PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edvard Lindseth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyquan Zaal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edvard Lindseth has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Lindseth
vs
Zaal

203 cm
22
289 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

191 cm
19
247 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Backyard Fighting
Pitt Nutrition (3x158 2x159 products)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Edvard Lindseth!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tyquan Zaal!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Zaal.
Zaal misses with a looping right.
Zaal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lindseth dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zaal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zaal throws a poor cross that misses
and Lindseth counters with a good, hard body kick but Zaal shrugs it off.
Zaal tries to clinch up
and Lindseth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lindseth connects with a looping right hand.
A head kick misses from Lindseth.
Zaal ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Zaal tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lindseth counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lindseth throws a hook but Zaal avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Zaal.
Lindseth tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Zaal is able to avoid easily.
Zaal will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaal doesn't manage to clinch there - Lindseth circles away.
Lindseth takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Zaal misses with a body shot.
Zaal closes the distance but Lindseth moves to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zaal wants to clinch but Lindseth slips to the side
and Lindseth counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Lindseth throws a head kick that half lands.
Zaal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lindseth paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A big left from Zaal misses.
Tyquan Zaal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zaal avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Zaal digs a good body shot into Lindseth's ribs.
Zaal darts in trying to clinch
and Lindseth finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zaal moves to clinch but Lindseth breaks away
and Lindseth counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zaal's knee momentarily.
Zaal slips under a jab from Lindseth.
Lindseth just misses with a punch to the body.
Lindseth misses the shot to the body.
Lindseth tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lindseth throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zaal sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zaal checks a low kick from Lindseth.
Zaal is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Zaal tries to clinch up
and Lindseth counters with a good low kick that Zaal was not able to check.
Lindseth tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaal was well out of range. Poor timing from Lindseth.
Zaal closes the distance but Lindseth moves to the side
and Lindseth counters with a thumping low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindseth avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lindseth throws a series of punches but Zaal moves out of range.
Zaal tries to clinch but Lindseth moves away
and Lindseth counters with a thumping low kick.
Lindseth pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lindseth is looking to land body kicks.
Zaal closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zaal tries to clinch up
and Lindseth counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zaal wants to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zaal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A shot to the liver by Lindseth. Beautiful body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lindseth takes a swing at Zaal's ribcage but misses.
Lindseth throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lindseth tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zaal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zaal tries to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a nice leg kick.
Zaal staying out of range there.
Zaal uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lindseth has time to react.
Zaal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lindseth paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lindseth misses with a hook.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lindseth.
Zaal walks into a jab.
Zaal's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Zaal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lindseth.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edvard Lindseth dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zaal takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Zaal looks to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a nice leg kick.
Lindseth feints and then cracks Zaal's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zaal down.
Lindseth lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zaal's sensitive parts.
Zaal takes one to the side of the head.
Lindseth misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaal.

