PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rey Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilham Zakirov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ilham Zakirov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rey Johnson's chin.

Johnson
vs
Zakirov

166 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rey Johnson!
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, Ilham Zakirov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zakirov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zakirov takes a swing at Johnson's ribcage but misses.

Zakirov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Zakirov is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Zakirov from controlling successfully.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Zakirov postures up.
Zakirov wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Zakirov stands and steps away. Johnson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Zakirov gets the takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zakirov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Johnson gets back to half guard.
Johnson has a hand on Zakirov's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Zakirov takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Zakirov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Johnson because Zakirov loaded up on that one.

Zakirov goes for an armbar but Johnson turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Johnson.
Zakirov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zakirov wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.
Johnson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Zakirov wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zakirov's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakirov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Johnson wants to stand but Zakirov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Johnson lands a couple of elbows.
Zakirov has a closed guard, preventing Johnson from standing up.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Zakirov is avoiding it.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.
Zakirov can't break the clinch.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Zakirov controls the action.
Johnson prevents Zakirov from breaking the clinch.
Johnson fails to pull guard.

Zakirov jumps into guard, dragging Johnson to the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zakirov controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.

Zakirov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Johnson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Johnson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilham Zakirov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zakirov gets the takedown into side control.
Johnson tries to bench press Zakirov off him but Zakirov keeps the position.
Johnson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Johnson is trying to escape the position but Zakirov is controlling the position.
Zakirov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Zakirov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zakirov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Johnson manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zakirov is working for a submission of some sort.

Johnson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Nice straight punches there by Zakirov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zakirov.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Zakirov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zakirov tries to land a front kick but Johnson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zakirov has managed to clinch.

Zakirov manages to break the clinch.
Zakirov misses with a wild combination.

Zakirov shoots in and gets a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Johnson wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Zakirov from controlling successfully.
Johnson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to sweep but instead, Zakirov has passed into half guard.
Zakirov is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zakirov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Zakirov is breathing heavily.
Johnson wants to control but Zakirov is keeping busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zakirov circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Zakirov has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.

Zakirov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zakirov tries a head kick but it misses.
Zakirov lands with a shot to the body.

Johnson tries to sprawl but Zakirov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Ilham Zakirov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zakirov is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Johnson.
Zakirov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilham Zakirov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zakirov lands a high kick!

Zakirov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Johnson did well to prevent Zakirov getting side control.
Johnson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Johnson wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, if Zakirov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Zakirov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Johnson has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson kicks off Zakirov and gets to his feet.

Johnson has closed the distance and engaged Zakirov in a clinch.
Johnson is working for takedown but Zakirov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Zakirov tries to tie him up.

Zakirov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Zakirov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Johnson striking off his back but it's not causing Zakirov any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Johnson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Johnson is trying to control the position but Zakirov postures up.
Zakirov wants to pass the guard but Johnson is keeping the position.
Zakirov trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Zakirov won't allow Johnson to sweep him here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Johnson avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson clinches.
Johnson blocking some punches.
Zakirov avoiding damage as Johnson throws knees to the body.
Zakirov effectively controlling the action here.

Zakirov pulls guard.
Zakirov keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to get up but he can't break Zakirov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Johnson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zakirov manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Zakirov throws a body shot but no joy.
Rey Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ilham Zakirov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Zakirov shoots in and gets a takedown into Johnson's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilham Zakirov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zakirov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilham Zakirov!