PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ales Zhandunka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vin Ner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ner has chosen Just Another Victim by Helmet&House Of Pain as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zhandunka
vs
Ner

220 cm
27
275 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

200 cm
28
280 lbs
11 - 8 - 1

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Very strong

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ales Zhandunka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Vin Ner!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Zhandunka misses.
Ner fails with a takedown attempt.
Zhandunka throws a jab when Ner was well out of range.
Zhandunka listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A head kick misses from Ner.
Ner is looking to clinch but Zhandunka is avoiding it.
Zhandunka throws a series of punches but Ner avoids them all with ease.
Zhandunka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ner.
Zhandunka looks to land a right hand but Ner moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ner shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zhandunka pinned against the cage. Zhandunka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zhandunka misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ner wants to clinch.
Ales Zhandunka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zhandunka misses with a body shot.
Ales Zhandunka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ner.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ner.
Zhandunka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ner fails with a takedown attempt.
Ales Zhandunka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vin Ner.
Zhandunka misses with an uppercut.
Zhandunka just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ner throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zhandunka throws a hook but Ner blocks it.
Sloppy strikes from Zhandunka. Those never looked like landing.
Zhandunka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zhandunka looks to throw the jab but Ner is out of range.
Ner shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zhandunka pinned against the cage. Zhandunka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ner slips under a jab.
Zhandunka misses with a hook. Ner ducked under it nicely.
Zhandunka lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zhandunka throws a series of punches but Ner avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ner misses with a hook. Zhandunka ducked under it nicely.
Zhandunka throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zhandunka lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Ner connects with a solid leg kick.
Ner looks to land a body kick but Zhandunka moved away.
Zhandunka takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ner. That's going to slow Zhandunka down.
Zhandunka misses with a wild combination.
Nice uppercut lands for Zhandunka. That snapped Ner's head back.
Zhandunka lands with an overhand left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ner.

Ner rushes Zhandunka and presses him up against the cage.
Nice elbow from Ner.
Nice body punch from Zhandunka - that landed with a thud.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ner has picked Zhandunka up - he's going for a ride! Ner dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Zhandunka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ner trying to control the action but Zhandunka is working from the bottom.
Ner looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zhandunka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ground and pound from Ner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vin Ner will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ner lands with an uppercut that bounces Zhandunka off the cage and back into rage.
Zhandunka has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ner finds it's way round the side to connect with Zhandunka's head.
Ner misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zhandunka misses with an uppercut. Ner saw that one coming.
Ner avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ner displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zhandunka throws out the jab.

Ner closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ner lands in his opponent's guard.
Ner slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ner distracts Zhandunka with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhandunka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zhandunka knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ner on the ground.
Ner forces his way into half guard.
Ner not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zhandunka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ner.
Ner looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ner not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ner missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ner trying to control the action but Zhandunka is working from the bottom.
Ner is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zhandunka on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zhandunka tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ner lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ner working Zhandunka over with strikes.
Ner content to control rather than advance.
Zhandunka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ner.
Ner throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ner trying to pass the guard but Zhandunka defending well.
Ner not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ner.
Ner wants to take a breather but Zhandunka is having none of it.
Nice strikes from Ner there.
Zhandunka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zhandunka is looking to escape.
Ner working Zhandunka over with strikes.
Ner not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vin Ner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ner throws a push kick but Zhandunka slaps the foot to one side.
Zhandunka throws out a loose jab but Ner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ner is looking to chop away at Zhandunka's legs.
Zhandunka throws a hook but Ner avoids it easily.
Zhandunka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ner slips a jab and a cross from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka tries to bum rush Ner with a series of wild strikes but Ner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ner uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zhandunka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhandunka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A punch combination from Zhandunka misses.
Ner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zhandunka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Zhandunka misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhandunka rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ner moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Good leg kick by Ner there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Zhandunka misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Zhandunka.
Ner throws a sloppy head kick and Zhandunka moves out of range easily.
Zhandunka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ner moves away.
Zhandunka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ner is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Zhandunka.
Ner looks to land a body kick but Zhandunka moved away.
Ales Zhandunka is winning the standup battle so far.
No joy there for Zhandunka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ner closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ner trying to land knees to the body.
Zhandunka managing to block the knees to the body from Ner.
Zhandunka lands a shoulder strike.
Zhandunka pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ner misses with a body punch.
A short uppercut from Zhandunka.
Ner lands a hook that snaps the head of Zhandunka backwards.
Zhandunka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ner throws a punch but it's blocked by Zhandunka.
Zhandunka misses with a punch on the inside.
Zhandunka slowing the pace effectively.
Zhandunka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ner is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zhandunka.
Nice elbow from Ner.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zhandunka.
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!
Zhandunka managing to block the knees to the body from Ner.
Zhandunka misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ner.
Zhandunka misses with a punch to the body.
Ales Zhandunka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka scores with a shoulder strike.
Ner has a couple of punches blocked by Zhandunka.
Zhandunka avoids the elbow strike from Ner, against the cage.
Ner is struggling to control the position.
Ner missing with knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka blocks an elbow strike from Ner.
Ner blocks an uppercut.

Ner pulls guard.
Zhandunka wants to stand and escape but instead Ner has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Ner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ner is in close to Zhandunka's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ner postures up and lands a big shot to Zhandunka's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ner stops Zhandunka from standing up.
Ner controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zhandunka keeping moving, preventing Ner from controlling successfully.
Vin Ner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ner with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ales Zhandunka.
I think Ner 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vin Ner!