PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yovko Yovkov (ranked 6815 p4p, 25388 weight class) and Adracio Zalasat (ranked 715 p4p, 745 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Yovkov
vs
Zalasat

205 cm
18
270
0 - 2 - 0

209 cm
18
285
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yovko Yovkov!
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, Adracio Zalasat!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danga de danga de dang - Yovkov scores with a four punch combination!
Zalasat fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yovkov avoids it really well and circles away.
Yovkov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zalasat sprawls well. Zalasat wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Yovkov gets slowly back to his feet.
Zalasat tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yovkov swivels and escapes.
Yovkov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zalasat but Zalasat pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Yovkov throws out a powerful jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zalasat has managed to clinch.

Yovkov manages to pull guard.
Zalasat postures up in Yovkov's guard and throws a big left but Yovkov blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yovkov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zalasat must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Yovkov has his foot on Zalasat's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zalasat works his way back into a safe position though.

Zalasat stands and steps away. Yovkov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Yovkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zalasat swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice takedown defense from Yovkov. No joy for Zalasat on that attempt.
Yovkov throws a big counter combination but Zalasat scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Yovko Yovkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adracio Zalasat.
Zalasat misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yovkov.
Zalasat shoots in but Yovkov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yovkov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Sloppy strikes from Yovkov. Those never looked like landing.
Yovkov looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Yovkov fails with the takedown.

Zalasat forces Yovkov back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yovkov tries to pull guard but Zalasat won't allow it.
Yovkov tries to pull guard but Zalasat forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Yovkov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Zalasat pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zalasat lands a right hook to the body.
Zalasat with a lazy takedown attempt

and Yovkov counters by clinching up.

Zalasat breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Zalasat closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Yovkov quickly recovers to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zalasat is controlling the pace.
Yovkov tries to kick Zalasat off but Zalasat keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yovkov holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Yovkov is trying to stand up here but Zalasat is controlling him well.
Still in half guard, Zalasat seems content to control.
Yovkov trying to hold on to Zalasat's head to control him but Zalasat postures up.

Zalasat is looking for a kimura but Yovkov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zalasat to get the leverage.
Yovkov wants to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zalasat dives in for a single leg takedown but Yovkov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zalasat ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yovkov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yovkov slaps away a takedown attempt from Zalasat, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yovkov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Yovkov duly obliges.
Zalasat has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Yovkov tries to clinch but Zalasat is having none of it.
Zalasat comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zalasat is defended easily by Yovkov.
Yovkov is looking to counter punch.
Yovkov throws a body shot but no joy.
Zalasat tries to counter by closing the distance.

Zalasat clinches with his opponent.

Zalasat manages to pull guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Adracio Zalasat will probably get the nod.
That's time! Yovkov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zalasat takes the fight into the clinch.

Yovkov successfully pulls guard.
Zalasat really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Yovkov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zalasat is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Zalasat drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yovkov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yovkov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yovkov!

Yovkov trying to control the action but Zalasat is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zalasat wants to control but Yovkov postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yovkov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Zalasat can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zalasat is looking for a sweep.
Yovkov wants to control for a moment but Zalasat uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Zalasat is looking to control Yovkov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zalasat avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zalasat might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Yovkov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Zalasat wants to get back to full guard.

Zalasat makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Nice takedown defense from Yovkov. No joy for Zalasat on that attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yovkov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zalasat displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yovkov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zalasat dodges the punch combination from Yovkov.
Yovko Yovkov is winning the standup battle so far.
Yovkov shoots in but Zalasat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yovkov darts in looking for a takedown but Zalasat gets double underhooks and turns Yovkov into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yovko Yovkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yovkov tries to circle away but Zalasat has him pinned against the cage.

Zalasat drags the fight down to the ground.
Yovkov trying to control but Zalasat is working from the bottom.
Zalasat is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zalasat managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalasat's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Yovkov gets to his feet - Zalasat follows without any prompting.
Yovkov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zalasat doesn't seem bothered though.
Zalasat dives in and grabs Yovkov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yovkov pushes down on Zalasat's head and hops out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zalasat closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Yovkov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zalasat's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zalasat's back!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yovkov missing with punches from the back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yovko Yovkov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Yovkov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zalasat circles away.
Zalasat tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Zalasat will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Yovko Yovkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yovkov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zalasat counters by clinching up.

Zalasat jumps guard.
Zalasat has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Yovkov has passed into side control.
I wouldn't like to be where Zalasat is right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zalasat is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Yovkov has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Yovkov in the domination position with Zalasat hanging on.
Adracio Zalasat has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yovkov wants to control but Zalasat is keeping him busy.
Yovkov scoring with punches from side control.
Yovkov throws an elbow but Zalasat slips to the side and avoids it well.
Yovkov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Yovkov is trying to ground and pound but Zalasat uses the momentary lack of control by Yovkov to regain half guard.
Yovkov stops Zalasat from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zalasat wants to control but Yovkov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zalasat keeping hold of Yovkov's head, controlling as best he can.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zalasat manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Yovkov looking to sit in guard and control but Zalasat gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zalasat sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zalasat is looking to work some ground and pound but Yovkov has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zalasat trying to stand up but can't free himself from Yovkov's guard.
Zalasat stops Yovkov from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Yovkov fails to land the takedown.
Yovkov has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yovko Yovkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zalasat shoots in for a double leg but Yovkov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Zalasat takes the fight into the clinch.

Zalasat manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalasat shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yovkov pinned against the cage. Yovkov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck for Yovkov with that takedown attempt.

Zalasat has managed to clinch.
Zalasat tries for a takedown but Yovkov manages to get underhooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zalasat fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zalasat jumps guard but Yovkov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Yovkov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zalasat pulls his leg out and moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adracio Zalasat comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zalasat has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Adracio Zalasat!
An out of breath Adracio Zalasat thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.