PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ughanda Zamolo (ranked 5844 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hafthor Bjornsson (ranked 4596 p4p, 0 weight class). Ughanda Zamolo has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Zamolo
vs
Bjornsson

225 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

206 cm
25
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ughanda Zamolo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hafthor Bjornsson!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zamolo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bjornsson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zamolo somewhat.
Ughanda Zamolo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Bjornsson misses.
Zamolo shoots in looking for a takedown but Bjornsson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zamolo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bjornsson tries to counter with a clinch but Zamolo shakes him off and moves away.

Zamolo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bjornsson pulls Zamolo in close to prevent any damage.
Bjornsson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Bjornsson looking for a guillotine here but Zamolo defends easily.
Zamolo landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zamolo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zamolo postures up in Bjornsson's guard and throws a big left but Bjornsson blocks it.
Zamolo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bjornsson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zamolo scoring with some ground and pound.
Bjornsson trying to control the position.
Bjornsson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Bjornsson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zamolo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zamolo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bjornsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zamolo.
Bjornsson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zamolo throwing strikes but missing.
Bjornsson trying to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bjornsson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zamolo throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bjornsson wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zamolo throwing strikes from guard but Bjornsson blocks nicely.

Zamolo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zamolo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Zamolo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zamolo preventing the sweep.
Bjornsson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bjornsson 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.

Bjornsson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Zamolo postures up in Bjornsson's guard and throws a big left but Bjornsson blocks it.
Zamolo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bjornsson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zamolo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zamolo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zamolo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zamolo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zamolo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Bjornsson looking for a guillotine here but Zamolo defends easily.
Bjornsson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zamolo won't allow Bjornsson to sweep him here.
Zamolo is looking to work some ground and pound but Bjornsson has wrist control.
Zamolo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bjornsson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Bjornsson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bjornsson trying to control the position.

That's four 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.
Zamolo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zamolo throws a big right hand that misses.
Bjornsson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Bjornsson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zamolo defends well.
Zamolo is looking to work some ground and pound but Bjornsson has wrist control.
Zamolo distracts Bjornsson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zamolo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zamolo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bjornsson wants to sweep here but Zamolo controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zamolo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bjornsson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bjornsson has escaped and now he's on top!

Bjornsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Zamolo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ughanda Zamolo 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.

A punch combination from Bjornsson misses.
We've been informed that Bjornsson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Bjornsson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zamolo shoots in for a takedown but Bjornsson shows good takedown defense.
Bjornsson tries to counter with a clinch but Zamolo shakes him off and moves away.
Zamolo dives in for a single leg takedown but Bjornsson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zamolo or perhaps it was just good defense by Bjornsson, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ughanda Zamolo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zamolo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bjornsson's guard.
Bjornsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zamolo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bjornsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zamolo.
Bjornsson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zamolo stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Bjornsson throws up his legs and catches Zamolo in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Zamolo tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Bjornsson! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Hafthor Bjornsson!