PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Kaliniev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Zimmerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zimmerman has chosen Linkin Park-- What Ive Done 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?

Kaliniev
vs
Zimmerman

176 cm
27
152 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

177 cm
33
152 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexei Kaliniev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Zimmerman!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zimmerman with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Zimmerman closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zimmerman lands in his opponent's guard.
Kaliniev wants to sweep here but Zimmerman controlling him for the moment.
Kaliniev is working hard here to advance position.
Zimmerman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kaliniev looking for a sweep. Not yet Kaliniev, not yet.
Zimmerman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zimmerman with a flurry of punches that miss.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kaliniev is on top in guard.
Kaliniev trying to move into half guard but instead Zimmerman has managed to sweep!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kaliniev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zimmerman.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zimmerman preventing the sweep.
Zimmerman wanted to stand there but Kaliniev had control of the position.
Kaliniev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zimmerman manages to get himself to full guard.
Kaliniev throwing strikes but missing.
Kaliniev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zimmerman is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zimmerman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zimmerman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Zimmerman is looking for a triangle but Kaliniev pushes his legs off easily.
Zimmerman throwing short punches from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kaliniev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zimmerman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kaliniev preventing the sweep.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zimmerman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kaliniev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kaliniev forces his way into half guard.
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!
Zimmerman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zimmerman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kaliniev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kaliniev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kaliniev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kaliniev advances to half guard.
Zimmerman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zimmerman.
Kaliniev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kaliniev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zimmerman's head.
Kaliniev is looking to work some ground and pound but Zimmerman has wrist control.
Zimmerman lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kaliniev!
Kaliniev manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kaliniev is breathing heavily.
Kaliniev tries to get to full guard but Zimmerman has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kaliniev has hold of Zimmerman's hands but Zimmerman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Zimmerman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kaliniev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kaliniev works his way to full guard. Good work.
Zimmerman stopping the sweep attempt from Kaliniev.
Kaliniev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zimmerman manages to get himself to full guard.

Kaliniev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kaliniev won't allow Zimmerman to sweep him here.
Zimmerman keeping full guard, as Kaliniev tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zimmerman has his foot on Kaliniev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kaliniev works his way back into a safe position though.
Kaliniev postures up in Zimmerman's guard and throws a big left but Zimmerman blocks it.
Zimmerman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kaliniev wants to improve his position but Zimmerman is controlling well.
Nice strikes from Zimmerman there.
Kaliniev is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zimmerman scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kaliniev wants to improve his position but Zimmerman is controlling well.

Zimmerman postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Kaliniev to stand up.

Zimmerman lands a high kick to the side of Kaliniev's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Zimmerman dives into guard, looking to finish.

It looks like Alexei Kaliniev has been cut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zimmerman won't allow Kaliniev to sweep him here.
Kaliniev has a closed guard, preventing Zimmerman from standing up.
Kaliniev looking for a sweep. Not yet Kaliniev, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Zimmerman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexei Kaliniev's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zimmerman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zimmerman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kaliniev defends it nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Kaliniev. No joy for Zimmerman on that attempt.

Zimmerman looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kaliniev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kaliniev looking for a sweep. Not yet Kaliniev, not yet.

Kaliniev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zimmerman defends it easily.
Kaliniev manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kaliniev misses with a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimmerman tries to hold on but Kaliniev postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zimmerman slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Zimmerman wants to get back to full guard.
Zimmerman flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kaliniev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kaliniev tries to pass to full mount but Zimmerman defends it.
Kaliniev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kaliniev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zimmerman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kaliniev trying to move into half guard but instead Zimmerman has managed to sweep!
Zimmerman is in close to Kaliniev's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zimmerman working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zimmerman throwing strikes from guard but Kaliniev blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zimmerman cracks Kaliniev with a solid left hand.
Kaliniev looking for a sweep. Not yet Kaliniev, not yet.

Zimmerman gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Kaliniev dives in and scores a takedown into Zimmerman's guard.
Kaliniev looking to pass the guard.
Zimmerman thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Kaliniev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zimmerman doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kaliniev advances position into side control!
Zimmerman gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kaliniev is looking to work some ground and pound but Zimmerman has wrist control.
Kaliniev tries to free his leg and advance position but Zimmerman is retaining full guard.
Zimmerman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zimmerman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kaliniev manages to get himself to full guard.
Kaliniev looking for a sweep. Not yet Kaliniev, not yet.
Zimmerman tries to stand but Kaliniev is controlling from the bottom.
Zimmerman won't allow Kaliniev to sweep him here.
Zimmerman is working Kaliniev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Zimmerman lands a couple of elbows.
Kaliniev has momentary wrist control but Zimmerman slips an elbow through the middle.
Zimmerman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman works over Kaliniev with some ground and pound from guard.

Kaliniev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zimmerman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zimmerman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Zimmerman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Kaliniev looking for a guillotine here but Zimmerman defends easily.

Zimmerman stands up from Kaliniev's guard - Zimmerman perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zimmerman goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Zimmerman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alexei Kaliniev's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Zimmerman connects with a body shot.

Zimmerman feints and as Kaliniev raises his hands in defense, Zimmerman changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Kaliniev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zimmerman won't allow Kaliniev to sweep him here.
Kaliniev has momentary wrist control but Zimmerman slips an elbow through the middle.
Eric Zimmerman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zimmerman distracts Kaliniev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zimmerman lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zimmerman postures up and lands a big shot to Kaliniev's brow.

Kaliniev is rocked!

Zimmerman gets to his feet - Kaliniev follows without any prompting.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zimmerman lands with a slapping head kick.
Oh Kaliniev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zimmerman throws a powerful right kick. Kaliniev tried to block low but the kick was high! Kaliniev was taken right off of his feet! Zimmerman jumps in to finish the job and the ref tackles him! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Eric Zimmerman!