PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nikolay Zarubaylo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salmon Chase (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salmon Chase has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Zarubaylo
vs
Chase

177 cm
21
165 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
162 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Final Strike Clothing
Tesla Apparel

Natural Beast (Huge SALE on)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolay Zarubaylo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Salmon Chase!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Viktor Lagutenko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chase throws a hook to the side of Zarubaylo's head but Zarubaylo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zarubaylo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Chase scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Chase throws an overhand right that lands on Zarubaylo's shoulder, as Zarubaylo tries to avoid the shot.
Chase throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zarubaylo.
Chase checks a leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Zarubaylo. No joy for Chase on that attempt.
Zarubaylo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Chase. That did some damage!
Salmon Chase seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheers as Chase lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zarubaylo doesn't seem phased though.
Zarubaylo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chase.
Zarubaylo slips a jab and a cross from Chase.
Chase lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Chase looks to land a right hand but Zarubaylo moved out of range.
Chase misses with a body shot.
Chase swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zarubaylo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chase throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zarubaylo lands a high kick!

Zarubaylo clinches with his opponent.
Zarubaylo tries a knee to the head but Chase blocks it.
Zarubaylo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Chase avoiding damage as Zarubaylo throws knees to the body.
Zarubaylo misses with an elbow strike.
Zarubaylo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Zarubaylo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zarubaylo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Chase gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zarubaylo.
Chase on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zarubaylo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Zarubaylo tries a knee to the head but Chase blocks it.
Chase takes a knee right on the jaw!
Chase goes for a takedown attempt but Zarubaylo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarubaylo dodges the punch combination from Chase.
Chase misses with a looping right.
Chase misses the shot to the body.
A big left from Chase misses.
Chase misses with an uppercut.
Chase fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zarubaylo manages to avoid it.
Chase connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zarubaylo. Zarubaylo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Chase moves out of range as Zarubaylo throws a body kick.
A swing and a miss from Chase.
Chase lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Chase misses its intended target.
Zarubaylo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Chase swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Chase throws the left hand but Zarubaylo avoids the punch easily.
Zarubaylo misses with a head kick.
Zarubaylo slips under a jab from Chase.
No joy there for Chase, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Chase just misses with a punch to the body.
Chase misses with a body shot.
Chase fails to land with a series of punches.

Zarubaylo clinches up against the cage.
Zarubaylo looking to throw knees to the head but Chase is blocking nicely.
Chase avoids a wild elbow strike from Zarubaylo.
Chase drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zarubaylo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nikolay Zarubaylo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Salmon Chase.
Zarubaylo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zarubaylo lands a knee to the head.
Zarubaylo tries to land a knee to the head but Chase blocks with his arms.
Zarubaylo looking to throw knees to the head but Chase is blocking nicely.

Chase manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Zarubaylo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Chase escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zarubaylo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Zarubaylo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Zarubaylo is breathing heavily.

Chase is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zarubaylo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chase swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Zarubaylo drops back looking for a leg! Chase is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Chase manages to kick Zarubaylo off! Zarubaylo jumps back into Chase's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salmon Chase dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Chase looks to land a combination but Zarubaylo avoids it well.
Zarubaylo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Chase.
Chase throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Chase thows a body shot but no joy.
Zarubaylo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zarubaylo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Chase.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chase throws a right and a left that both miss.
A swing and a miss from Chase.
A swing and a miss from Chase.
Zarubaylo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chase looks to land a left hand but Zarubaylo moved out of range nicely.
Zarubaylo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Chase takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A big left from Chase misses.
Zarubaylo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Chase throws a hook to the side of Zarubaylo's head but Zarubaylo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Decent striking displayed by Chase there.
Chase takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Zarubaylo tries a head kick but it misses.
Chase throws an overhand right that lands on Zarubaylo's shoulder, as Zarubaylo tries to avoid the shot.
Zarubaylo ducks right into an uppercut from Chase.
Chase misses the shot to the body.
A big left from Chase misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarubaylo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Chase.
Zarubaylo throws a leg kick which misses Chase's front leg but catches the back leg as Chase tries to avoid it.
Zarubaylo lets loose with a powerful body kick. Chase will feel that in the morning.
Chase is breathing heavily.
Zarubaylo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Chase.
Chase misses the jab.

Zarubaylo takes the fight into the clinch.
Chase takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Salmon Chase has been cut.
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 knee to the head by Zarubaylo.
Zarubaylo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Chase managing to block the knees to the body from Zarubaylo.
Chase avoids the elbow strike from Zarubaylo, against the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zarubaylo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Chase's face.
Zarubaylo misses with a knee to the head.
Zarubaylo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Zarubaylo misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chase managing to block the knees to the body from Zarubaylo.
Zarubaylo tries to land a knee to the head but Chase blocks with his arms.
Zarubaylo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Zarubaylo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zarubaylo tries for a takedown but Chase manages to get underhooks.
Zarubaylo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Chase avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zarubaylo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Chase can't break the clinch.
Zarubaylo throws an elbow but it misses.
Zarubaylo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Chase blocks it with crossed arms.
Zarubaylo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Chase can't break the clinch.
Zarubaylo tries to land knees in the clinch but Chase avoids the damage to the body.
Chase fails to pull guard.
Chase wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zarubaylo has him pressed against the cage.
Zarubaylo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Chase tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zarubaylo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Chase tries to pull guard but Zarubaylo won't allow it.
Nikolay Zarubaylo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Salmon Chase.

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.
Zarubaylo lands an elbow inside.
Zarubaylo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Chase has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Chase jumps guard but Zarubaylo stands there with Chase around his waist. Chase gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zarubaylo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Chase avoiding damage as Zarubaylo throws knees to the body.
Chase managing to block the knees to the body from Zarubaylo.
Zarubaylo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zarubaylo trying to land knees to the body.

Chase gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Chase wants to work for an arm triangle but Zarubaylo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Chase is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zarubaylo sees it coming and defends easily.
Chase passes to full mount!

Chase is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chase lands a nice shot that snaps Zarubaylo's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nikolay Zarubaylo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Salmon Chase's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Chase swinging wilding here.
Zarubaylo wants to clinch.
Zarubaylo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Zarubaylo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Chase looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Chase is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zarubaylo is controlling him well.
Zarubaylo lands a few punches from side control.
Chase is pushing Zarubaylo's head away, looking to escape. Zarubaylo manages to hold on to the position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chase gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Zarubaylo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Chase is just riding it out for now. Zarubaylo eventually gives up the hold.

Zarubaylo seems to be working for a kimura but Chase defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zarubaylo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Chase is defending against the submission attempts here by Zarubaylo.
Chase gets full guard.
Zarubaylo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Chase's guard.

Chase looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Chase actively working from the bottom here.
Chase is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zarubaylo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zarubaylo's back!
Zarubaylo turns into Chase and is now in his guard.
Chase tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Chase manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zarubaylo manages to get himself to full guard.
Zarubaylo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Chase is trying to escape the mount.

Zarubaylo looking to secure an arm triangle but Chase defends it well.

Zarubaylo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chase working to try and regain half guard.
Chase is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zarubaylo is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Chase is in real trouble.
Chase tries to escape the position.

Zarubaylo sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Chase taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Nikolay Zarubaylo!
Nikolay Zarubaylo retains his lightweight title!