PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ray Zalinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zalinski's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, We Don't Need Another Hero. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Zalinski
vs
Da Silva

192 cm
26
245 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

201 cm
32
288 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Charlie Wang's Nutrition and 95 % Laundry
Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ray Zalinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Santiago Da Silva!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the liver by Da Silva. Beautiful body shot.
Da Silva looks for a takedown but Zalinski sprawls well.
Da Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Da Silva throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zalinski counters with a series of strikes. Da Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.
Zalinski blocks the body kick.
Zalinski turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Zalinski throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Da Silva on the side of the head.

It looks like Santiago Da Silva has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Da Silva scores with a shot to the body.
Zalinski moves out of range as Da Silva throws a body kick.
Zalinski misses with a straight left.

Zalinski tries to sprawl but Da Silva drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Da Silva slips a nice elbow through Zalinski's hands, connecting with Zalinski's forehead.
Da Silva trying to mount his opponent but Zalinski defends it.
Da Silva controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalinski is staying active underneath Da Silva, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Da Silva is thwarting Zalinski's attempts to control the position.
Da Silva wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zalinski keeps working.

Zalinski looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zalinski is looking for a sweep. Da Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Da Silva is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Da Silva works his way to his opponent's back.
Zalinski tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Zalinski is desperately trying to improve his position but Da Silva has a good base and remains in mount.
Da Silva with a couple of short strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalinski is trying to reverse the position but instead Da Silva has taken his back - oops!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zalinski looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Da Silva is trying to stick to Zalinski's back but Zalinski is turning into Da Silva. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Da Silva's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Zalinski.
Zalinski trying to control but Da Silva is working from the bottom.
Da Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Da Silva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zalinski manages to get himself to full guard.
Zalinski is adopting a defensive guard.
Zalinski is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Da Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zalinski won't allow Da Silva to sweep him here.
Zalinski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Da Silva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zalinski.
Zalinski cracks Da Silva with a solid left hand.
Da Silva trying to keep a closed guard but Zalinski is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Da Silva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Zalinski drops back, looking for a kneebar! Da Silva looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Da Silva looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Da Silva!
Zalinski is not content to let Da Silva control the position.
Zalinski tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Da Silva wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalinski is working hard here to advance position.
Zalinski struggling a bit here.
Da Silva working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Da Silva is looking to take a break and control but Zalinski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zalinski tries to improve position but can't.
You can see the frustration on Zalinski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zalinski is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Santiago Da Silva will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Santiago Da Silva's cut.
That's time! Zalinski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Da Silva shoots in and drives through. Zalinski sprawls well.
Zalinski jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Da Silva throws a sloppy head kick and Zalinski moves out of range easily.
Zalinski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Da Silva.
Da Silva looks to land a left hand but Zalinski moved out of range nicely.
Da Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Da Silva throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Zalinski feints and then cracks Da Silva's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Da Silva down.
Zalinski avoids the head kick by Da Silva.
Ray Zalinski is winning the standup battle so far.
Zalinski throws a lazy head kick
and Da Silva counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zalinski wants to clinch but Da Silva slips to the side
and Da Silva counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Da Silva misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Zalinski counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zalinski misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zalinski closes the distance and clinches.
Da Silva prevents a body shot from Zalinski.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Da Silva takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Da Silva taking a breather.

Da Silva breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Zalinski. No joy for Da Silva on that attempt.
Ray Zalinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Da Silva.
Da Silva misses with a leg kick.
Da Silva lands with an uppercut that bounces Zalinski off the cage and back into range.
Zalinski misses with a body shot.
Da Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zalinski was well out of range. Poor timing from Da Silva.
Da Silva lands a glancing blow to the side of Zalinski's head.
Zalinski throws a lazy right hand but Da Silva sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ray Zalinski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zalinski paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
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!
Zalinski misses with a two punch combination.
No joy there for Da Silva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Da Silva takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Da Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zalinski misses with a low kick.
Zalinski throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zalinski steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Da Silva.
Zalinski misses with a straight right.

Da Silva shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zalinski manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva passes Zalinski's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Da Silva perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Zalinski tries to roll over but Da Silva keeps him under control.
Da Silva trying to control from half guard but Zalinski is working away.
Zalinski misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Da Silva seems to be looking for submissions.
Zalinski is trying to get back to full guard.
Zalinski makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zalinski.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalinski controls Da Silva momentarily but Da Silva frees himself.
Zalinski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Da Silva is one step ahead there.
Zalinski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Da Silva drops back looking for a leg! Zalinski is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zalinski manages to kick Da Silva off! Da Silva jumps back into Zalinski's guard.
Zalinski can't keep his opponent in guard - Da Silva advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zalinski manages to get to full guard.
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 Ray Zalinski will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Santiago Da Silva's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zalinski moves out of range of the strikes.
Da Silva takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zalinski throws a head kick but Da Silva moves out of range.
Zalinski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Da Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zalinski uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Da Silva.
Da Silva throws a body kick that misses.
Zalinski scores with a jab.

That has opened up Santiago Da Silva's cut even more.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Zalinski here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Da Silva throws a body kick that misses.

Da Silva gets a double leg takedown into Zalinski's guard.
Da Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Zalinski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zalinski working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Da Silva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Da Silva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zalinski isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Da Silva stacks Zalinski on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Da Silva!
Zalinski tries to control but Da Silva manages to take his back.
Da Silva is landing with strikes. Zalinski can't take much more of this.
Well, with Da Silva on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Zalinski is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Da Silva patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Zalinski just trying to survive but Da Silva is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Da Silva lands strikes to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Da Silva is looking for the choke from the back position but Zalinski is controlling his hands well.
Zalinski trying to control the action but Da Silva just sinks the hooks in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva is looking to control Zalinski but Zalinski is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Da Silva is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Da Silva gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Zalinski rolls, trying to escape but Da Silva keeps control of the position.
Santiago Da Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zalinski turns into Da Silva and is now in his guard.

Zalinski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zalinski lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zalinski is looking to work some ground and pound but Da Silva has wrist control.

Da Silva looking for a guillotine here but Zalinski defends easily.
Zalinski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zalinski landing some decent shots from guard.
Zalinski is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

The cut above Santiago Da Silva's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

Da Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zalinski tries to free his leg and advance position but Da Silva is retaining full guard.
Zalinski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Da Silva wants to hit a switch here but Zalinski passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Da Silva there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Da Silva that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zalinski cracks Da Silva with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Santiago Da Silva's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Santiago Da Silva's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Ray Zalinski!
During a confident post fight interview, Ray Zalinski thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.