PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wiz Kraven (ranked 2862 p4p, 2129 weight class) and Baldimir Zsofka (ranked 416 p4p, 315 weight class). Zsofka is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Raid - MF DOOM . Baldimir Zsofka acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Kraven
vs
Zsofka

185 cm
25
185
5 - 7 - 0

175 cm
21
185
2 - 3 - 1

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

EFC Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Wiz Kraven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Baldimir Zsofka!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kraven shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kraven is looking to take a break and control but Zsofka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Zsofka is defending against the submission attempts here by Kraven.
Zsofka is controlling Kraven's position as best he can from this difficult position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zsofka can do anything to dispel that myth.
Let's hope that Zsofka has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kraven is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Kraven is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraven wants to pass to mount but Zsofka is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zsofka wants to get back to full guard.
Zsofka has his hands clasped together around Kraven's back. He's all about the action.

Kraven wants to work for an arm triangle but Zsofka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Kraven is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zsofka wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kraven wants to control but Zsofka is keeping him busy.
Zsofka slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kraven trying to control the position from guard on top but Zsofka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kraven being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zsofka connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kraven takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zsofka throws a leg kick which misses Kraven's front leg but catches the back leg as Kraven tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kraven.
Kraven misses with a takedown
letting Zsofka counter with a right hand.
Zsofka's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kraven under the eye.
Zsofka lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zsofka lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kraven avoids the head kick by Zsofka.
Kraven misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wiz Kraven. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kraven scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kraven tries to pass to full mount but Zsofka defends it.
Zsofka tries to roll over but Kraven keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zsofka makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zsofka.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zsofka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kraven tries to free his leg and advance position but Zsofka is retaining full guard.
Zsofka is pulling down on Kraven's head. It's preventing any offense from Kraven, at least for the moment.
Kraven trying to control the position from guard on top but Zsofka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zsofka wants to sweep here but Kraven controlling him for the moment.
Zsofka keeping moving, preventing Kraven from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Baldimir Zsofka dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Zsofka slaps away a takedown attempt from Kraven, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zsofka scoring well with a low kick there.
Zsofka lands a head shot.
Zsofka lands with a nice combination. Kraven backs away looking to recover.
Kraven shoots in but Zsofka avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zsofka throws out a counter right but Kraven avoids it with no problem.

Kraven looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kraven wants to pass the guard but Zsofka is keeping the position.
Zsofka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zsofka keeping moving, preventing Kraven from controlling successfully.
Zsofka is pulling down on Kraven's head. It's preventing any offense from Kraven, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraven stands and throws Zsofka's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Kraven goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Zsofka has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kraven but great work by Zsofka.
Kraven is trying to get back to half guard.
Zsofka content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kraven is looking to reverse the position.
Wiz Kraven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zsofka controlling from side mount.
Kraven tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zsofka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Zsofka staying calm.
Kraven tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraven manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Zsofka wants to improve his position but Kraven is controlling well.
Kraven wants to take a breather but Zsofka is having none of it.
Zsofka gets full guard.
Zsofka has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kraven won't allow Zsofka to sweep him here.
Zsofka is adopting a defensive guard.
Kraven trying to control but Zsofka is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kraven looking to sit in guard and control but Zsofka gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zsofka sitting in guard here, content to control.

Kraven has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zsofka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kraven seems keen to control Zsofka's posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zsofka sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Baldimir Zsofka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kraven tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zsofka defends well and Kraven ends up having to push Zsofka into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Zsofka breaks from the clinch.
Wiz Kraven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zsofka misses with a kick to the body.
Zsofka defending well as Kraven loads up on a big left hand.
Zsofka's corner calls for a 1-2. Zsofka obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kraven takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A swing and a miss from Kraven.
Kraven fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zsofka avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kraven is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Zsofka's half guard.
Zsofka desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kraven is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zsofka controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Kraven wants to control but Zsofka is keeping him busy.
Zsofka moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kraven stays in close to Zsofka's body and controls the position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kraven throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kraven has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zsofka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zsofka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zsofka slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kraven stops Zsofka from passing to mount.
Kraven is trying to escape the position but Zsofka is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zsofka working the head with strikes.
Zsofka controls the position from side control.
Zsofka advances nicely into full mount.
Kraven is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zsofka controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kraven is trying to escape the mount.
Zsofka content just to control the position here.
Kraven is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kraven tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zsofka controlling from the full mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Baldimir Zsofka really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kraven fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kraven fails with the takedown
enabling Zsofka to counter with a crisp jab.
Zsofka lands a leg kick that knocks Kraven off balance momentarily.
Kraven misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zsofka swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wiz Kraven. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zsofka stuns Kraven with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Kraven closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Zsofka quickly recovers to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zsofka is controlling Kraven's trapped leg to prevent Kraven from advancing to side control.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Kraven is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraven is trying to control the action in half guard but Zsofka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Kraven is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zsofka keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Kraven perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Zsofka tries to roll over but Kraven keeps him under control.
Zsofka is controlling Kraven's trapped leg to prevent Kraven from advancing to side control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Baldimir Zsofka seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kraven has his takedown stuffed
enabling Zsofka to counter with a crisp jab.
Kraven fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kraven fails to land the takedown.
Zsofka lands a jab.

Kraven shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kraven showed some decent athleticism there.
Kraven looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraven is working hard here to advance position.
Zsofka keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Zsofka's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Zsofka is pressing down on Kraven's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zsofka keeping moving, preventing Kraven from controlling successfully.
Kraven wants to pass the guard but Zsofka is keeping the position.

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.
Zsofka seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Kraven drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Zsofka dives on top into guard.

Zsofka pushes down on Kraven's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Kraven is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zsofka pulls his head out easily.
Zsofka slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kraven has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zsofka is working away from the top position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Baldimir Zsofka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zsofka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Baldimir Zsofka!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Baldimir Zsofka!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Baldimir Zsofka!

Baldimir Zsofka wins by unanimous decision!
Baldimir Zsofka thanked the fans post fight for their support.