PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Zirkhov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yuri Zirkhov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zirkhov
vs
Johnson

167 cm
19
157 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

174 cm
20
153 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Zirkhov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Billy Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson tries to clinch but Zirkhov moves out of range.

Zirkhov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Zirkhov is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson is being controlled here.
Zirkhov is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zirkhov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Johnson's legs.
Zirkhov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zirkhov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Johnson's legs.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zirkhov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johnson is fending him off so far but Zirkhov persists. Nope, Johnson circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson slaps away a takedown attempt from Zirkhov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zirkhov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson tries to clinch but Zirkhov moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Johnson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Johnson closes the distance and pushes Zirkhov back into the cage.
Johnson lands an elbow that stopped Zirkhov in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Yuri Zirkhov has been cut.

Johnson pulls guard successfully.
Zirkhov won't allow Johnson to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zirkhov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zirkhov wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zirkhov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Zirkhov is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Zirkhov looking to pass the guard.
Zirkhov postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.

Zirkhov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zirkhov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zirkhov wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Zirkhov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zirkhov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Johnson counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Zirkhov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zirkhov avoiding damage as Johnson throws knees to the body.
Johnson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zirkhov lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yuri Zirkhov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yuri Zirkhov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson wants to clinch

and Zirkhov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Zirkhov controlling him for the moment.
Johnson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zirkhov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zirkhov is pushing down on Johnson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Johnson is fighting to maintain full guard but Zirkhov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Zirkhov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Johnson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Zirkhov seems to be working for a kimura but Johnson defends the submission attempt.
Zirkhov tries to pass to full mount but Johnson defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control here.

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

and Zirkhov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Zirkhov tries to pass.
Zirkhov pushing down on Johnson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zirkhov is pressing down on Johnson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Johnson is holding on for now.
Zirkhov wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.
Zirkhov looks to land a strike but Johnson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Zirkhov tries to pass.
Zirkhov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zirkhov advances nicely into full mount.
Zirkhov looking to finish with strikes here!
Zirkhov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zirkhov fails to advance to Johnson's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zirkhov tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
Johnson can't escape the position.
Johnson is squirming around, avoiding Zirkhov's attempts to control the action.
Zirkhov looking to ground and pound but Johnson is blocking nicely.
Zirkhov tries to take his opponent's back but Johnson turns with him and manages to move into guard on the top. Nice work.

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.
Johnson trying to control but Zirkhov is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zirkhov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Zirkhov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Zirkhov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Johnson reverses the position - he's now on top in Zirkhov's guard.
Johnson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zirkhov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Zirkhov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Yuri Zirkhov's cut.
That's time! Zirkhov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Johnson closes the distance but Zirkhov moves to the side

and Zirkhov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johnson!
Zirkhov is looking to work his way around to Johnson's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Johnson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zirkhov pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Zirkhov moves to the back position.
Johnson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Zirkhov is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zirkhov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Johnson wants to sweep but Zirkhov has passed to side control!
Zirkhov wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Zirkhov advances to mount.

That's two 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.
Zirkhov wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Yuri Zirkhov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zirkhov tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.

Zirkhov goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Johnson turns into him and now he's in Zirkhov's guard.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws and elbow that misses. Zirkhov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Johnson's guard. Nice move by Zirkhov!
Johnson is pulling down on Zirkhov's head. It's preventing any offense from Zirkhov, at least for the moment.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Zirkhov isn't so interested in that idea.
Zirkhov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Johnson controls Zirkhov momentarily but Zirkhov frees himself.
Johnson managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zirkhov tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

Johnson pushes Zirkhov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Billy Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zirkhov.
Johnson regains half guard.
Zirkhov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Johnson won't allow Zirkhov to pass to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Zirkhov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zirkhov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Zirkhov!