PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ognyan Zlatev (ranked 4716 p4p, 6711 weight class) and Brad Beaver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Zlatev
vs
Beaver

183 cm
24
189
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
185
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Ognyan Zlatev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Brad Beaver!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zlatev forces Beaver back against the cage and clinches.
Beaver changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zlatev fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Zlatev drives through and clinches with Beaver against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Beaver's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Zlatev decides to pull guard.

Beaver gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Zlatev misses with a wild body shot.
Zlatev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Beaver counters with a three punch combo that has Zlatev backing up. Zlatev nods at Beaver to acknowledge the strikes.
Zlatev looks for a takedown but Beaver sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zlatev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Beaver.
Beaver looks winded!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zlatev is defended easily by Beaver.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ognyan Zlatev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zlatev shoots in looking for a takedown but Beaver manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zlatev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No joy there for Zlatev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zlatev shoots in but no luck this time.

Beaver moves into the clinch.

Zlatev manages to break the clinch.
Zlatev shoots in for a double leg but Beaver sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zlatev pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Beaver shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zlatev defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beaver misses with an uppercut.
Both fighters circling a little - Zlatev finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Beaver drives through and clinches with Zlatev against the cage.

Beaver escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zlatev fails to land the takedown.
Zlatev swats away the attempt to clinch by Beaver.
That kick from Zlatev tenderised Beaver's leg. Beaver is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zlatev looks for a takedown but Beaver sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Beaver fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zlatev, pushing him back against the cage.
Zlatev wants a takedown but no success here.
Beaver jumps guard but Zlatev stands there with Beaver around his waist. Beaver gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zlatev lands a right hand.

Beaver decides to pull guard.
Zlatev content to stall in guard here.
Zlatev postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zlatev throws an elbow that misses. Beaver uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zlatev's guard. Nice move by Beaver!

Zlatev pushes Beaver off and scrambles back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zlatev.
Zlatev shoots in looking for a takedown but Beaver manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zlatev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zlatev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Beaver counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Beaver takes a swing at Zlatev's ribcage but misses.
Zlatev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Beaver is fending him off so far but Zlatev persists. Nope, Beaver circles away and we're back to standing.
Beaver shoots in for a double leg but Zlatev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brad Beaver will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zlatev closes the distance and clinches.
Beaver tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Beaver is trying to pull guard but Zlatev has him pressed against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Beaver is trying to drag Zlatev to the mat but Zlatev just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ognyan Zlatev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Beaver.
Zlatev tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zlatev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Beaver is breathing heavily.
Zlatev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Beaver but Beaver pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zlatev forces Beaver back against the cage and clinches.
Beaver is looking to break free of the clinch but Zlatev has double underhooks.
Zlatev tries for a takedown but Beaver manages to get underhooks.

Zlatev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zlatev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Beaver fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zlatev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zlatev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Beaver throws a counter combo.
Beaver fails with a takedown attempt.
Brad Beaver seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Beaver gets tackled into the cage by Zlatev. Zlatev maintains the clinch.
Zlatev gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zlatev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Beaver after a bit of a struggle.

Beaver's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zlatev darts in looking for a takedown but Beaver gets double underhooks and turns Zlatev into the cage.

Beaver has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Zlatev is trying to keep an underhook but Beaver manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zlatev is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zlatev gets full guard.
Beaver wanted to stand there but Zlatev had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zlatev doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zlatev is on top in guard.

Zlatev stands up from Beaver's guard - Zlatev perhaps looking for a knockout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zlatev.
Beaver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ognyan Zlatev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Zlatev drives through and clinches with Beaver against the cage.
Zlatev changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Beaver fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zlatev shoots for a takedown but Beaver saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Beaver shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zlatev sprawls well. Zlatev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Beaver gets slowly back to his feet.
Zlatev is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Beaver.
Zlatev pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Beaver shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Zlatev manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Beaver keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zlatev can't find room to land a body shot as Beaver controls the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ognyan Zlatev dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Zlatev tries for a takedown but Beaver sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Zlatev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Beaver, pushing him back against the cage.

Zlatev manages to break the clinch.

Beaver moves into the clinch.
Beaver avoiding damage as Zlatev throws knees to the body.
Beaver tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zlatev smiles and moves away.
Beaver wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zlatev dips to his left and cracks Beaver with an uppercut!
Beaver takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zlatev darts in looking for a takedown but Beaver gets double underhooks and turns Zlatev into the cage.
Ognyan Zlatev has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Beaver misses with a knee strike.
Beaver tries to pull guard but Zlatev forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zlatev can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ognyan Zlatev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zlatev unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zlatev tries to pull guard but Beaver won't allow it.
Beaver drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zlatev pulls his leg out and moves away.

Zlatev takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Zlatev.
Zlatev goes for a takedown in the clinch but Beaver prevents it.
Zlatev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Beaver gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Beaver tries to score a body lock takedown but Zlatev shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Zlatev stops a takedown attempt from Beaver.
Knees to the body from Zlatev.

Zlatev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zlatev with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zlatev wants to clinch up but Beaver keeps it at a distance.
Beaver stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zlatev.
Zlatev buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Zlatev clinches.
Zlatev just leaning against Beaver, taking a breather.
Zlatev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Beaver just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zlatev tries to score a body lock takedown but Beaver shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Beaver is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zlatev to keep the fight standing.
Beaver swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zlatev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Beaver displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zlatev.
Zlatev shoots in but no luck this time.
Beaver fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Beaver slaps away a takedown attempt from Zlatev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Beaver throws a counter combo.
Beaver tries to clinch but Zlatev is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Beaver on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Beaver fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zlatev.
Zlatev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Beaver sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ognyan Zlatev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zlatev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ognyan Zlatev!