Zaal moves into the clinch.
Lindseth fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Lindseth pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zaal doesn't manage to clinch there - Lindseth circles away.
Zaal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lindseth moves into range and connects with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lindseth throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lindseth tries a low kick but Zaal avoids it.
Zaal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lindseth paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Lindseth misses.
Zaal wants to clinch.
Zaal moves out of range of the strikes.
Zaal tries to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zaal's knee momentarily.
Lindseth throws a low kick but Zaal avoids it.
Zaal looks to clinch
and Lindseth counters with an inside leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lindseth.
Lindseth attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Zaal takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Lindseth lands with a kick to the ribs.
Lindseth is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Lindseth misses with a body shot.
Zaal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lindseth paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lindseth missing with a left hand there. Zaal was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zaal wants to clinch up but Lindseth keeps it at a distance.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zaal checks a leg kick.
Zaal moves out of range of the body kick from Lindseth.
Lindseth tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zaal was well out of range. Poor timing from Lindseth.
Zaal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lindseth moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lindseth throws a jab when Zaal was well out of range.
Zaal tries to clinch but Lindseth moves away
and Lindseth counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lindseth pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zaal is out of range and Lindseth settles back down.
Zaal misses with a double jab.
Zaal thows a body shot but no joy.
Lindseth attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Zaal moves to clinch but Lindseth breaks away
and Lindseth counters with a head kick. That will keep Zaal thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaal tests Lindseth's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zaal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lindseth paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zaal tries to close the distance and clinch but Lindseth swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zaal slips under a jab from Lindseth.
Tyquan Zaal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zaal tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lindseth makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Lindseth ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zaal moves away.
Zaal wants to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
A lazy left from Lindseth finds it's target.
Some wild striking there from Zaal.
Lindseth just misses with a punch to the body.
Lindseth swings for the body but Zaal moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindseth avoids the body shot from Zaal.
Zaal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zaal misses the shot to the body.
Lindseth does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Lindseth takes a swing at Zaal's ribcage but misses.
Edvard Lindseth is winning the standup battle so far.
Lindseth takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zaal moves in looking to clinch but Lindseth pushes him off.
Zaal avoids the head kick by Lindseth.
Zaal moves out of range of the body kick.
Zaal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Good exchange - Lindseth coming out on top.
Zaal lands with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edvard Lindseth dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zaal looks to throw the jab but Lindseth is out of range.
Lindseth blocks a jab.
Zaal tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zaal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zaal misses with a lunging right hand
and Lindseth counters with a slapping leg kick.
Lindseth throws a lazy uppercut

and Zaal moves into the clinch.

Lindseth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zaal wants to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a nice leg kick.
Lindseth throws a leg kick but Zaal sees it coming and moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Lindseth.
Lindseth cracks the inside of Zaal's front leg.
Zaal wants to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindseth circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lindseth counters with an outside leg kick.
Zaal closes the distance but Lindseth moves to the side
and Lindseth counters with a stiff right hand.
Zaal moves out of range as Lindseth throws a body kick.
Jab, jab by Lindseth - just one landing.
Lindseth misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lindseth avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zaal looks to clinch
and Lindseth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zaal moves in looking to clinch but Lindseth pushes him off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lindseth. Zaal does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zaal fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lindseth manages to avoid it.
Zaal fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lindseth tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zaal tries to clinch but Lindseth is having none of it.
Zaal tries to clinch
and Lindseth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zaal swings for the body but Lindseth moves out of range.
Zaal is looking to clinch but Lindseth is avoiding it.
Lindseth scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lindseth tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lindseth.
Zaal tries to clinch
enabling Lindseth to counter with a crisp jab.
Zaal wants to clinch up but Lindseth keeps it at a distance.
Lindseth looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zaal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lindseth paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zaal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zaal avoids the body shot from Lindseth.
Lindseth is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaal bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lindseth's head backwards.
Good standup being displayed there by Zaal as he connects with a hook.
Zaal avoids the body shot from Lindseth.
Lindseth throws a low kick, looking for Zaal's leg but Zaal calmly moves out of range.
Zaal tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lindseth counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zaal throws a combination that misses
and Lindseth counters with a stiff right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Lindseth misses the target.
Zaal wants to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a right hand to the body.
Zaal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zaal tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lindseth.
Lindseth turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Zaal doesn't manage to clinch there - Lindseth circles away.
Zaal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lindseth.
Lindseth misses with an uppercut. Zaal saw that one coming.
Lindseth throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lindseth throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lindseth tried to score with a low kick but Zaal checks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaal tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lindseth makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Zaal misses with a hook
enabling Lindseth to counter with a crisp jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lindseth is looking to score with low kicks.
Lindseth throws a series of punches but Zaal avoids them all with ease.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lindseth. Zaal does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edvard Lindseth clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lindseth throws a jab but it's blocked by Zaal.
Lindseth throws a low kick but Zaal avoids it.
Zaal blocks a jab.
Lindseth looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zaal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zaal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zaal wants to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zaal darts in trying to clinch
and Lindseth counters with an outside leg kick.
Zaal scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Zaal tries to clinch up but Lindseth circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lindseth.
Lindseth misses with a looping left.
Zaal tries to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a straight right hand.
A swing and a miss from Lindseth.
Lindseth swats away the attempt to clinch by Zaal.
Zaal uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lindseth.
Lindseth is looking to slow Zaal down with leg kicks.
Zaal wants to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Lindseth smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zaal closes the distance but Lindseth moves to the side
and Lindseth counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Lindseth slams his shin into Zaal's torso.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zaal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zaal tries to clinch there but Lindseth circles away.
Lindseth lets loose with a powerful body kick. Zaal will feel that in the morning.
Zaal throws a right and a left that Lindseth avoids nicely.
Lindseth swings for the body but Zaal moves out of range.
Lindseth ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zaal moves away.
Zaal closes the distance but Lindseth moves to the side
and Lindseth counters with a nice body kick.
Zaal is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Lindseth misses with a body shot.
Zaal throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zaal moves out of range of the body kick from Lindseth.
Zaal throws a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaal lands a nice shot that snaps Lindseth's head back.
Zaal tries to clinch up
and Lindseth counters with a nice uppercut.
Zaal tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lindseth counters with a thumping low kick.
Lindseth throws a looping overhand right but Zaal ducks down to avoid it.
Lindseth slips a jab from Zaal.
Lindseth swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lindseth throws a right and a left that Zaal avoids nicely.
Zaal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lindseth.
Zaal blocks a low kick nicely.
Lindseth misses with a lunging right hand

