PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valdis Zatlers (ranked 5137 p4p, 3612 weight class) and Islandiano Islandish (ranked 480 p4p, 387 weight class). Valdis Zatlers has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Zatlers
vs
Islandish

220 cm
27
265
2 - 5 - 0

200 cm
26
270
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Valdis Zatlers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Islandiano Islandish!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Alyssa Summers and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Islandish lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Valdis Zatlers has been cut.
No luck for Islandish with that takedown attempt.
Zatlers fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zatlers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Islandish wants to counter the offense by Zatlers and move into the clinch position.

Islandish looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Zatlers!
Zatlers is looking for a sweep.
Zatlers is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Islandish is controlling him well.
Zatlers prevents Islandish from moving into mount.
Islandish is looking to take a break and control but Zatlers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zatlers is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zatlers is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Islandish asserts his dominance and retains side control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Islandish working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Islandish misses with the ground and pound.
The ground and pound from Islandish seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Islandish in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Islandish scores with punches from side control.
Zatlers really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zatlers looking for a sweep but Islandish has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zatlers tries to lock up and control but Islandish gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Islandish scoring with strikes but Zatlers is staying in there.
Zatlers taking shots to the head.
Islandish is landing with some decent strikes but Zatlers is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Valdis Zatlers's cut is getting worse.
Islandish scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Valdis Zatlers's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Islandish trying to control but Zatlers is having none of it.

Islandish swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Zatlers is now in Islandish's guard. A big mistake from Islandish there, giving up the dominant position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Islandish looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Zatlers passes into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Zatlers wants to stand but Islandish has his arm trapped.

Zatlers stands up.
Zatlers shoots in looking for a takedown but Islandish manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zatlers's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Islandish connects with a solid leg kick.
Islandish shoots and misses
and Zatlers counters with a stiff right hand.
Islandish lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zatlers shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valdis Zatlers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Islandish is looking to take this one to the mat.
Islandish pushes off an throws an elbow but Zatlers leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Islandish can't get the takedown.
Islandish has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zatlers avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Islandish is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Zatlers is defending well.

Islandish gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Zatlers regains guard.
Islandish must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Islandish tries to free his leg and advance position but Zatlers is retaining full guard.

Zatlers pushes Islandish off and gets back to his feet.

Zatlers tries to keep at a distance but Islandish has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Islandiano Islandish dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Valdis Zatlers's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Islandish gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Zatlers pulls Islandish into guard.
Zatlers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zatlers is controlling Islandish's posture.
Islandish throws a strike but Zatlers rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Zatlers looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zatlers trying to stand up but can't free himself from Islandish's guard.
Islandish looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Islandish pulls Zatlers in close to prevent any damage.
Islandish looking to control.

Islandish pushes Zatlers off and gets back to his feet.
Zatlers darts in looking for a takedown but Islandish gets double underhooks and turns Zatlers into the cage.
Islandish wants to counter the offense by Zatlers and move into the clinch position.

Islandish closes the distance and pushes Zatlers back into the cage.
Islandish goes for a takedown attempt but Zatlers pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Zatlers gets tackled into the cage by Islandish. Islandish maintains the clinch.

Islandish has Zatlers pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Islandish pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Zatlers tumbling to the mat - Islandish dives into Zatlers's guard.

Zatlers manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Islandish fails to pull guard.
Islandish is trying to drag Zatlers to the mat but Zatlers just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Valdis Zatlers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Islandiano Islandish.

Islandish escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Islandish misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zatlers tries to clinch there but Islandish circles away.
Islandish throws a head kick that misses.

Islandish closes the distance and clinches.

Islandish has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Zatlers clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Islandish has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Islandish slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Islandish is trying to stick to Zatlers's back but Zatlers is turning into Islandish. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Islandish's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Zatlers.
Islandish not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zatlers trying to stand up but can't free himself from Islandish's guard.
Islandish looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zatlers is one step ahead there.
Zatlers trying to control the position from guard on top but Islandish is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Islandiano Islandish has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zatlers is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Islandish trying to keep a closed guard but Zatlers is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zatlers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Zatlers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Islandish pulls Zatlers in to control the position.
Zatlers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zatlers trying to control but Islandish is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Islandish is trying to control the position but Zatlers postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Islandiano Islandish will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Valdis Zatlers's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zatlers darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Islandish makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Zatlers gets tackled into the cage by Islandish. Islandish maintains the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Islandish tries for a takedown but Zatlers manages to get underhooks.
Islandish tries to pull guard but Zatlers holds him up against the cage and eventually Islandish drops back down to his feet.

Islandish breaks the clinch.
Islandish tries for a takedown but Zatlers sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zatlers wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Valdis Zatlers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Islandiano Islandish.
Islandish stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Islandish closes the distance and pushes Zatlers back into the cage.

Islandish turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Zatlers is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zatlers avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Islandish.
Islandish working away.
Zatlers sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Zatlers trying to control but Islandish postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zatlers has his hands clasped together around Islandish's back. He's all about the action.
Zatlers is trying to control but can't.
Islandish lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zatlers moves into full guard.
Zatlers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Islandish is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Islandiano Islandish is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Islandish really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zatlers. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Islandish trying to control the position from guard on top but Zatlers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Islandish is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Islandish throws a series of punches but Zatlers avoids them all with ease.
Zatlers tries for a takedown but Islandish circles away easily

and Islandish counters by clinching up.

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.
Islandish misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zatlers is looking to take this one to the mat.
Zatlers tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Islandish just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Islandish tries for a takedown but Zatlers manages to get underhooks.

Islandish successfully pulls guard.
Islandish looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zatlers postures up.
Islandish has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Valdis Zatlers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Islandish takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zatlers lands a couple of digs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Islandiano Islandish comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Islandish has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Islandiano Islandish!