PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zlatan Zirkov (ranked 3208 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Saxton (ranked 3281 p4p, 0 weight class). Gary Saxton is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Zirkov
vs
Saxton

172 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zlatan Zirkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gary Saxton!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saxton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zirkov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zirkov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Zirkov moves into the clinch.

Saxton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big right from Saxton misses.
Saxton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zirkov.
Zirkov tries to clinch but Saxton moves out of range.
Saxton swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice uppercut there from Saxton.
Saxton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zirkov.
Zirkov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saxton.
A little jabbing left from Saxton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Zirkov throws a push kick but Saxton slaps the foot to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zirkov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zirkov is looking to clinch but Saxton is avoiding it.
Saxton thuds his right hand into Zirkov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Saxton misses with a low kick.
Zirkov moves out of range as Saxton strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saxton throws a jab but it's blocked by Zirkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zirkov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Saxton looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Saxton looks to land a right hand but Zirkov moved out of range.

Zirkov has Saxton up against the cage in a clinch.
Zirkov tries to land knees in the clinch but Saxton avoids the damage to the body.
Zirkov tries to land knees in the clinch but Saxton avoids the damage to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zirkov blocks a body shot from Saxton.
Zirkov tries to work over Saxton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zirkov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saxton avoids it.
Saxton is looking to control Zirkov's arms but Zirkov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Saxton has his back to the cage.
Saxton managing to block the knees to the body from Zirkov.

Saxton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zirkov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saxton throws a jab when Zirkov was well out of range.
Zirkov blocks a head kick by Saxton.
Zirkov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zirkov lands with a right hand.
Saxton throws a jab but it's blocked by Zirkov.
Zirkov misses with a hook to the body
and Saxton counters with a nice uppercut.
Zirkov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zirkov moves in looking to clinch but Saxton pushes him off.
Zirkov misses with a straight right.
Zirkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Saxton is just out of range.
Saxton circles away from the clinch attempt
and Saxton counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zirkov throws a shot from downtown. Saxton moves away and avoids it.
Zirkov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saxton misses the jab.
Zlatan Zirkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zirkov misses with a hook to the body
and Saxton counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Saxton throws the kick towards the body but Zirkov avoids it.
Good work by Zirkov as he checks the leg kick.
Zirkov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zirkov misses with a looping left.
Zirkov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Saxton to score with a decent uppercut.
Saxton looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Saxton lands a right hook to the body.
Zirkov staying out of range there.
Decent striking displayed by Zirkov there.
Saxton throws a jab but it's blocked by Zirkov.
Saxton connects with a single shot there.
Zirkov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saxton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Zirkov.
Zirkov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Saxton checks it well.
Saxton misses with a body shot.
Saxton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zirkov throws out the jab.
Saxton blocks a low kick nicely.
It seemed like Saxton was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Zirkov lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saxton moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Saxton throws an overhand right that lands on Zirkov's shoulder, as Zirkov tries to avoid the shot.
Saxton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zirkov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Zirkov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Saxton.
Saxton takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Zirkov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Saxton staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gary Saxton will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A swing and a miss from Saxton.
Zirkov is looking to counter the offense by Saxton and move into the clinch.
Saxton misses with a looping right.
Zirkov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Saxton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zirkov.
Zirkov backing away here, and Saxton unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Zirkov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Saxton throws the left hand but Zirkov avoids the punch easily.
Saxton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zirkov misses with a wild body shot.
Zirkov blocks a jab.
Saxton misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saxton throws an overhand right that lands on Zirkov's shoulder, as Zirkov tries to avoid the shot.
Zirkov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Zirkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Saxton.
As Saxton tries to get set, Zirkov tries to push him back and clinch up but Saxton manages to avoid the attempt.
Saxton catches Zirkov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Zirkov misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saxton throws out a loose jab but Zirkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saxton lands a jab to the nose.
Zirkov tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Saxton has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Zirkov.
Saxton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zirkov throws out the jab.
Zirkov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Zirkov finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Zirkov connects with a crisp jab.
Zirkov throws a series of punches but Saxton avoids them all with ease.
Zirkov lands a jab to Saxton's midsection.
Nice body punch from Zirkov.
Saxton throws a jab when Zirkov was well out of range.
Zirkov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zirkov misses with a lunging right hand
and Saxton counters with a nice uppercut.
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!

