PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Mazepin (ranked 2619 p4p, 2794 weight class) and Balal Lama (ranked 329 p4p, 345 weight class). Mazepin comes into the arena with boom blaring out of the sound system. Balal Lama has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Mazepin
vs
Lama

190 cm
39
250
22 - 25 - 0

195 cm
31
220
11 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 22 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fedor Mazepin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Balal Lama!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lama works Mazepin's body with a nice hook.

Lama has managed to clinch.

Lama tightens his grip and picks Mazepin up, before dumping him to the ground. Mazepin manages to land in guard.
Lama controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Lama working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Mazepin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lama wants to pass the guard but Mazepin is keeping the position.
Lama passes Mazepin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mazepin is pressing down on Lama's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mazepin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Mazepin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mazepin keeping full guard, as Lama tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lama passes into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mazepin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Mazepin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lama defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lama looking to pass the guard.
Lama wants to control from the top but Mazepin keeps moving.

Mazepin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mazepin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lama gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lama stands up over Mazepin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mazepin keeping moving, preventing Lama from controlling successfully.
Lama content to stall in guard here.

Mazepin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lama defends well.
Lama with a nice head shot there.
Lama makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lama forces his way into half guard.
Lama looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Lama wants to take a breather but Mazepin is having none of it.

Mazepin looking for submissions off his back.
Lama with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mazepin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mazepin.
Lama trying to control the position from guard on top but Mazepin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lama content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Mazepin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lama scoring with some ground and pound.
Lama chips away with some ground and pound.
Mazepin keeping full guard, as Lama tries to pass.
Lama sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mazepin wants to sweep here but Lama controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lama controls from within his opponent's guard.

Mazepin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lama doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lama manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lama is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lama trying to control but Mazepin is working from the bottom.

Mazepin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lama gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lama trying to control the position from guard on top but Mazepin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mazepin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lama defends it easily.

Mazepin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lama defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Balal Lama dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

No joy there for Mazepin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fighters circling - Lama throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Lama gets the takedown into side control.

Mazepin throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lama.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lama lands a decent elbow from side control.
Lama lands a nice forearm strike.
Lama scoring with punches from side control.
Balal Lama has got the better of the ground game so far.

Lama is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mazepin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mazepin is looking for a sweep.
Lama cracks Mazepin with a big elbow.
Mazepin is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mazepin is trying to get back to half guard.
Mazepin on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Lama wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mazepin, who protects the arm well.
Mazepin wants to control but Lama postures up.
Mazepin tries to improve position but can't.
Lama wants to control but Mazepin is keeping him busy.
Mazepin is looking to regain half guard here but Lama keeps moving and retains side control.
Lama working the ground and pound.

Lama tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lama cracks Mazepin with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mazepin gets back to half guard.
Lama is keen to just control but Mazepin is a slippery customer.
Lama is taking a breather. Mazepin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Let's hope that Lama has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Lama has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Lama wants to control the pace but Mazepin is squirming around nicely.
Lama is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mazepin can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Lama content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lama lands a big elbow.
Lama has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mazepin is squirming around, avoiding Lama's attempts to control the action.
Lama avoids the attempt from Mazepin to control.
Lama landing strikes from the mount and Mazepin is in trouble!
Lama can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mazepin is looking to escape.
Mazepin working to try and regain half guard.
Lama sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Lama.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mazepin tries to lock up and control but Lama gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Lama is working for a guillotine from mount but Mazepin frees his head quite easily.
Lama lands a heavy elbow.
Lama looking to finish Mazepin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mazepin!
Mazepin working to try and regain half guard.
Lama with a couple of short strikes.
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!
Mazepin is working to get back to half guard.
Lama trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lama controlling from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Balal Lama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lama misses with a double jab.
Lama tries to land a body kick
and Mazepin counters with a one-two to the body.
Mazepin slips a jab and a cross from Lama.
Lama fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Mazepin gets caught napping as Lama dives in and scores a takedown. Mazepin manages to retain guard.

Mazepin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lama trying to control the position from guard on top but Mazepin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lama with a nice head shot there.

Mazepin is looking to cinch up a triangle. Lama throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Mazepin's body to avoid the submission. Mazepin has instead reached around Lama's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Mazepin arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Fedor Mazepin!
During a confident post fight interview, Fedor Mazepin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.