PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vasily Zaitsev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Clark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zaitsev's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Potap. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zaitsev
vs
Clark

180 cm
23
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vasily Zaitsev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brandon Clark!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaitsev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Clark.
Clark tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Clark is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Clark.
Clark darts in trying to clinch

and Zaitsev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Clark's guard.
Zaitsev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clark keeping moving, preventing Zaitsev from controlling successfully.
Zaitsev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Clark is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zaitsev is controlling him.
Zaitsev trying to control but Clark is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clark working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zaitsev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zaitsev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Clark controlling the position.
Zaitsev trying to control but Clark is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clark wants to control the position but Zaitsev says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaitsev is trying to control the action in half guard but Clark is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zaitsev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zaitsev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Clark with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Zaitsev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zaitsev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Clark keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Clark tries to kick Zaitsev off but Zaitsev keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Zaitsev lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clark tries to roll over but Zaitsev keeps him under control.
Zaitsev with the ground and pound but Clark uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Clark manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Clark punching from mount but Zaitsev doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Clark won't let Zaitsev get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Zaitsev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zaitsev tries to get out of the position.
Clark tries to control but Zaitsev wriggling away.
Zaitsev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zaitsev tries to buck Clark off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clark throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Clark won't let Zaitsev get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Clark content just to control the position here.
Zaitsev is trying to stand but he's just given Clark his back.
Zaitsev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Clark on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Clark controlling the positon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasily Zaitsev dominated that round.
That's time! Zaitsev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Clark fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zaitsev shoots for a double leg takedown but Clark sprawls well. He's pushed Zaitsev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Clark gets tackled into the cage by Zaitsev. Zaitsev maintains the clinch.
Clark drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zaitsev pulls his leg out and moves away.

Clark has taken the fight to the clinch.
Clark is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zaitsev to keep the fight standing.

Clark is fighting off a takedown attempt but Zaitsev is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Clark to the mat. Clark regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Clark looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Zaitsev has picked Clark up and slammed him! Clark can't keep hold of the triangle and Zaitsev manages to pass to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaitsev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Clark keeps working.
Clark is pushing Zaitsev's head away, looking to escape. Zaitsev manages to hold on to the position though.
Clark parries the strikes from Zaitsev easily there. Zaitsev is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Clark to escape.
Zaitsev throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Clark works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Clark avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zaitsev.
Zaitsev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Vasily Zaitsev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Clark pushes Zaitsev off looking to stand but Zaitsev dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaitsev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Clark defending well though.
Clark is not content to let Zaitsev control the position.
Clark wants to control but Zaitsev is keeping busy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Clark is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaitsev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zaitsev thows a huge punch but Clark dodges it nicely.
Clark is looking to get back to is feet but Zaitsev passes into side control.
Clark takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Zaitsev misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Zaitsev working the ground and pound from side control.
Zaitsev working away.
Clark is not content to let Zaitsev control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clark prevents Zaitsev from moving into mount.
Clark is looking to regain half guard here but Zaitsev keeps moving and retains side control.
Zaitsev wants to control but Clark is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zaitsev in side control, throwing shots but Clark defends.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasily Zaitsev dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Clark throws a right and a left that both miss.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clark.
Clark swinging wildly here.
Clark is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zaitsev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Zaitsev clinches up with Clark and pushes him back against the cage.
Zaitsev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Clark gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Zaitsev tries to score a body lock takedown but Clark shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Clark scores a nice knee to the body.
Zaitsev throws a knee to the head but misses.

Zaitsev gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaitsev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Clark defending well though.
Zaitsev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zaitsev is controlling the pace.
Zaitsev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Clark keeping hold of Zaitsev's head, controlling as best he can.
Clark is trying to stand back up but Zaitsev is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clark tries to roll over but Zaitsev keeps him under control.
Zaitsev slips a nice elbow through Clark's hands, connecting with Clark's forehead.
Clark moves into full guard.

Clark has his foot on Zaitsev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zaitsev works his way back into a safe position though.
Clark takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zaitsev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zaitsev scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clark is trying to control Zaitsev's posture but Zaitsev avoids it.
Zaitsev cracks Clark with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Zaitsev looks up at the clock and then as Clark takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Zaitsev smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Zaitsev working the head and body with strikes.
Clark takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Clark struggling a bit here.
Zaitsev working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaitsev is chipping away with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Clark's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zaitsev lands a few punches from side control.
Zaitsev is looking to take a break and control but Clark is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clark is trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vasily Zaitsev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zaitsev, 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasily Zaitsev!
Vasily Zaitsev took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.