PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leonti Zolnerowich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Haze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henry Haze has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zolnerowich
vs
Haze

176 cm
22
228 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leonti Zolnerowich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Henry Haze!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Bruno Lombardi and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zolnerowich defending well as Haze loads up on a big left hand.
Haze looks to land a left hand but Zolnerowich moved out of range nicely.
Haze scores with a one two! Zolnerowich had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Leonti Zolnerowich has been cut.
Zolnerowich could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Haze clinches.
Haze lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zolnerowich or not.
Zolnerowich tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Zolnerowich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zolnerowich takes a jab right on the kisser.
Zolnerowich moves out of range as Haze throws a body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Haze misses with a low kick.
Haze avoids a kick to the body.

Zolnerowich darts in and clinches Haze up against the cage.
Haze tries a body shot but Zolnerowich blocks it.
Haze lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zolnerowich.
Haze is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Haze misses with a hook from the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zolnerowich as Haze tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haze doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Haze misses with a hook to the ribs.

Zolnerowich has Haze pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Zolnerowich pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Haze tumbling to the mat - Zolnerowich dives into Haze's guard.
Zolnerowich's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Haze seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Haze tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Haze not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Haze looking for a sweep. Not yet Haze, not yet.
Zolnerowich showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Leonti Zolnerowich.
Haze throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haze throws an overhand right that lands on Zolnerowich's shoulder, as Zolnerowich tries to avoid the shot.
Haze lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zolnerowich circles away quickly and effectively.
Henry Haze seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haze takes a swing at Zolnerowich's ribcage but misses.
Haze throws an overhand right that lands on Zolnerowich's shoulder, as Zolnerowich tries to avoid the shot.
Haze sizes up Zolnerowich with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Haze scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Haze tries to close the distance and clinch but Zolnerowich swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Haze connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zolnerowich momentarily.
Zolnerowich takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A shot to the body from Haze misses
and Zolnerowich counters with a stiff right hand.
Haze motions for Zolnerowich to come forward. Haze throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zolnerowich moves out of range as Haze strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Haze.
Zolnerowich moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Zolnerowich dives in and grabs Haze's left leg, looking for a takedown. Haze pushes down on Zolnerowich's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonti Zolnerowich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haze smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Haze throws a good cross that connects.
Haze wants to clinch up but Zolnerowich keeps it at a distance.

Zolnerowich fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Haze to the ground. Zolnerowich is now in Haze's guard.
Haze 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haze can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zolnerowich controls the pace.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zolnerowich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Haze is keeping the position for now.

Haze is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zolnerowich defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haze throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Haze 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.
Haze is trying to hold Zolnerowich in close to prevent damage but Zolnerowich has managed to pass into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Haze is refusing to be controlled, as Zolnerowich sits in half guard.
Zolnerowich with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Haze dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leonti Zolnerowich's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Haze moves to clinch but Zolnerowich breaks away

and Zolnerowich counters with a takedown into side control.
Haze tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zolnerowich wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Zolnerowich is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Haze is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Haze tries to buck Zolnerowich off but Zolnerowich is having none of it.
Zolnerowich tries to advance to mount but Haze denies him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haze is not content to let Zolnerowich control the position.
Haze tries to improve position but can't.
Zolnerowich just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haze is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Haze keeps trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haze is trying to work for a sweep but Zolnerowich has mounted him!

Zolnerowich is working for a guillotine from mount but Haze frees his head quite easily.
Haze can't escape the position.
Haze really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zolnerowich. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zolnerowich sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Zolnerowich working for a guillotine from mount but Haze is in no mood to give up.
Zolnerowich avoids the attempt from Haze to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zolnerowich fails to move to back control.
Haze tries to hold on but Zolnerowich pushes him away.
Haze really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Haze is squirming around, avoiding Zolnerowich's attempts to control the action.
Haze keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zolnerowich scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Haze?
Zolnerowich controlling from mount.

Zolnerowich wants to finish this one by submission but Haze is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Zolnerowich.
Haze is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonti Zolnerowich dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Leonti Zolnerowich's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Zolnerowich takes one to the chin there.
Haze has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Haze misses with a wild body shot.
Henry Haze seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zolnerowich defending well as Haze loads up on a big left hand.
Haze throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Haze loads up on a big right hand but Zolnerowich slips the punch.
Zolnerowich shoots in and drives through. Haze sprawls well.
Haze lands a really nice looking cross but Zolnerowich seems unphased.
A telegraphed right hand from Haze misses the target.
Zolnerowich slips under a jab from Haze.
A jab lands there for Haze.
Haze uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zolnerowich has time to react.
Zolnerowich avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Haze swings for the body but Zolnerowich moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haze with a nice cross.
Zolnerowich throws a right hand that Haze ducks under and follows up with a left that Haze also avoids with ease.
Zolnerowich takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Haze throws a right and a left that both miss.

Zolnerowich bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Haze wants to control but Zolnerowich postures up.
Zolnerowich lands a nice forearm strike.
Haze is looking to reverse the position.

Zolnerowich thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haze is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haze is trying to get back to half guard.
Zolnerowich remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Zolnerowich has hold of Haze's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Haze tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Zolnerowich cranks the arm and Haze screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Haze, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Leonti Zolnerowich!