PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Spirit (ranked 4582 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Zirkovic (ranked 24853 p4p, 0 weight class). Andre Zirkovic will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Spirit
vs
Zirkovic

169 cm
24
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
180 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jacob Spirit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andre Zirkovic!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zirkovic fails with the takedown
and Spirit counters with a straight right hand.
Spirit throws a sloppy head kick and Zirkovic moves out of range easily.
Spirit leaves Zirkovic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jacob Spirit seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zirkovic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jacob Spirit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Zirkovic.
Zirkovic takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zirkovic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Spirit's waist but Spirit gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zirkovic off to one side.
Horrible takedown attempt by Spirit or perhaps it was just good defense by Zirkovic, which made it look bad.
Zirkovic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Spirit sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zirkovic somewhat.
Zirkovic looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zirkovic defends well and Spirit ends up having to push Zirkovic into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Spirit looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Spirit is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Zirkovic is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Spirit trying to control but Zirkovic is working from the bottom.
Spirit is pushing down on Zirkovic's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zirkovic is fighting to maintain full guard but Spirit has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spirit stalling away here and it's allowed Zirkovic to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Spirit content to stall in guard here.
Spirit might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Spirit with a flurry of punches that miss.
Spirit controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zirkovic can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spirit gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Spirit misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zirkovic lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A head kick misses from Spirit.
Zirkovic tries to counter by closing the distance.
Spirit misses with a head kick.
Spirit slaps away a takedown attempt from Zirkovic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Spirit tries for a takedown but Zirkovic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Spirit closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Spirit darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Zirkovic goes for a double leg but Spirit avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Spirit continues to drive forward.
Spirit shoots in looking for a takedown. Zirkovic tries to sprawl out of it but Spirit keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zirkovic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Zirkovic as Spirit shoots in.

Spirit clinches up with Zirkovic and pushes him back against the cage.
Spirit gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zirkovic.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spirit wants to break free but Zirkovic has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Spirit dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zirkovic stuffs the takedown attempt from Spirit. Spirit gets slowly back to his feet.
Zirkovic shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Spirit pinned against the cage. Spirit gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Spirit.
Zirkovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spirit shoots and misses
letting Zirkovic counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacob Spirit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zirkovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Spirit goes for a double leg but Zirkovic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zirkovic continues to drive forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zirkovic keeps the fight on the outside.
A head kick misses from Spirit.
Zirkovic closes the distance and clinches up with Spirit, looking for a takedown. Zirkovic pushes Spirit against the cage but Spirit circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Spirit doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zirkovic counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Spirit is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zirkovic is keeping busy.
Spirit is pressed up against the cage. Zirkovic has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Spirit down to the mat. Spirit avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Spirit fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spirit moves into the clinch.

Spirit drags the fight down to the ground.
Spirit pulls Zirkovic in close to prevent any damage.

Spirit looking for a guillotine here but Zirkovic defends easily.
Zirkovic trying to control but Spirit is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spirit pushes Zirkovic off and scrambles back to his feet.
Spirit shoots in but no luck this time.
Spirit scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zirkovic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Spirit circles away.
Zirkovic fails with the takedown.

Spirit gets a clinch.
Zirkovic is trying to pull guard but Spirit turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spirit tries to score a body lock takedown but Zirkovic shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Spirit is trying to pull guard but Zirkovic has him pressed against the cage.
Spirit has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Spirit wants a takedown but no success here.
Spirit is trying to break free.

Spirit pulls guard effortlessly.
Zirkovic preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spirit working a defensive guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zirkovic is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Spirit is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Spirit has escaped and now he's on top!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Spirit dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Zirkovic fails with the takedown.
Spirit thows a leg kick but Zirkovic checks it

and Zirkovic counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Zirkovic wants to get back to his feet.
Spirit wants to control but Zirkovic is keeping busy.
Jacob Spirit overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zirkovic is working for a kimura here but Spirit manages to reverse the position and he's now in Zirkovic's guard.
Zirkovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zirkovic trying to keep a closed guard but Spirit is proving a slippery customer.

Spirit gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Zirkovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jacob Spirit is winning the standup battle so far.

Zirkovic tries to keep at a distance but Spirit has taken the fight into the clinch.
Spirit is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Jacob Spirit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Zirkovic.
Spirit tries to land a knee to the head but Zirkovic blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spirit is trying to break the clinch but Zirkovic is controlling him.

Spirit jumps guard and drags Zirkovic to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Spirit will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Zirkovic passes into half guard.

Zirkovic is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Spirit defends it well.
Spirit trying to control but Zirkovic postures up.
Spirit gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spirit uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Spirit shoots in looking for a takedown but Zirkovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Spirit's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Spirit fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Spirit misses with a takedown attempt - Zirkovic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Spirit leaves Zirkovic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zirkovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Spirit sprawls well. He's pushed Zirkovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
It looked like Spirit was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Zirkovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spirit shoots in for a double leg but Zirkovic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Spirit darts in looking for a takedown but Zirkovic gets double underhooks and turns Spirit into the cage.
Spirit tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zirkovic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Spirit somewhat.
Spirit is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zirkovic can do to turn this around?
Zirkovic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Spirit pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Zirkovic back to the cage. Spirit follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Andre Zirkovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jacob Spirit is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spirit shoots in and drives through. Zirkovic sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob Spirit showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Spirit has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacob Spirit!
Jacob Spirit opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.