PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Igor Zhitnik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Battle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhitnik's entrance music is Metallica - Leper Messiah. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Battle's choice of entrance music: Break Stuff. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Zhitnik
vs
Battle

191 cm
27
280 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

213 cm
27
275 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

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 10 - 5 - 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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andre Battle!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Decent striking displayed by Battle there.

It looks like Igor Zhitnik has been cut.
Zhitnik uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Battle.
Zhitnik looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Battle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zhitnik.

Zhitnik drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Battle wants to get back to his feet but Zhitnik drags him back down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Battle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zhitnik prevents Battle from escaping the position.
Battle stops Zhitnik from passing to mount.
Zhitnik lands a decent elbow from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhitnik working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Battle takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Battle prevents Zhitnik from improving position.
Battle dodges the ground and pound from Zhitnik.
Battle is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zhitnik is controlling him well.
Battle is being controlled here.
Battle is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Zhitnik throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Zhitnik working the body and head with strikes.
Battle sneaks back into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zhitnik in particular looking to stall.
Battle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zhitnik.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhitnik seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Battle does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Battle is trying to stand up here but Zhitnik is controlling him well.
Zhitnik lands strikes from half guard.
Battle looks like he's trying to stand up.
Battle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zhitnik.
Zhitnik thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Battle's head.
Battle gets back to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhitnik is in close to Battle's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Battle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Battle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zhitnik.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhitnik trying to control but Battle is working from the bottom.
Zhitnik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zhitnik is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Battle wants to sweep but no luck.
Zhitnik distracts Battle with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zhitnik stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Battle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zhitnik working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zhitnik scoring with some ground and pound.
Zhitnik landing with the ground and pound.
Zhitnik looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Battle is trying to keep Zhitnik in close.
Battle is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zhitnik loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Battle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zhitnik.
Battle is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Battle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zhitnik.
Zhitnik makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
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 Igor Zhitnik's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Battle throws a jab when Zhitnik was well out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zhitnik.
Zhitnik changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Battle tries to avoid it but Zhitnik manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Battle to the ground. Battle escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Battle throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Zhitnik to counter with a crisp jab.
Battle misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zhitnik. Battle does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zhitnik looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Battle is fending him off so far but Zhitnik persists. Nope, Battle circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Zhitnik. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zhitnik scores with a takedown into Battle's guard.
Zhitnik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Battle controls Zhitnik momentarily but Zhitnik frees himself.
Battle is looking to stand up but Zhitnik isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhitnik cracks Battle with a solid left hand.
Battle is trying to keep Zhitnik in close.
Battle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Battle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zhitnik is one step ahead there.
Battle trying to keep a closed guard but Zhitnik is proving a slippery customer.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Zhitnik loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zhitnik content to stall in guard here.
Zhitnik has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two 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.
Battle wants to stand but Zhitnik is controlling the position.

Andre Battle has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Zhitnik smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zhitnik changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Battle tries to avoid it but Zhitnik manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Battle to the ground. Battle escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zhitnik fails with a takedown attempt.
Zhitnik with a hook.
Battle misses the body punch

and Zhitnik counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Battle's guard now.
Zhitnik works over Battle with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Battle is trying to control the position but Zhitnik postures up.
Battle wants to sweep but no luck.
Battle has momentary wrist control but Zhitnik slips an elbow through the middle.
Battle working a defensive guard but Zhitnik passes into half guard.
Zhitnik is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zhitnik missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zhitnik working the head and body with strikes.

Battle makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Battle is breathing heavily.
Zhitnik with a lazy takedown attempt
and Battle counters with a stiff right hand.
Zhitnik fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zhitnik misses with a takedown attempt
and Battle counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Battle throws a jab but it's blocked by Zhitnik.
Battle lands a nice looking body shot.
Battle throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zhitnik stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Battle shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zhitnik is trying to defend but Battle finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Zhitnik is looking to improve his position.
Battle tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zhitnik knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Battle not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
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 Igor Zhitnik's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Battle connects with a single shot there.
Zhitnik fails to land the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Zhitnik or perhaps it was just good defense by Battle which made him look bad.
Zhitnik fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Zhitnik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot to the body from Zhitnik misses
enabling Battle to counter with a crisp jab.
Zhitnik throws a shot from downtown. Battle moves away and avoids it.
Battle bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Zhitnik drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Battle has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Battle throws a left and a right that both miss

and Zhitnik counters with a nice double leg into side control. Battle won't be happy with that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zhitnik working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhitnik trying to control the action but Battle is working from the bottom.
Battle manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Battle manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zhitnik wants to control from the top but Battle keeps moving.
Zhitnik stops Battle from standing up.
Zhitnik postures up.
Zhitnik might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Battle lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zhitnik!
Zhitnik sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Battle not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zhitnik is trying to stand.
Battle wants to control but Zhitnik is keeping him busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Battle in particular looking to stall.
Zhitnik is looking to control Battle's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zhitnik avoid being mounted?

Battle wants to work for an arm triangle but Zhitnik is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Battle is looking to take a break and control but Zhitnik is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Andre Battle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Zhitnik slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zhitnik is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Battle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zhitnik swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zhitnik wants to sweep here but Battle controlling him for the moment.
Zhitnik seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zhitnik connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Battle misses with a shot to the body

and Zhitnik counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zhitnik.
Zhitnik trying to control but Battle is working from the bottom.
Battle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zhitnik is one step ahead there.
Battle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Igor Zhitnik is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Battle trying to keep a closed guard but Zhitnik is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zhitnik stops Battle from standing up.
Battle wants to sweep here but Zhitnik controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Igor Zhitnik.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zhitnik, 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Zhitnik!