PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Volg Zangief (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alesandro Vandella (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Volg Zangief
vs
Vandella

170 cm
22
138 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
134 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexander Volg Zangief!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alesandro Vandella!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vandella showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zangief.
Zangief lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Vandella is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Zangief.

Vandella moves into the clinch successfully.
Vandella has Zangief pressed against the cage, preventing Zangief from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vandella content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Vandella throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vandella.
Vandella is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Vandella lands an elbow inside.
Zangief wants to break free but Vandella has control.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Vandella takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Vandella breaks from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zangief throws a one two combo.
Vandella shoots in for a takedown but Zangief shows good takedown defense.
Vandella will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short right from Vandella on the inside.

Vandella breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zangief swinging wildly here.
Vandella fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alexander Volg Zangief has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alesandro Vandella.
Vandella looks gassed!
Zangief looks to land a combination but Vandella avoids it well.
Zangief throws a jab when Vandella was well out of range.
Some wild striking there from Zangief.
Zangief looks to land a combination. Vandella sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vandella.
Zangief keeps the fight on the outside.
Alexander Volg Zangief seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vandella slips a jab and a cross from Zangief.
A punch combination from Zangief misses.
Zangief swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Vandella darts in and clinches Zangief up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Vandella.
Vandella content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Zangief prevents the takedown attempt.
Vandella is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zangief pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zangief has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zangief wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vandella jumps guard but Zangief stands there with Vandella around his waist. Vandella gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zangief tries to break free but Vandella pushes him back against the cage.
Vandella tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vandella keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zangief's efforts to push away.
Vandella tries to pull guard but Zangief won't allow it.

Vandella breaks the clinch.
Zangief misses with a two punch combination.
Zangief throws a nice looking combination but Vandella bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zangief lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vandella circles away quickly and effectively.
Zangief circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zangief has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Zangief misses with a double jab.
Vandella is trying desperately to land a takedown but Zangief is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Vandella.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zangief swinging wildly here.

Vandella rushes Zangief and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Vandella is struggling to control the position.

Vandella breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zangief looks to land a combination but Vandella avoids it well.

Vandella clinches up with Zangief and pushes him back against the cage.
Vandella working aggressively here.
Zangief has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vandella jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zangief walks away with a smile on his face. Vandella gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zangief swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zangief swinging wildly here.
Zangief defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vandella.
Zangief misses with a double jab

and Vandella counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vandella.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vandella tries to pull guard but Zangief holds him up against the cage and eventually Vandella drops back down to his feet.

Vandella breaks from the clinch.
Zangief falls off balance throwing a combination

and Vandella counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Vandella tries to pull guard but Zangief holds him up against the cage and eventually Vandella drops back down to his feet.
Vandella stalling in the clinch.
Vandella tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zangief just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vandella misses with some punches.
Vandella stalling in the clinch but Zangief improves position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zangief is trying to break the clinch but Vandella has him pressed against the cage.
Zangief is trying to break the clinch but Vandella is controlling him.
Vandella misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zangief wants to break free but Vandella has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Volg Zangief dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zangief misses with a wild combination.

Vandella gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Vandella has a couple of punches blocked by Zangief.
Vandella misses with some punches.
Vandella misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vandella taking a breather.
Zangief prevents the takedown attempt.
Vandella has Zangief pressed against the cage, preventing Zangief from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vandella tries to pull guard but Zangief holds him up against the cage and eventually Vandella drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zangief blocking some punches.
Stalling in the clinch from Vandella.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vandella.
Vandella is breathing heavily.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vandella's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zangief throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vandella.
Vandella tries to close the distance and clinch but Zangief swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zangief lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vandella circles away quickly and effectively.
Vandella avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vandella dodges the punch combination from Zangief.

Vandella clinches up with Zangief and pushes him back against the cage.

Vandella breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zangief misses with the combination.

Vandella drives through and clinches with Zangief against the cage.
Vandella keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zangief's efforts to push away.
Vandella lands a nice elbow.
Vandella tries to score a body lock takedown but Zangief shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Alexander Volg Zangief has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alesandro Vandella.
Zangief tries to break the clinch but Vandella is controlling the position.
Vandella fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vandella is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Vandella has Zangief pressed against the cage, preventing Zangief from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on Zangief's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vandella drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zangief pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zangief throws a right and a left that Vandella avoids nicely.
Zangief lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vandella circles away quickly and effectively.
Vandella showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zangief.

Vandella moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vandella is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Zangief wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vandella misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vandella stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Vandella working aggressively here.

Vandella's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zangief!
Zangief darts in trying to clinch
and Vandella counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zangief tries to bum rush Vandella with a series of wild strikes but Vandella uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Vandella gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Vandella working aggressively here.
Vandella misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four 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.
Zangief dodges an elbow strike from Vandella.
Vandella pushes off an throws an elbow but Zangief leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Zangief blocks the elbow strike.
Vandella misses with a hook from the clinch.

Vandella breaks from the clinch.
Zangief throws a right and a left that Vandella avoids nicely.
A combination from Zangief does no damage.

Vandella moves into range and clinches up with Zangief.
Vandella tries to pull guard but Zangief won't allow it.
Vandella misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zangief.
Zangief tries to circle away but Vandella has him pinned against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vandella makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Vandella tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zangief tries to break free but Vandella pushes him back against the cage.
Zangief wants to break free but Vandella has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alesandro Vandella showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zangief swinging wildly here.
Vandella fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zangief throws a right and a left that Vandella avoids nicely.
Vandella closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zangief circles away.
Vandella moves in looking to clinch but Zangief pushes him off.
Vandella shoots in and drives through. Zangief sprawls well.
Zangief lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Zangief misses with a combination

and Vandella counters by moving into the clinch.
Vandella tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Alexander Volg Zangief has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alesandro Vandella.
Zangief wants to break free but Vandella has control.

Vandella breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zangief swats away the attempt to clinch by Vandella.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zangief misses with a double jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandella misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zangief avoids a wild elbow strike from Vandella.
Zangief is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Vandella breaks the clinch.
Zangief throws a nice looking combination but Vandella bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zangief tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No joy there for Zangief, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zangief throws a nice looking combination but Vandella bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vandella is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vandella tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zangief swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zangief throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vandella counters with an outside leg kick.

Vandella clinches up with Zangief and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vandella lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zangief backwards.
Vandella prevents Zangief from breaking the clinch.

Vandella's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zangief throws a series of punches but Vandella avoids them all with ease.
Zangief throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zangief looks to land a combination but Vandella avoids it well.
Vandella is looking to clinch but Zangief is avoiding it.
Vandella lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Vandella gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Vandella taking a breather.
Vandella prevents Zangief from breaking the clinch.
Zangief is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Vandella just leaning against Zangief, taking a breather.
Vandella misses with a punch to the body.

Vandella's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zangief throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vandella avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vandella tries to clinch but Zangief is having none of it.
Zangief throws a series of punches but Vandella moves out of range.

Vandella darts in and clinches Zangief up against the cage.
Zangief wants to break the clinch but can't.

Vandella manages to break the clinch.
Zangief looks to land a combination but Vandella avoids it well.
Alexander Volg Zangief is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Vandella fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zangief, pushing him back against the cage.
Vandella tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zangief is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Vandella just leaning against Zangief, taking a breather.
Zangief blocking some punches.

Vandella manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zangief wants to control from the top but Vandella keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vandella is trying to control the position but Zangief postures up.
Vandella is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Vandella is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Zangief is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vandella not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zangief stops Vandella from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alesandro Vandella comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vandella 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alesandro Vandella!