PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rhajit Zemenov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodion Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zemenov
vs
Gracie

183 cm
20
183 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

180 cm
24
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

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 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rhajit Zemenov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodion Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zemenov avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gracie.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gracie!
Rodion Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zemenov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Zemenov stops Gracie from standing up.
Zemenov tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet but Zemenov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Zemenov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gracie dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to get up but he can't break Zemenov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Zemenov can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zemenov is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zemenov avoid being mounted?
Zemenov wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.

Gracie seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Zemenov has recovered full guard.

Zemenov kicks Gracie off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zemenov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Zemenov fails with a takedown attempt.
Zemenov is breathing heavily.

Zemenov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Zemenov trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.

Zemenov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracie won't allow Zemenov to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zemenov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.
Gracie pushes Zemenov off looking to stand but Zemenov dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zemenov is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.
Zemenov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Gracie reverses the position - he's now on top in Zemenov's guard.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zemenov fails with a takedown attempt.
Zemenov shoots in and drives through. Gracie sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhajit Zemenov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gracie misses with a double jab.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Zemenov moves out of range.
Gracie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Zemenov shoots in and bounces Gracie off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zemenov won't allow Gracie to get back to his feet.
Zemenov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
Gracie pushes Zemenov off looking to stand but Zemenov dives back in and keeps control.
Gracie is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Zemenov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zemenov.
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 Rhajit Zemenov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie throws a good cross that connects.

Zemenov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Zemenov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gracie rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Zemenov's guard! Nice work there by Gracie!
Zemenov wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Zemenov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Zemenov, up you get!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zemenov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Gracie is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zemenov circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice shot by Gracie.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gracie.
Gracie closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gracie stalks Zemenov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Zemenov's face. Zemenov staggers backwards, shaken.
No luck for Zemenov with that takedown attempt.
Zemenov slips a jab and a cross from Gracie.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Danga de danga de dang - Gracie scores with a four punch combination!
Gracie tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie misses with a double jab.
Gracie throws a right and a left that Zemenov avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zemenov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gracie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A jab from Gracie finds it's way through Zemenov's defenses.
Gracie scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Gracie misses with a wild combination.
Gracie misses with a few strikes there.
Zemenov avoids a punch combination nicely.

Zemenov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zemenov is looking to pass Gracie's guard but actually Gracie recovers to full guard.
Gracie wants to stand but Zemenov is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zemenov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.
Zemenov won't allow Gracie to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gracie jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gracie stalks Zemenov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Zemenov's face. Zemenov staggers backwards, shaken.
Zemenov ducks right into an uppercut from Gracie.
Gracie lands a really nice looking cross but Zemenov seems unphased.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zemenov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rhajit Zemenov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zemenov takes one on the button.
Gracie cracks Zemenov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie misses with the combination.
Gracie throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodion Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A jab from Gracie finds it's way through Zemenov's defenses.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zemenov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zemenov.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracie looks to land a combination. Zemenov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zemenov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zemenov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie misses with the combination.

Zemenov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gracie to the mat! Gracie manages to get full guard.
Zemenov wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

Zemenov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gracie looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gracie looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gracie!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zemenov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zemenov has escaped the position, nice work there.

Zemenov explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Gracie works over Zemenov's head and body with a nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Gracie leaves Zemenov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zemenov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Zemenov tries for a takedown but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhajit Zemenov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie lands a body shot.
Gracie throws a head kick but Zemenov moves out of range.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie misses with a two punch combination.
Zemenov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Zemenov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gracie tests Zemenov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gracie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zemenov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Gracie does no damage.
Gracie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zemenov.
Gracie lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gracie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracie lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A lazy left from Gracie finds it's target.
Gracie misses with the combination.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Rodion Gracie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gracie!
Gracie is working the combinations to good effect here.

Zemenov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Zemenov is working for a kimura here but Gracie manages to reverse the position and he's now in Zemenov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zemenov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zemenov is keeping the position for now.
Gracie wants to stand but Zemenov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Zemenov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zemenov manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Zemenov's guard.

Zemenov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Gracie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zemenov's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodion Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodion Gracie!