and Zaal counters by clinching up.
Zaal misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaal is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Zaal with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zaal is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lindseth is keeping busy.
Lindseth pushes Zaal back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zaal tries a knee to the head but Lindseth blocks it.
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!
A short right from Lindseth on the inside.
Zaal misses with a knee strike.

Lindseth manages to break the clinch.
A clash of legs there as Zaal blocks the low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zaal wants to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zaal avoids the head kick by Lindseth.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edvard Lindseth had his way with Tyquan Zaal in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zaal closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a nice leg kick.
Zaal tries to clinch but Lindseth moves out of range.
Zaal closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a left to the body.
Lindseth is looking to land body kicks.
Lindseth with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Zaal has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Lindseth.
Zaal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lindseth swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zaal looks to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a body kick.
Zaal is looking to clinch.
Zaal darts in trying to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindseth throws a head kick but Zaal moves out of range.
Lindseth rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zaal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A big right from Lindseth misses.
Lindseth walks into a straight right hand from Zaal.
Lindseth avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Lindseth.
Zaal is looking to clinch.
Zaal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zaal darts in trying to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaal uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lindseth.
Zaal wants to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a head kick. That will keep Zaal thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Zaal darts in trying to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a head kick.
Lindseth wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zaal has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A bone on bone clash there as Zaal blocks the leg kick.
Lindseth throws a body punch but Zaal moves out of range.
Zaal wants to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a good low kick that Zaal was not able to check.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zaal lands a jab to Lindseth's midsection.
Lindseth circles away from the clinch attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindseth tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Zaal is able to avoid easily.
Zaal tries to clinch but Lindseth moves out of range.
Lindseth keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zaal closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lindseth makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Zaal really felt that one!
Zaal tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lindseth manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Zaal rushes Lindseth and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zaal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lindseth is defending well for now.
Zaal missing with knees to the body.

Lindseth breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaal misses with a two punch combination.
Zaal chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lindseth can pounce on him.
Zaal throws a nice looking combination but Lindseth bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zaal wants to clinch but Lindseth slips to the side
and Lindseth counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zaal is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Lindseth keeps the fight on the outside.
Zaal closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lindseth counters with a right hand to the body.
Tyquan Zaal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zaal tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lindseth counters with a body kick that stops Zaal in his tracks momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lindseth misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaal.
Zaal tries to clinch but Lindseth moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zaal tries to clinch but Lindseth moves away
and Lindseth counters with a body kick.
Edvard Lindseth is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lindseth scores with a hook to the body. Zaal takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edvard Lindseth showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lindseth, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 50:45
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 50:45
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edvard Lindseth!
Edvard Lindseth retains his heavyweight title!
After the big win, Edvard Lindseth made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Pitt Nutrition (3x158 2x159 products) and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.