PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Volg Zangief (ranked 4226 p4p, 180 weight class) and Alexander Laird (ranked 23067 p4p, 298 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Zangief might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The wolf's hunt by-WOLFSLAIR. Alexander Laird told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Volg Zangief
vs
Laird

169 cm
21
140 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

166 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alexander Volg Zangief!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexander Laird!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Chris Dean and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zangief uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Laird.
Laird jabs at Zangief's body.
Zangief takes a swing at Laird's ribcage but misses.
Zangief throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Laird sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zangief works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

It looks like Alexander Laird has been cut.
Laird looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Laird paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Laird displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zangief throws out the jab.
Laird tries to clinch there but Zangief circles away.
Zangief went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Laird blocks a jab.
Laird paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laird connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Laird tries to clinch up but Zangief circles away and keeps his distance.
A little feinted left hand from Zangief on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zangief walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice defenses there by Laird.
Zangief keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Laird.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zangief tries to keep at a distance but Laird has taken the fight into the clinch.
Laird working aggressively here.
Laird misses with some punches.
Laird misses with some punches.
Laird works on Zangief's body with a couple of short punches.
Zangief has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Laird after a bit of a struggle.
Zangief blocking some punches.
Laird swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Laird lands with a right to the head.
Laird lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Laird lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Laird lands with a short shot to the head.
Zangief misses with the head strike.
Laird has a couple of punches blocked by Zangief.
Zangief letting Laird take a breather here.
Zangief tries to break the clinch but Laird is controlling the position.
Laird scores with a shoulder strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laird displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zangief up against the cage.
Laird blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Laird.
Laird swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Laird misses with a punch on the inside.

Zangief is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Laird can't fight it off and eventually Zangief manages to take the fight to the floor. Laird looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Laird is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Laird avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Laird wants to get back to his feet but Zangief is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zangief in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Laird is looking to stand up but Zangief isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Laird on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Laird uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zangief.
Laird throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zangief is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Zangief takes a jab right on the kisser.
Laird ducks under a wild hook from Zangief.

Laird closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Laird will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zangief up against the cage.
A short right from Laird.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zangief misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zangief blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zangief has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Laird after a bit of a struggle.
Zangief is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Volg Zangief. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laird tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zangief is trying to drag Laird to the mat but Laird just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Laird lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Laird lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zangief backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A hook to the body from Laird.
Laird digs a right hand underneath Zangief's ribcage. Zangief let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Laird scores with a shot to the side of Zangief's head.
Laird lands a body punch.
Laird lands a hook that snaps the head of Zangief backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Laird.

Zangief is rocked!
Zangief's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Oh Zangief is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Laird cracks Zangief with a nice body shot.
Laird scores with a shoulder strike.
Laird lands an uppercut.
Laird lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Laird dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Laird's cut.
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.

Laird gets a clinch.
Zangief blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Laird.
Laird creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Zangief with a big uppercut! Zangief tries to clinch up but Laird pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Zangief to the mat! Zangief covers up and Laird unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:14 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Alexander Laird!
In defeat, Alexander Volg Zangief stepped up to the mic, saying 'Lucky BS I vant rematch...'.