PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lotus Flower (ranked 7789 p4p, 295 weight class) and Alexander Volg Zangief (ranked 8229 p4p, 305 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Flower
vs
Volg Zangief

175 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lotus Flower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Volg Zangief!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zangief closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Flower quickly recovers to half guard.
Flower is pressing down on Zangief's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zangief sitting in guard here, content to control.
Flower is trying to control the position but Zangief postures up.
Zangief stays in close to Flower's body and controls the position.
Zangief must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Flower looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Flower working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Zangief has passed into half guard!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flower tries to roll over but Zangief keeps him under control.
Flower wants to control but Zangief is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flower is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Zangief prevents Flower from improving his position.
Flower is trying to control but can't.
Flower wants to control the action here but instead Zangief manages to pass to full mount!
Flower is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zangief manages to capitalize on a mistake by Flower to take his back!
Zangief trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Flower doesn't escape.
It looks like Zangief might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Flower rolls, trying to escape but Zangief keeps control of the position.
Flower manages to reverse the position and now he's in Zangief's guard. Nice work there by Flower.
Zangief pulls Flower in close to his closed guard and prevents Flower from doing any damage or advancing position.
Flower wants to control from the top but Zangief keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flower controlling from the top position.

Zangief is looking for a triangle but Flower pushes his legs off easily.
Flower controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zangief tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Zangief trying to keep a closed guard but Flower is proving a slippery customer.
Flower trying to control the position from guard on top but Zangief is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Zangief has control of Flower's left arm, preventing Flower from doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zangief sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Zangief moves in looking to clinch but Flower pushes him off.
Flower lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zangief's sensitive parts.

Zangief shoots in and bounces Flower off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Volg Zangief dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Flower throws a series of punches but Zangief moves out of range.
Both fighters circling a little - Flower finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Flower cracks the inside of Zangief's front leg.
Good leg kick by Flower there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Flower waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zangief.
Flower cracks the inside of Zangief's front leg.

Zangief fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Flower sprawls well initially but Zangief persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Flower tries to get to full guard but Zangief has control of the leg.
Zangief is thwarting Flower's attempts to control the position.
Zangief controlling the pace.
Zangief not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Alexander Volg Zangief has got the better of the ground game so far.
Flower has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zangief is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flower tries to get to full guard but Zangief has control of the leg.
Flower trying to hold on to Zangief's head to control him but Zangief postures up.
Zangief throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zangief has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Flower keeping hold of Zangief's head, controlling as best he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Flower's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zangief misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Flower works Zangief's body with a nice hook.
Lotus Flower seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flower clobbers Zangief with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Flower misses with an uppercut. Zangief saw that one coming.
Lotus Flower is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Flower throws a quick inside leg kick.
Alexander Volg Zangief is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Flower lands a lovely overhand right.
Flower tries to clinch up but Zangief circles away and keeps his distance.
A nice leg kick lands there from Flower.
Flower throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zangief steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Flower.
Lotus Flower is winning the standup battle so far.

Zangief looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zangief misses with a head shot. Flower uses the momentum to regain guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Flower trying to control the position here.
Flower not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flower is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zangief defends well.
Flower is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zangief not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Flower is trying to keep Zangief in close.
Zangief engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Flower not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Flower takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Zangief shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Flower is trying to defend but Zangief finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Flower trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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 Lotus Flower will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Flower. Zangief shrugs it off though.
Flower lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Zangief tries to clinch up
and Flower counters with an inside leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Flower.
Zangief avoids the body shot from Flower.

Zangief shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Flower is trying to control but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flower is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Zangief is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Flower wants to get back to full guard.
Flower blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zangief.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zangief sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Flower defending well though.
Flower is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Zangief jumps into side control!
Zangief in side control, throwing shots but Flower defends.
Flower has one of Zangief's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Flower parries the strikes from Zangief easily there. Zangief is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Flower to escape.
Zangief working away.
Zangief throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Zangief working away.
Zangief taking a breather here.
Flower is looking to reverse the position.
Lotus Flower has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flower is trying to work for a sweep but Zangief has mounted him!
Zangief throwing strikes here but Flower is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Zangief looking for a guillotine from mount but Flower is having none of it.
Flower tries to hold on but Zangief postures up.
Zangief looking to control and managing it successfully.
Zangief throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Flower can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flower tries to control Zangief's body but Zangief pushes him off. Flower squirms to his side and now Zangief has his back!
Flower rolls, trying to escape but Zangief keeps control of the position.
Zangief is throwing shots to the body but Flower manages to wriggle free. Zangief pounces on him again and ends up in Flower's guard.
Flower is trying to keep Zangief in close.
Zangief controlling from the top position.
Zangief postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Flower looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Zangief passes into side control.

Zangief wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Flower, who protects the arm well.
Flower is looking to regain half guard here but Zangief keeps moving and retains side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zangief remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Alexander Volg Zangief is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Flower is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Volg Zangief comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zangief 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 Chris Dean scores the fight for Alexander Volg Zangief!
Judge John Mangel scores the fight for Alexander Volg Zangief!
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight for Alexander Volg Zangief!

Alexander Volg Zangief wins by unanimous decision!