PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thorbjorn Heimendahl (ranked 146 p4p, 8 weight class) and Zdravko Saric (ranked 241 p4p, 10 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Heimendahl
vs
Saric

201 cm
32
262 lbs
22 - 13 - 0

195 cm
29
275 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thorbjorn Heimendahl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zdravko Saric!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Heimendahl wants to clinch up but Saric keeps it at a distance.
Heimendahl ducks under a wild hook from Saric.

Heimendahl forces Saric back against the cage and clinches.
Heimendahl lands a body punch.
Saric wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Heimendahl has him pressed against the cage.
Saric blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Heimendahl scores with a shoulder strike.
Heimendahl tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Heimendahl gets through Saric's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Heimendahl misses with a hook to the ribs.
Heimendahl throws an elbow but it misses.

Saric pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saric lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Saric throws a right and a left that Heimendahl avoids nicely.
A big left from Saric misses.
A swing and a miss from Saric.
Heimendahl connects with a leg kick. Saric looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saric misses with a jab, cross combination.
Saric steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Heimendahl. That one must have hurt.
Saric misses with a leg kick
letting Heimendahl counter with a right hand.
Saric misses with a wild combination.
A low kick from Saric misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Heimendahl takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Heimendahl connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Saric momentarily.
Saric misses with an uppercut
and Heimendahl cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Heimendahl feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Saric sprawling to the canvas! Saric rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Heimendahl finish him?!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saric misses with the combination.
Saric throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Heimendahl fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Saric looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A lazy left from Saric finds it's target.
Saric fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Heimendahl is out of range.
Saric just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHeimendahl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heimendahl lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Heimendahl.
Heimendahl avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A low kick from Saric is predictable there
and Heimendahl counters with a right hand to the body.
Saric looks winded!
Heimendahl lands a leg kick that knocks Saric off balance momentarily.
Heimendahl blocks a jab.
Saric fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Heimendahl.
Saric moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Saric throws a leg kick
and Heimendahl counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Heimendahl stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Saric.
Saric connects with a leg kick. Heimendahl looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Heimendahl. Saric does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some bone on bone action there as Heimendahl checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Heimendahl checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Saric misses with a left hand
and Heimendahl counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saric misses with an uppercut. Heimendahl saw that one coming.
Zdravko Saric seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saric throws a leg kick
and Heimendahl counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Heimendahl clinches up with Saric and pushes him back against the cage.
Heimendahl keeps control of Saric as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Heimendahl lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Heimendahl working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Heimendahl lands a nice shot to the body.
Heimendahl misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Saric blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Heimendahl comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Heimendahl lands an elbow just above Saric 's eye.

It looks like Zdravko Saric has been cut.
Heimendahl throws a punch but it's blocked by Saric.
Heimendahl lands a left hand that snaps the head of Saric backwards.
Heimendahl has Saric pressed against the cage, preventing Saric from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Saric wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Heimendahl.
Heimendahl lands a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Heimendahl creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Saric's defenses.
Heimendahl lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Saric looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Heimendahl lands an elbow inside.
Heimendahl working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Saric breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Heimendahl misses with a wild body shot.
Heimendahl looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Heimendahl lands a big right hand that sends Saric crashing to the mat! Heimendahl stays standing though and waves Saric back to his feet!
Donk. Saric catches Heimendahl right on the button with a cross.
Saric lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Saric is rocked!
Heimendahl lands a leg kick that knocks Saric off balance momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saric pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Heimendahl misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saric.
Both fighters circling a little - Heimendahl finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Saric falls off balance throwing a combination
and Heimendahl counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorbjorn Heimendahl dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zdravko Saric's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Heimendahl lands a nice looking body shot.
Saric moves out of range of the body kick.
A solid body kick from Heimendahl.
A head kick misses from Heimendahl.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Saric lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Heimendahl has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Heimendahl and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Saric misses with a hook
and Heimendahl counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Heimendahl moves in looking to clinch but Saric pushes him off.
Heimendahl scoring well with a low kick there.
Heimendahl moves in looking to clinch but Saric pushes him off.
Heimendahl misses with a few strikes there.
Heimendahl misses with a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saric has closed the distance and engaged Heimendahl in a clinch.
Heimendahl lands a nice elbow.
Heimendahl doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Heimendahl looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Heimendahl misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimendahl pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Heimendahl working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Heimendahl working aggressively here.
Heimendahl tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saric blocks an elbow strike from Heimendahl.
Heimendahl swings wildly with an uppercut but Saric uses good head movement to avoid it.