Zirkov has Saxton up against the cage in a clinch.
Saxton swings wildly with an uppercut but Zirkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zirkov working aggressively here.
Zirkov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zirkov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zirkov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Saxton throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Zirkov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Saxton tries to work over Zirkov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zirkov dodges an elbow strike from Saxton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saxton manages to break the clinch.
Zirkov tries to land a front kick but Saxton steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A thudding body kick lands there by Saxton!
Zirkov is looking to chop away at Saxton's legs.
Zirkov throws a nice inside leg kick.
Saxton moves out of range as Zirkov throws a body kick.
Zirkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saxton.
Zirkov moves in looking to clinch but Saxton pushes him off.
Zirkov misses with a two punch combination.
Saxton shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A swing and a miss from Zirkov.
Saxton looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Saxton chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zirkov can pounce on him.
Saxton connects with the punch.
Zirkov slips a jab from Saxton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saxton throws a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from Saxton misses the target.
Saxton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zirkov throws out the jab.
Saxton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zirkov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
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 good leg kick by Saxton.
Saxton lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zirkov. Saxton does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zirkov walks into a straight right hand from Saxton.
Saxton lands a jab.
Saxton misses with the combination.
Saxton displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
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 Zlatan Zirkov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Zirkov looks to throw the jab but Saxton is out of range.

Zirkov darts in and clinches Saxton up against the cage.
Zirkov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saxton is defending well for now.
Saxton pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Zirkov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zirkov misses with a punch on the inside.
Saxton has Zirkov pressed against the cage.
Saxton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zirkov misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zirkov breaks the clinch.
Zirkov misses with a low kick.
Decent striking displayed by Saxton there.
Zirkov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saxton throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zirkov moves out of range as Saxton strikes.
No joy there for Saxton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saxton's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zirkov under the eye.
Zirkov throws a low kick but Saxton moves out of range easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Saxton! But no joy.
Saxton slips a straight right by Zirkov.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Saxton! But no joy.
Saxton avoids the body shot from Zirkov.

Zirkov rushes Saxton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Saxton stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Zirkov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Saxton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zirkov tries to throw a body punch but Saxton avoids it by throwing Zirkov back against the cage.
Saxton managing to block the knees to the body from Zirkov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zirkov has Saxton pressed against the cage, preventing Saxton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Saxton pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Saxton avoiding damage as Zirkov throws knees to the body.
Zirkov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saxton.
Zirkov is looking to break free of the clinch but Saxton has double underhooks.
Zlatan Zirkov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Saxton pressing his opponent against the cage.
Zirkov tries to work over Saxton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zirkov trying to land knees to the body.
Zirkov avoids a wild elbow strike from Saxton.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Zirkov fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zirkov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zirkov can't find room to land a body shot as Saxton controls the action.
Zirkov trying to land knees to the body.
Zirkov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Zirkov lands with a right to the head.
Saxton lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zirkov backwards.
Zirkov is trying to force a seperation but Saxton has the dominant position.
Saxton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saxton lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zirkov or not.

Saxton breaks the clinch.
Saxton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zirkov.
Zirkov misses the body punch
and Saxton counters with a stiff right hand.
Saxton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zirkov.
Zirkov slips a jab from Saxton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zirkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Saxton.
A little jabbing left from Saxton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Saxton looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Zirkov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Saxton sprawls and moves away.
Zirkov misses with a jab to the body
and Saxton counters with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zirkov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zirkov misses with an uppercut. Saxton saw that one coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zirkov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Zirkov throws a jab when Saxton was well out of range.
Saxton pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Zirkov wants to clinch
and Saxton counters with a three punch combo that has Zirkov backing up. Zirkov nods at Saxton to acknowledge the strikes.
Saxton connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Zirkov throws a combination that misses
and Saxton counters with a thumping low kick.
Saxton tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zirkov was well out of range. Poor timing from Saxton.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gary Saxton.
I think Saxton has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Saxton!