PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between The Punchy Pokemon Hitmonchan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Zhirkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Punchy Pokemon Hitmonchan
vs
Zhirkov

170 cm
22
142 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
29
141 lbs
13 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, The Punchy Pokemon Hitmonchan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robert Zhirkov!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hitmonchan swings widly with a right hand
enabling Zhirkov to counter with a crisp jab.
Zhirkov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Zhirkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhirkov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hitmonchan. That did some damage!
Zhirkov slips a jab and a cross from Hitmonchan.
Zhirkov lands an overhand right.
Hitmonchan uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hitmonchan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zhirkov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hitmonchan blocks a jab.
Nice uppercut there from Hitmonchan.
Zhirkov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zhirkov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hitmonchan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhirkov.
Hitmonchan stuns Zhirkov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Zhirkov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Zhirkov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zhirkov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hitmonchan tries to move into range but Zhirkov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Robert Zhirkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hitmonchan slips under a jab.
Hitmonchan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zhirkov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zhirkov throws a one two combo.
Hitmonchan misses with a looping right.
Zhirkov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hitmonchan counters with a thumping low kick.
Zhirkov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hitmonchan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zhirkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitmonchan tries to bum rush Zhirkov with a series of wild strikes but Zhirkov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hitmonchan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zhirkov checks it well.
Zhirkov throws out a powerful jab.
Zhirkov throws a sloppy body shot
and Hitmonchan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zhirkov throws a big shot that misses.
Zhirkov misses with an uppercut.
Hitmonchan fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Zhirkov on the side of the head.
Hitmonchan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zhirkov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zhirkov misses with a two punch combination.
Hitmonchan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hitmonchan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hitmonchan misses with a head kick.
Hitmonchan connects with a jab.
Zhirkov throws a lazy uppercut
and Zhirkov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zhirkov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hitmonchan is looking to slow Zhirkov down with leg kicks.
Zhirkov misses with a hook. Hitmonchan ducked under it nicely.
Hitmonchan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Hitmonchan gets caught flat footed, as Zhirkov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zhirkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zhirkov looking to pass the guard.

Hitmonchan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zhirkov defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hitmonchan keeping moving, preventing Zhirkov from controlling successfully.

Hitmonchan working for a triangle but Zhirkov defends it easily.

Hitmonchan kicks Zhirkov off and gets to his feet.
Zhirkov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Zhirkov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hitmonchan.
Zhirkov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zhirkov misses with a lunging right hand
and Hitmonchan counters with a solid body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitmonchan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hitmonchan misses with a body shot.
Zhirkov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zhirkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Hitmonchan is just out of range.
Hitmonchan slips a straight right by Zhirkov.
Zhirkov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sloppy strikes from Hitmonchan. Those never looked like landing.

Zhirkov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Zhirkov not doing much here.
Hitmonchan is trying to maintain the position but Zhirkov is very close to passing his half guard.
Hitmonchan is looking for a sweep. Zhirkov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zhirkov wants to control but Hitmonchan is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zhirkov connects with a nice short shot to Hitmonchan's temple.
Zhirkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hitmonchan defending well though.
Zhirkov prevents Hitmonchan from improving his position.
Zhirkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hitmonchan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hitmonchan tries to get out of the position.
Zhirkov trying to control from Hitmonchan's half guard. Hitmonchan has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Zhirkov thows a big elbow that misses.
Zhirkov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hitmonchan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zhirkov postures up in Hitmonchan's guard and throws a big left but Hitmonchan blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zhirkov distracts Hitmonchan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Zhirkov has gone for a leg lock! Hitmonchan slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zhirkov's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Punchy Pokemon Hitmonchan dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hitmonchan lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Zhirkov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hitmonchan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A telegraphed right hand from Hitmonchan misses the target.
Zhirkov attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Zhirkov throws a right hand that misses
and Hitmonchan counters with an outside leg kick.
Hitmonchan lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Zhirkov connects with a single shot there.
Hitmonchan swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Zhirkov counter with a right hand.
Hitmonchan misses with a looping right.
Hitmonchan thuds his right hand into Zhirkov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Zhirkov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hitmonchan was covering up waiting for the punch and Zhirkov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hitmonchan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zhirkov on the ground.
Hitmonchan working a defensive guard but Zhirkov manages to pass into side control anyway.
Zhirkov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Zhirkov just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitmonchan is looking to regain half guard here but Zhirkov keeps moving and retains side control.
Hitmonchan is working hard here to advance position.
Zhirkov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Zhirkov grinds an elbow into Hitmonchan's temple.
Hitmonchan takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Zhirkov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhirkov controls the position.
Zhirkov scoring with punches from side control.
Hitmonchan is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Zhirkov is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Zhirkov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hitmonchan looks a forlorn figure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhirkov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hitmonchan?
Zhirkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hitmonchan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zhirkov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Zhirkov punishing his opponent with strikes.

Hitmonchan is rocked!
The referee warns Hitmonchan that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Oh Hitmonchan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhirkov unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Hitmonchan wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Zhirkov celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Robert Zhirkov!