PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between No Chance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gadju Zahaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Chance
vs
Zahaev

170 cm
18
166 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, No Chance!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gadju Zahaev!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chance drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Chance pushing down on Zahaev's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Chance looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Chance is working hard here to advance position.

Chance is looking for a kimura here.
Zahaev won't allow Chance to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chance is just content to waste time from the top position. Zahaev takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Zahaev controlling the position.

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

and Chance counters with a single leg into guard. Zahaev didn't expect that.
Chance wants to control from the top but Zahaev keeps moving.
Zahaev looking for a sweep. Not yet Zahaev, not yet.
Chance showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zahaev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chance trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zahaev manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Zahaev unloading with bombs!
Zahaev controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zahaev's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Zahaev lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four 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.
Zahaev dominating with strikes here.
Zahaev controlling from the full mount.
Zahaev throws some wild stikes that Chance manages to avoid easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chance wants to control but Zahaev is having none of it.
Chance blocking the ground and pound.
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 No Chance will probably get the nod.
That's time! Chance's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zahaev drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zahaev showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zahaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Chance is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zahaev content to stall in guard here.
Zahaev throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chance keeping full guard, as Zahaev tries to pass.
Chance being controlled here, momentarily.
Zahaev wants to control from the top but Chance keeps moving.

Despite being in the dominant position, Gadju Zahaev just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zahaev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Chance counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zahaev won't be happy with that.
Chance trying to control the position but Zahaev is working away.

Chance tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zahaev has one of Chance's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Chance trying to control the position but Zahaev is working away.
Chance advances to mount.
Chance trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zahaev is desperately trying to improve his position but Chance has a good base and remains in mount.
Chance can't control as he wanted to and Zahaev manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Zahaev is not content to let Chance control the position.
Chance is looking to stall here but Zahaev recovers full guard.
Zahaev has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Zahaev keeping moving, preventing Chance from controlling successfully.
Chanceis looking to pass into half guard but Zahaev pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Zahaev is in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zahaev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zahaev working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gadju Zahaev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Chance shoots and misses

and Zahaev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Chance's guard.
Zahaev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Let's hope that Zahaev has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Chance avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zahaev is stalling in the full guard.
Zahaev trying to control but Chance is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zahaev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Zahaev wants to control from the top but Chance keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Gadju Zahaev just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Chance scores a takedown into full mount!

Chance swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Zahaev is now in Chance's guard. A big mistake from Chance there, giving up the dominant position!
Zahaev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zahaev trying to control but Chance is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zahaev is looking to work some ground and pound but Chance has wrist control.
Zahaev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Despite being in the dominant position, Gadju Zahaev just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zahaev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zahaev showed some decent athleticism there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gadju Zahaev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zahaev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gadju Zahaev!