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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andre Haack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Zharkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Andre Haack has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.
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| 183 cm
23
183 lbs
5 - 1 - 0 |
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183 cm
24
182 lbs
9 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank |
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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
5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andre Haack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrei Zharkov!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jorge Garcia and Dean Styles.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zharkov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Haack's waist but Haack gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zharkov off to one side.
Haack throws a low kick, looking for Zharkov's leg but Zharkov calmly moves out of range.
Haack misses with a low kick.
Zharkov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Haack takes one to the chin there.
Haack throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Haack keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Haack displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zharkov throws out the jab.
Zharkov swings widly with a right hand
and Haack counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Zharkov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Zharkov lands a jab-cross combination.
Haack misses with a low kick.
Zharkov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Haack is fending him off so far but Zharkov persists. Nope, Haack circles away and we're back to standing.
Haack looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Haack fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zharkov.
Haack moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big right from Zharkov misses.
Zharkov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zharkov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Andre Haack has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrei Zharkov.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Haack.
Haack uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zharkov.
Good leg kick by Haack there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Haack throws the kick towards the body but Zharkov avoids it.
Haack scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zharkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haack swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've been told by Haack's head coaches at Spetznaz Training Center that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Zharkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Zharkov backs away, Haack returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Zharkov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Haack was well out of range. Poor timing from Zharkov.
Haack's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zharkov under the eye.
Haack tries to work over Zharkov's front leg with a kick but Zharkov checks it.
Haack avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zharkov throws a jab when Haack was well out of range.
Zharkov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Zharkov working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zharkov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Haack 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.
Zharkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zharkov cracks Haack with a solid left hand.
Zharkov wants to control from the top but Haack keeps moving.
Zharkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Haack pulls Zharkov in close to his closed guard and prevents Zharkov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Haack lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Haack wants to pass the guard but Zharkov is keeping the position.
Zharkov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Haack is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zharkov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Haack stacks Zharkov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Haack!
Haack content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Zharkov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Zharkov trying to mount his opponent but Haack defends it.
Zharkov working over Haack with some ground and pound. Haack looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zharkov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Haack desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Haack has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zharkov misses with a head shot. Haack uses the momentum to regain guard.
Haack avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Haack keeping moving, preventing Zharkov from controlling successfully.
Haack utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zharkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Haack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zharkov throws a big elbow that misses.
Haack looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zharkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Haack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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 Andre Haack will probably get the nod.
That's time! Haack's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Zharkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Haack.
Zharkov misses with a hook.
Haack throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Haack lands a head shot.
Zharkov just misses with a punch to the body.
Haack quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Haack thuds his shin into the meat of Zharkov's side.
Zharkov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Haack manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Haack throws a leg kick but Zharkov moved away.
Zharkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Haack.
It appears Haack was looking to counter with a kick there.
Haack scores with a push kick.
Haack misses with a low kick.
Haack displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zharkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haack avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Haack displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zharkov throws out the jab.
Haack appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Zharkov misses with a hook. Haack ducked under it nicely.
Haack throws a leg kick
and Haack takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Haack uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zharkov.
Zharkov misses with a jab to the body
and Haack makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Haack.
Haack moves away from the strike by Zharkov.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Haack.
Zharkov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Haack as he jumps to the side.
Haack throws a leg kick which misses Zharkov's front leg but catches the back leg as Zharkov tries to avoid it.
Haack throws a front kick that sends Zharkov stumbling back into the cage.
Zharkov avoids a kick to the body.
Haack throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Haack goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Haack connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zharkov cracks Haack with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Zharkov has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Haack.
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!
Haack feints and then cracks Zharkov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zharkov down.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haack misses with a leg kick
and Zharkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zharkov takes the fight into the clinch.
Zharkov tries to pull guard but Haack forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Andre Haack has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrei Zharkov.
Zharkov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zharkov jumps guard but Haack stands there with Zharkov around his waist. Zharkov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short right from Haack on the inside.
Zharkov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Haack after a bit of a struggle.
Haack working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Haack misses with a body punch.
Haack is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zharkov can do to turn this around?
Haack breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zharkov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Zharkov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Haack fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zharkov.
Haack connects with a solid leg kick.
Andre Haack is winning the standup battle so far.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zharkov or perhaps it was just good defense by Haack, which made it look bad.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haack lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A slapping body kick lands there for Haack.
Haack misses with a kick to the body.
Zharkov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Haack with a body shot.
Haack throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Zharkov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Haack cracks the inside of Zharkov's front leg.
A clash of legs there as Zharkov blocks the low kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Haack. That's going to slow Zharkov down.
Haack misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zharkov.
No luck for Zharkov with that takedown attempt.
Zharkov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Haack sprawls well initially but Zharkov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Haack is looking to control Zharkov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Haack avoid being mounted?
Haack keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zharkov looks to land a strike but Haack avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Zharkov stops Haack from standing up.
Zharkov wants to pass the guard but Haack is keeping the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haack preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zharkov won't allow Haack to sweep him here.
Zharkov scoring with some ground and pound.
Zharkov postures up in Haack's guard and throws a big left but Haack blocks it.
Haack looking for a sweep. Not yet Haack, not yet.
Haack keeping moving, preventing Zharkov from controlling successfully.
Haack pulls Zharkov in to control the position.
Haack looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zharkov is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Andre Haack dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Haack keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Haack looks to land a body kick but Zharkov moved away.
Haack throws a half hearted mid kick.
Haack lands with a slapping head kick.
Zharkov takes a swing at Haack's ribcage but misses.
Zharkov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Haack swivels and escapes.
Haack half committed to a counter leg kick.
Zharkov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Haack looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Haack can't do much from the bottom here.
Zharkov trying to control the position but Haack is working away.
Zharkov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Zharkov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Haack has escaped the position, nice work there.
Haack has one of Zharkov's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zharkov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Haack has escaped the position, nice work there.
Zharkov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Haack is avoiding damage well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haack tries to bench press Zharkov off him but Zharkov keeps the position.
Zharkov working the ground and pound but Haack is defending the strikes.
Zharkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zharkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Haack keeps working.
Haack tries to improve position but can't.
Zharkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Haack keeps working.
Zharkov working the ground and pound from side control.
Andre Haack is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zharkov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Haack will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Haack defending against the ground and pound.
Haack is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zharkov connects with a decent elbow.
Zharkov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Zharkov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Haack has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Zharkov but great work by Haack.
Zharkov is trying to improve his position.
Zharkov regains half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zharkov is looking to improve his position.
Zharkov gets full guard.
Zharkov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Haack has passed into side control.
Haack is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Zharkov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Zharkov is looking for a sweep.
Haack trying to control the action but Zharkov is working from the bottom.
Zharkov is trying to improve his position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haack is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Zharkov's shoulder. That is not cool.
Zharkov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Haack's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Haack content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Haack blocks the strikes from Zharkov.
Andrei Zharkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haack prevents Zharkov from improving his position.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Andrei Zharkov.
I think Haack has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
The fight is ruled a draw!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
47% |
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