Saric breaks from the clinch.
Heimendahl keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saric.
Saric misses with a low kick.
Heimendahl uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saric.
Heimendahl drops his hands momentarily and Saric takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Saric has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Heimendahl.
Saric is looking to chop away at Heimendahl's legs.
An inside leg kick lands from Saric.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Heimendahl on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A swing and a miss from Saric.
Saric thows a left - swing and a miss!
Heimendahl keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thorbjorn Heimendahl is winning the standup battle so far.
Heimendahl ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saric moves away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saric throws a sloppy body shot
and Heimendahl counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Saric buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Heimendahl checks a low kick from Saric.
Saric pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Saric throws an ugly left hook that misses

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

Saric breaks the clinch.
Heimendahl uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saric.
Saric takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Heimendahl is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saric can do to turn this around?

Heimendahl closes the distance and pushes Saric back into the cage.
Heimendahl throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saric is trying to break the clinch but Heimendahl has him pressed against the cage.
Saric is trying to break the clinch but Heimendahl has him pressed against the cage.
Saric takes an elbow to the temple.
Heimendahl lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Saric backwards.
Heimendahl goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Saric wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Heimendahl lands an uppercut.
Heimendahl lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Thorbjorn Heimendahl has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Saric prevents a body shot from Heimendahl.
Saric wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Heimendahl tries to throw a body punch but Saric avoids it by throwing Heimendahl back against the cage.
Heimendahl pushes off an throws an elbow but Saric leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Saric prevents a body shot from Heimendahl.
Heimendahl has a couple of punches blocked by Saric.
Saric wants to get back to striking at distance but Heimendahl won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heimendahl has Saric pressed against the cage, preventing Saric from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Saric is trying to break the clinch but Heimendahl is controlling him.
Heimendahl doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Heimendahl lands a body punch.
Saric is breathing heavily.
Heimendahl lands a shot to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Heimendahl.
Heimendahl can't find room to land a body shot as Saric controls the action.
Heimendahl misses with a hook to the ribs.
Heimendahl misses with a hook to the ribs.
Heimendahl is leaning against Saric and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Heimendahl lands a damaging elbow.
Heimendahl lands a damaging elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Heimendahl lands an uppercut.
Heimendahl lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Saric's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Heimendahl lands with a light punch inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorbjorn Heimendahl dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Zdravko Saric's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Heimendahl lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Heimendahl has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Saric lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Heimendahl.
Saric takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Saric ducks right into an uppercut from Heimendahl.
Heimendahl misses with a series of wild punches.
Heimendahl lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Saric misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heimendahl feints and then cracks Saric's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Saric down.
Heimendahl doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Heimendahl uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saric.
Nice defenses there by Heimendahl.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Saric tries to keep at a distance but Heimendahl has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimendahl pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Heimendahl lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Saric wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Heimendahl has him pressed against the cage.
Heimendahl misses with a body punch.
Heimendahl lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Heimendahl tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Heimendahl lands a hook that snaps the head of Saric backwards.
Heimendahl lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Saric or not.
Saric takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Heimendahl makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Heimendahl comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Saric blocks the elbow strike.
Heimendahl misses with a shot to the kidneys.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Heimendahl creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Heimendahl.
Zdravko Saric has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heimendahl lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Heimendahl misses with a hook to the ribs.
Heimendahl stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Heimendahl lands a body shot in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Heimendahl.
Heimendahl lands with a short shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Heimendahl creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Saric takes an elbow to the temple.
Saric is still on wobbly legs! Can Heimendahl finish him?
Heimendahl lands a nice uppercut.

Heimendahl drops Saric onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Saric is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Saric avoids a wild elbow strike from Heimendahl.
Heimendahl tries to work over Saric's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Saric tries to circle away but Heimendahl has him pinned against the cage.
Saric blocks an elbow strike.
Saric seems to have recovered his senses.
A nice left hand lands by Heimendahl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heimendahl tries to throw a body punch but Saric avoids it by throwing Heimendahl back against the cage.
Heimendahl keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Saric's efforts to push away.
Heimendahl lands a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Heimendahl creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Heimendahl struggles to land a body shot inside as Saric controls his hands.
Saric wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Saric has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A left hand lands to the body for Heimendahl.
Heimendahl lands a damaging elbow.

That has opened up Zdravko Saric's cut even more.
Heimendahl misses with a body punch.
Saric is trying to break the clinch but Heimendahl has him pressed against the cage.
Saric blocks a body shot from Heimendahl.
Heimendahl lands with a light punch inside.
A short body shot lands from Heimendahl as the two fighters clinch.
Heimendahl lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thorbjorn Heimendahl is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heimendahl lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Heimendahl lands a body punch in the clinch.
Heimendahl lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Heimendahl lands an elbow inside that Saric shrugs off.
Saric's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Heimendahl stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Saric tries to break free but Heimendahl pushes him back against the cage.
Heimendahl presses Saric against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Heimendahl comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Heimendahl misses with an elbow over the top.
Saric misses with a punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Heimendahl.
A short body shot lands from Heimendahl as the two fighters clinch.
Heimendahl works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Saric swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thorbjorn Heimendahl showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Heimendahl has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thorbjorn Heimendahl!
After winning the bout, Thorbjorn Heimendahl thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.