PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Zhukov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stefan Struve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stefan Struve is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Zhukov
vs
Struve

192 cm
22
245 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

211 cm
22
243 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maxim Zhukov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stefan Struve!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Lou da Vinci and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zhukov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zhukov showed some decent athleticism there.
Struve slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Zhukov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Struve dives on top into guard.
Struve stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zhukov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Struve slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Zhukov 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.
Zhukov is working hard here to advance position.
Zhukov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhukov keeping full guard, as Struve tries to pass.
Zhukov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Zhukov is trying to control the position but Struve postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Struve throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zhukov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Struve doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zhukov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zhukov.

Struve looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zhukov throwing strikes from guard but Struve blocks nicely.
Zhukov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Struve throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Struve is on top in guard.
Struve postures up.
Zhukov is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhukov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Struve has passed into side control.
Struve trying to control the action but Zhukov is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zhukov is trying to improve his position.

Struve working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhukov regains half guard.
Struve content to control rather than advance.

Struve looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Struve lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nice strikes from Struve there.
Struve throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zhukov wants to get back to full guard.
Zhukov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Struve on the ground.
Zhukov is not content to let Struve control the position.
Struve thows a huge punch but Zhukov dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Struve is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zhukov trying to hold on to Struve's head to control him but Struve postures up.
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 Maxim Zhukov will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zhukov shoots in looking for a takedown. Struve tries to sprawl out of it but Zhukov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Struve manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zhukov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Struve shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zhukov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Struve won't be happy with that.
Struve struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Struve gets back to half guard.
Struve moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Struve throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zhukov looking to sit in guard and control but Struve gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve wants to control from the top but Zhukov keeps moving.
Zhukov looking for a sweep. Not yet Zhukov, not yet.
Zhukov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Zhukov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Struve postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Struve trying to control but Zhukov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zhukov has momentary wrist control but Struve slips an elbow through the middle.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Struve shoots in and drives through. Zhukov sprawls well.
Maxim Zhukov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Struve gets a takedown into half guard.

Struve is looking for a kimura here.
Struve takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zhukov wants to control but Struve is keeping busy.

Struve stands up and beckons Zhukov to join him on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhukov misses with a takedown
and Struve counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Zhukov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Struve doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zhukov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Struve!
Zhukov lands a heavy elbow.
Zhukov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Struve tries to reverse the position but Zhukov maintains control.
Zhukov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Zhukov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Struve bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zhukov is on top in guard.
Zhukov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zhukov is posturing up here but Struve has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Zhukov tries to roll out but it's too tight and Zhukov has to tap! Slick submission there by Struve!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Stefan Struve!