PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Asmir Zslevski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Alma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zslevski
vs
Alma

181 cm
19
176 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

185 cm
18
176 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Asmir Zslevski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Alma!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zslevski shoots for a takedown but Alma saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck for Zslevski with that takedown attempt.
Zslevski wants to clinch.
Zslevski is looking to slow Alma down with leg kicks.
Alma throws the left hand but Zslevski avoids the punch easily.
A head kick from Alma lands but Zslevski takes it in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zslevski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zslevski misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alma swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alma throws a shot from downtown. Zslevski moves away and avoids it.
Alma swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alma connects with a body shot.
Zslevski shoots in for a double leg but Alma sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Asmir Zslevski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alma misses with a straight left.
Nice sprawl there from Alma as Zslevski shoots in.
Alma throws a head kick that misses.
Alma misses with a double jab.
Zslevski tries to clinch there but Alma circles away.
Alma plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alma throws a sloppy head kick

and Zslevski counters with a takedown into side control.

Zslevski tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zslevski has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Alma is looking for a sweep.
Alma manages to work his way to half guard, despite Zslevski's best efforts.
Alma slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Alma is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Alma working a defensive guard but Zslevski manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alma tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zslevski wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Zslevski wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Alma, who protects the arm well.
Zslevski tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
You can see the frustration on Alma's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Alma tries to bench press Zslevski off him but Zslevski keeps the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zslevski fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Danga de danga de dang - Alma scores with a four punch combination!
Zslevski shoots in looking for a takedown. Alma tries to sprawl out of it but Zslevski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alma manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Zslevski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Alma is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Alma really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Alma is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asmir Zslevski dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Alma misses with a hook. Zslevski ducked under it nicely.
Zslevski looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Alma throws a right and a left that Zslevski avoids nicely.
Alma misses with a looping right.
Zslevski changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Alma tries to avoid it but Zslevski manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Alma to the ground. Alma escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A head kick misses from Zslevski.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alma throws a right hand that Zslevski ducks under and follows up with a left that Zslevski also avoids with ease.
Zslevski staying out of range there.
Alma swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zslevski shoots in and drives through. Alma sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Asmir Zslevski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zslevski misses with a takedown attempt - Alma sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Alma circles away from the clinch attempt.
Good shot there by Alma.
Alma moves in looking to clinch but Zslevski pushes him off.
Zslevski tries to close the distance and clinch but Alma swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zslevski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Asmir Zslevski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Alma rushes Zslevski and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Alma breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zslevski throws a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zslevski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zslevski shoots in for a takedown but Alma shows good takedown defense.
Zslevski misses with a body kick.
Asmir Zslevski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zslevski fails with a takedown attempt.
Alma keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Alma has Zslevski up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Alma - that landed with a thud.
With the fighters up against the cage, Alma throws an elbow but misses.
Alma working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Zslevski tries to pull guard but Alma won't allow it.
Zslevski tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Alma smiles and moves away.
Zslevski clinches but Alma breaks the clinch

and Alma counters by clinching up.
Zslevski fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zslevski blocking some punches.
Alma tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zslevski's elbow.
Zslevski keeps control of Alma as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alma working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Zslevski jumps guard and drags Alma to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Zslevski keeping full guard, as Alma tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zslevski keeping moving, preventing Alma from controlling successfully.
Alma passes into half guard.

Zslevski looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Alma pushes past his half guard into mount!
Alma sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Alma landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alma is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Zslevski is in real trouble.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zslevski is taking damage to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Alma 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! This is the final round!

Zslevski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alma lands with an uppercut that bounces Zslevski off the cage and back into rage.
Zslevski closes the distance looking to clinch

and Alma counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Alma.
Alma connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zslevski's face.
Alma is trying to break the clinch but Zslevski has him pressed against the cage.
Alma is working Zslevski over against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alma throws a punch but it's blocked by Zslevski.
Zslevski fails to pull guard.
Alma lands a body shot in the clinch.
Alma throws a head punch that misses.
Alma misses with the head strike.

Alma breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zslevski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Alma counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A head kick misses from Zslevski.
Alma tests Zslevski's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zslevski closes the distance looking to clinch

and Alma moves into the clinch.
Alma fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Alma managing to block the knees to the body from Zslevski.
Zslevski prevents a body shot from Alma.
Zslevski prevents a body shot from Alma.
Zslevski blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Alma prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Asmir Zslevski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Alma creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Alma stalling against the cage.
Alma throws a punch but it's blocked by Zslevski.
Alma lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zslevski fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Alma scores with a nice hook to the head.
Alma tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zslevski's elbow.
Zslevski stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Alma is pressed up against the cage. Zslevski has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Alma down to the mat. Alma avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Alma scores with a one two! Zslevski had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Zslevski lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Zslevski with a poor takedown

and Alma holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zslevski tries to pull guard but Alma won't allow it.
Alma tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alma is trying to stall.
Alma tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Alma escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zslevski shoots and misses
and Alma counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alma throws a jab when Zslevski was well out of range.
Alma avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zslevski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Alma counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Alma.

Alma breaks the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Alma.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zslevski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zslevski tries to clinch but Alma moves away
and Alma counters with a one-two to the body.
Alma tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ricardo Alma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alma misses with a hook.
Zslevski wants to clinch but Alma slips to the side
and Zslevski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zslevski clinches but Alma breaks the clinch
enabling Alma to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zslevski with a poor takedown

and Alma moves into the clinch.
Zslevski is trying to maintain a safe position but Alma gets an underhook and turns Zslevski into the cage.
Alma stalling against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Alma comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Alma 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Alma!