PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oleg Ljashko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Monte Zuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ljashko
vs
Zuma

185 cm
28
265 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

190 cm
27
255 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

MayheM sportswear

Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

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 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleg Ljashko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Monte Zuma!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Anthony Taglia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ljashko blocks a head kick by Zuma.
Ljashko misses with a straight left.
Zuma connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ljashko doesn't manage to clinch there - Zuma circles away.
It seemed like Zuma was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ljashko misses with a looping left.
Ljashko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zuma manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zuma looks to land a left hand but Ljashko moved out of range nicely.
Zuma tries a head kick but it misses.
Ljashko throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ljashko takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zuma.
Zuma trying to control the position but Ljashko is working away.

Zuma tries for a kimura but Ljashko is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ljashko wants to control but Zuma postures up.
Ljashko is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Zuma asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Zuma looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ljashko tries to improve position but can't.
Ljashko is pushing Zuma's head away, looking to escape. Zuma manages to hold on to the position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ljashko 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.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Ljashko is looking for a sweep.
Ljashko is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zuma is controlling him well.
Zuma is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ljashko will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Zuma looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ljashko manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Zuma tries to pass to full mount but Ljashko defends it.
Ljashko is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ljashko makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Zuma lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zuma throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zuma throws a hook but Ljashko avoids it easily.
Ljashko misses with a double jab.
Zuma throws a leg kick that misses.
Ljashko tries to clinch there but Zuma circles away.
Zuma throws the kick towards the body but Ljashko avoids it.
Ljashko was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Zuma throws a combination. Ljashko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zuma has closed the distance and engaged Ljashko in a clinch.
Zuma softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Zuma stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ljashko is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ljashko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
I was talking to Ljashko's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ljashko leaning against his opponent.
Zuma has Ljashko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ljashko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Zuma's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ljashko manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Zuma goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuma lands a hook that snaps the head of Ljashko backwards.

Ljashko manages to break the clinch.
Ljashko is looking to clinch.
Ljashko misses with a looping left.
Zuma tries a low kick but Ljashko avoids it.
A combination from Zuma does no damage.
Ljashko fails to land with a series of punches.
Despite the aggression on Zuma's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ljashko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ljashko moves forwards but Zuma connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Zuma moves out of range of the strikes.

Zuma has Ljashko up against the cage in a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zuma.
Ljashko lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ljashko is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short right from Ljashko on the inside.
Ljashko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zuma looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ljashko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Zuma fails to land.
Ljashko lands with a light punch inside.

Ljashko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ljashko throws a hook but Zuma avoids it easily.

Zuma tries to keep at a distance but Ljashko has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ljashko can't find room to land a body shot as Zuma controls the action.
Nice body punch from Zuma.
Ljashko lands a left hand.

Ljashko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zuma misses with a hook.
Zuma tries a head kick but it misses.
Ljashko tries to move into range but Zuma moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Monte Zuma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ljashko wants to clinch up but Zuma keeps it at a distance.
Zuma throws a leg kick but Ljashko moved away.
Zuma looks to land a left hand but Ljashko moved out of range nicely.
Ljashko moves away from the strike by Zuma.
Zuma connects with the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Zuma 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.

Zuma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ljashko tries to clinch up but Zuma circles away and keeps his distance.

Ljashko has managed to clinch.
Zuma struggles to land a body shot inside as Ljashko controls his hands.
Zuma throws a head punch that misses.
Ljashko tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zuma avoids it.
Ljashko has a couple of punches blocked by Zuma.
Zuma digs a right hand into Ljashko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ljashko's gas tank.
Zuma has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zuma lands a body punch.
Ljashko working hard to break the clinch.
Zuma presses Ljashko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Zuma lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Zuma tries to throw a body punch but Ljashko avoids it by throwing Zuma back against the cage.
Ljashko blocks a body shot from Zuma.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ljashko trying to control the position but instead, Zuma has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ljashko into the cage.
Ljashko wants to get back to striking at distance but Zuma won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zuma tries for a takedown but Ljashko manages to get underhooks.
Zuma throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ljashkos head.
Zuma lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Zuma.
Nice body punch from Zuma - that landed with a thud.
Zuma lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ljashko backwards.
Zuma misses with a body punch.
Zuma lands a shoulder strike.
Zuma misses with a body punch.
Zuma lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ljashko backwards.
Zuma doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zuma lands a body punch.
Zuma lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ljashko backwards.
Ljashko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zuma lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Zuma lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zuma throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ljashkos head.
Zuma working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Ljashko is rocked!
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!
A body shot lands from Zuma.
Oh Ljashko is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A left hand lands to the body for Zuma.
Zuma works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Zuma works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ljashko takes a shot to the head.
Zuma throws a big uppercut that drops Ljashko! More strikes from Zuma and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Ljashko lies dazed against the cage as Zuma celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Monte Zuma!
Monte Zuma decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.