkov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Grayson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Grayson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zhirkov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Grayson stopping the sweep attempt from Zhirkov.
Grayson trying to control but Zhirkov is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhirkov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Grayson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zhirkov sprawls well. Zhirkov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Grayson gets slowly back to his feet.
Robert Zhirkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dick Grayson.
Grayson tries to move into range but Zhirkov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Grayson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zhirkov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zhirkov wants to control but Grayson postures up.
Grayson wants to control but Zhirkov is keeping him busy.
Zhirkov is looking to regain half guard here but Grayson keeps moving and retains side control.
Grayson advances to full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov wants to control but Grayson is having none of it.
Zhirkov is trying to escape the mount.

Grayson has hold of Zhirkov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Zhirkov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Zhirkov wants to control but Grayson is having none of it.
Grayson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dick Grayson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Grayson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Grayson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zhirkov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Grayson closes the distance and clinches up with Zhirkov, looking for a takedown. Grayson pushes Zhirkov against the cage but Zhirkov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grayson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Grayson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zhirkov pinned against the cage. Zhirkov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Robert Zhirkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dick Grayson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Decent striking displayed by Zhirkov there.
Zhirkov scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov misses with a few strikes there.
Zhirkov lunges at Grayson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Grayson's hand.
Zhirkov scores with a body shot.
Grayson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Zhirkov, as that shot connected.
Zhirkov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zhirkov jabs at Grayson's body.
Zhirkov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Zhirkov scores with a hook to the body. Grayson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Zhirkov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Robert Zhirkov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zhirkov tests Grayson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Grayson tries to clinch but Zhirkov moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Grayson on the side of the head.
Grayson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zhirkov sizes up Grayson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Donk. Zhirkov catches Grayson right on the button with a cross.

Grayson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Grayson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zhirkov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Grayson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zhirkov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Zhirkov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Zhirkov blocks the elbow strike.
Grayson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Grayson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zhirkov smiles and moves away.
Zhirkov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Jab, jab by Zhirkov - just one landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov stuffs the takedown.
Dick Grayson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Grayson is breathing heavily.
Grayson shoots in but Zhirkov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Grayson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Zhirkov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zhirkov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Grayson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Zhirkov lands with a cross.
Zhirkov connects with a single shot there.
Grayson doesn't manage to clinch there - Zhirkov circles away.
Grayson tries to close the distance and clinch but Zhirkov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grayson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Grayson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Zhirkov.
Nice body punch from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov stuffs the takedown attempt from Grayson. Grayson gets slowly back to his feet.
Grayson walks into a left hand.
Zhirkov digs a good hook to Grayson's body.
Zhirkov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zhirkov cracks Grayson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Zhirkov lands a jab to Grayson's midsection.
Zhirkov lands with a right hand.
Grayson tries to close the distance and clinch but Zhirkov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grayson tries for a takedown but Zhirkov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Zhirkov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zhirkov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Grayson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zhirkov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zhirkov clobbers Grayson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Grayson tries to clinch up but Zhirkov circles away and keeps his distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Grayson.
Zhirkov looks to land a combination. Grayson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Grayson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Zhirkov sizes up Grayson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Zhirkov thuds a left hand into Grayson's body.
Grayson tries to clinch but Zhirkov moves out of range.
Grayson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Grayson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhirkov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Zhirkov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Grayson in his tracks.
Grayson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Robert Zhirkov is winning the standup battle so far.
Grayson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zhirkov lands a nice looking body shot.
Good exchange - Zhirkov coming out on top.
Grayson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zhirkov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Grayson somewhat.
Robert Zhirkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dick Grayson.
Zhirkov with a nice cross.
Zhirkov works the jab nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Zhirkov scores with a four punch combination!
Zhirkov throws a shot to the body.
Grayson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Grayson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A punch combination from Zhirkov misses.
Grayson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Grayson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zhirkov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Grayson somewhat.
Grayson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Zhirkov lands a jab-cross combination.
Zhirkov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov lands with a nice body punch.
Grayson dives in and grabs Zhirkov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zhirkov pushes down on Grayson's head and hops out.
Jab from Zhirkov.
Zhirkov lands with a hook. Grayson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Zhirkov lands a head kick. Grayson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Grayson walks into a stiff left hand from Zhirkov.
A shot to de liver by Zhirkov. Beautiful body shot.
Zhirkov lands a body shot.
Grayson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zhirkov to score with a decent uppercut.
Zhirkov scores with a decent looking hook.
Grayson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zhirkov to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grayson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Grayson tries to clinch up but Zhirkov circles away and keeps his distance.
Grayson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zhirkov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Grayson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zhirkov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Grayson.
Grayson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Zhirkov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice straight punches there by Zhirkov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zhirkov.
Zhirkov scores with a nice head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhirkov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Zhirkov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zhirkov 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Zhirkov!