PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zig Zig (ranked 3254 p4p, 3454 weight class) and Olenev Stepanovich (ranked 404 p4p, 423 weight class). Stepanovich has chosen Swallowing Dust as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Zig
vs
Stepanovich

165 cm
20
155
3 - 1 - 0

186 cm
20
165
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Coconut Supplement Co.

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zig Zig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Olenev Stepanovich!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zig dives in for a single leg takedown but Stepanovich sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nice body punch from Stepanovich - that landed with a thud.
Zig pressing his opponent against the cage.
Stepanovich is trying to break free.

Stepanovich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stepanovich connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zig momentarily.

Zig closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Stepanovich's guard.
Zig might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stepanovich is looking to stand up but Zig isn't so interested in that idea.
Stepanovich wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Zig manages to pass to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zig prevents Stepanovich from standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zig with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Stepanovich tries to kick Zig off but Zig keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Stepanovich has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Beasties. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zig trying to control from half guard but Stepanovich is working away.
Zig content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Stepanovich tries to kick Zig off but Zig keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Zig looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Stepanovich looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Stepanovich throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zig on the side of the head.
Zig walks into a stiff left hand from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Zig tries to move into range but Stepanovich moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zig manages to avoid it.
As Stepanovich looks to move away, Zig throws a big counter combo but Stepanovich just gets out of the way.
Zig looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zig is defended easily by Stepanovich.
Stepanovich misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zig.
Zig changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A jab from Stepanovich misses.
Stepanovich lands with a right hand.
Stepanovich throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zig sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice shot lands for Stepanovich.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zig looks for a takedown but Stepanovich sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zig Zig. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zig takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Stepanovich cracks Zig with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Stepanovich as he connects with a hook.
Stepanovich lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Stepanovich is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Zig tries to move into range but Stepanovich moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Zig with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Stepanovich to score with a decent uppercut.
Zig shoots in and drives through. Stepanovich sprawls well.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stepanovich, as that shot connected.
Stepanovich scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Stepanovich has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Stepanovich lands a jab.
Zig looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stepanovich is fending him off so far but Zig persists. Nope, Stepanovich circles away and we're back to standing.
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!
Zig takes one to the chin there.
Stepanovich misses with an uppercut. Zig saw that one coming.
Zig doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Stepanovich misses with a body shot.
Zig takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zig closes the distance and clinches up with Stepanovich, looking for a takedown. Zig pushes Stepanovich against the cage but Stepanovich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jab from Stepanovich.
Stepanovich keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Zig takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Stepanovich fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Zig on the side of the head.

Zig is rocked!
Stepanovich closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Zig! Stepanovich dives in looking to finish! Zig is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Olenev Stepanovich!
Post fight, Olenev Stepanovich stared into the camera and said 'I am numba 1 lightweight contender, give me title fight, I deserve dis, you know I deserve dis.'.