PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Onufry Zagloba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ales Zhandunka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ales Zhandunka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zagloba
vs
Zhandunka

176 cm
32
245 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

220 cm
34
291 lbs
20 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Onufry Zagloba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ales Zhandunka!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Eliza Hachem and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zagloba connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zagloba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zhandunka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zagloba sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zhandunka thuds a left hand into Zagloba's body.
Zhandunka scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Zagloba lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The fighters circling - Zagloba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zhandunka moves out of range of the strikes.
Zhandunka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zagloba moves away.

Zhandunka closes the distance and pushes Zagloba back into the cage.
Zhandunka avoiding damage as Zagloba throws knees to the body.
Zhandunka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Zagloba breaks the clinch.

Zagloba shoots in and gets a takedown into Zhandunka's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zagloba trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhandunka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhandunka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zagloba might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zagloba throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zhandunka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zhandunka keeping full guard, as Zagloba tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zagloba looking to sit in guard and control but Zhandunka gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zagloba looking for subs off his back but Zhandunka has passed one foot through into half guard.

Zagloba is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zhandunka pulls his head out easily.
Zagloba works his way to full guard. Good work.

Zagloba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zhandunka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zagloba is keeping the position for now.
Zhandunka preventing the sweep.

Zagloba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zhandunka defends it easily.
Zagloba being controlled here, momentarily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zagloba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zhandunka defends it easily.
Zagloba is trying to keep Zhandunka in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhandunka trying to control the position from guard on top but Zagloba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Zagloba isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Zhandunka stacks Zagloba 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 Zhandunka!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Onufry Zagloba dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zagloba defending well as Zhandunka loads up on a big left hand.
Zagloba fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zagloba. Zhandunka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zagloba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zhandunka.
Zagloba fails with a takedown attempt.
Zagloba shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Zagloba here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Zagloba lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Zagloba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhandunka moves out of range as Zagloba strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhandunka swats away the attempt to clinch by Zagloba.
Nice body punch from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Onufry Zagloba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhandunka leaves Zagloba with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Onufry Zagloba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zagloba.
Zhandunka slips under a jab from Zagloba.

Zhandunka has closed the distance and engaged Zagloba in a clinch.
Zagloba tries to land knees in the clinch but Zhandunka avoids the damage to the body.
Zagloba creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Zagloba looking to throw knees to the head but Zhandunka is blocking nicely.
Zagloba is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zagloba misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zhandunka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Zhandunka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zhandunka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A left hand lands to the body for Zhandunka.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zagloba is looking to take this one to the mat.
Zhandunka throws a head punch that misses.

Zagloba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zagloba moves away from the strike by Zhandunka.
Zhandunka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zagloba.
Zagloba dodges the punch combination from Zhandunka.
Zagloba moves to clinch but Zhandunka breaks away
and Zagloba takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Horrible takedown by Zagloba or perhaps it was just good defense by Zhandunka which made him look bad.
Zhandunka throws a series of strikes that have Zagloba backpedaling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zagloba takes one on the button.
Nice shot by Zhandunka.
Zhandunka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zagloba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zagloba is looking to score with low kicks.
Zhandunka looks to land a right hand but Zagloba moved out of range.
Zagloba avoids the body shot from Zhandunka.
Zagloba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zagloba throws a leg kick but Zhandunka sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zhandunka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zhandunka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zagloba.
Zagloba darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Zagloba closes the distance looking to clinch
and Zhandunka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zagloba jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zagloba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zagloba wants to clinch up but Zhandunka keeps it at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhandunka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zagloba.
Zagloba throws an off balance right hand
and Zhandunka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zhandunka checks a leg kick.
Zhandunka throws a body punch but Zagloba moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ales Zhandunka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Zhandunka misses the shot to the body.
Zhandunka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zhandunka connects with the punch.
Zagloba moves away from the strike by Zhandunka.
Zhandunka takes one to the side of the head.
Zhandunka throws a hook but Zagloba blocks it.
Zagloba bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zhandunka's head backwards.
Zhandunka looks to land a left hand but Zagloba moved out of range nicely.
Zagloba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zhandunka moves away.
Zhandunka slips a jab from Zagloba.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Zagloba, as that shot connected.
Zhandunka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ales Zhandunka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zagloba lands a jab to the nose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zagloba thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zhandunka throws a shot from downtown. Zagloba moves away and avoids it.
Zagloba misses with a wild combination.

Zagloba tries to keep at a distance but Zhandunka has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zagloba blocks an uppercut.
Zhandunka blocks a body shot from Zagloba.

Zagloba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zagloba blocks a jab.
Zhandunka misses with a wild body shot.
Zhandunka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zagloba.
Zhandunka throws a sloppy body shot
and Zagloba counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zagloba tries to close the distance and clinch but Zhandunka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zagloba finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zagloba shoots in looking for a takedown but Zhandunka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zagloba's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zhandunka checks a leg kick nicely.
Zagloba lands a leg kick that knocks Zhandunka off balance momentarily.
Zagloba attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Zagloba looks for a takedown but Zhandunka sprawls well.
A big right from Zhandunka misses.
Zagloba ducks under a wild hook from Zhandunka.
Zagloba shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zhandunka as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Onufry Zagloba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zagloba throws a solid leg kick but Zhandunka takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Zagloba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zagloba.
Zagloba avoids the body shot from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka avoids a kick to the body.
Zhandunka thows a body shot but no joy.
Zagloba shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zhandunka defends it nicely.
Zhandunka works Zagloba's body with a nice hook.
Zagloba avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zhandunka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zagloba swings for the body but Zhandunka moves out of range.
Ales Zhandunka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zagloba misses with a hook. Zhandunka ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka throws a right hand that misses
and Zhandunka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zhandunka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zagloba throws a series of punches but Zhandunka avoids them all with ease.
Zhandunka scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zagloba avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zhandunka lands with a hook. Zagloba tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Zagloba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zhandunka circles away.
Zagloba shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zhandunka sprawls well. Zhandunka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zagloba gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A swing and a miss from Zagloba.

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 Onufry Zagloba.
I think Zagloba has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Onufry Zagloba!
Onufry Zagloba very nearly forgot to thank [WAO]MADE IN GERMANY amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.