PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonis Kostas (ranked 4386 p4p, 4419 weight class) and Lev Zalupin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kostas
vs
Zalupin

200 cm
18
265
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
20
247
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Antonis Kostas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lev Zalupin!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Winston Alpacca and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zalupin tries to clinch but Kostas moves out of range.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Zalupin - that will leave a mark!
Zalupin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kostas pinned against the cage. Kostas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Kostas pushes Zalupin up against the cage in a clinch.

Kostas drags the fight down to the ground.
Kostas keeping moving, preventing Zalupin from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zalupin stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Zalupin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zalupin lands a front kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zalupin blocks a head kick by Kostas.
No luck for Zalupin with that takedown attempt.
Kostas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kostas wants it to stay on the feet.
Antonis Kostas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lev Zalupin.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kostas.
Kostas is breathing heavily.

Zalupin shoots in and gets a takedown into Kostas's guard.

Kostas has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zalupin off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Zalupin fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalupin goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick misses from Kostas.
Zalupin throws a head kick that Kostas semi-blocks.

Zalupin closes the distance and pushes Kostas back into the cage.
Zalupin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Kostas gets control of Zalupin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kostas will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kostas keeping moving, preventing Zalupin from controlling successfully.
Kostas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zalupin is one step ahead there.
Kostas is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostas pulls Zalupin in close to prevent any damage.

Kostas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Zalupin stands up and waves to Kostas to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zalupin tries to clinch there but Kostas circles away.
Kostas shoots in looking for a takedown but Zalupin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kostas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sloppy strikes from Zalupin. Those never looked like landing.
Kostas fails to land the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Kostas as Zalupin shoots in.

Kostas gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Kostas successfully pulls guard.
Zalupin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kostas pulls Zalupin in close to prevent any damage.
Kostas 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lev Zalupin will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zalupin slaps away a takedown attempt from Kostas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Antonis Kostas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zalupin lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Zalupin throws a head kick but Kostas moves out of range.
Kostas takes a swing at Zalupin's ribcage but misses.
Kostas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zalupin defends well and Kostas ends up having to push Zalupin into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Zalupin manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zalupin tries to clinch but Kostas moves out of range.
Kostas fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonis Kostas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zalupin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalupin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kostas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zalupin is breathing heavily.
Kostas shoots in looking for a takedown. Zalupin tries to sprawl out of it but Kostas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zalupin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Kostas moves into range and clinches up with Zalupin.

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

Zalupin shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Zalupin wants to pass the guard but Kostas is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostas gets full guard.

Kostas has his feet on Zalupin's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Zalupin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kostas.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kostas or perhaps it was just good defense by Zalupin, which made it look bad.
Zalupin lands with a nice combination. Kostas backs away looking to recover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostas shoots in looking for a takedown. Zalupin tries to sprawl out of it but Kostas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zalupin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kostas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zalupin pinned against the cage. Zalupin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Zalupin clinches.
Kostas prevents Zalupin from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zalupin prevents the takedown attempt.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Zalupin breaks the clinch.

Kostas rushes Zalupin and presses him up against the cage.
Kostas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zalupin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Zalupin blocks an elbow strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kostas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zalupin to keep the fight standing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lev Zalupin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Zalupin misses with a head kick.

Zalupin instigates a clinch.
Kostas can't break the clinch.

Zalupin breaks from the clinch.
Zalupin tries for a takedown but Kostas circles away easily
and Kostas counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kostas closes the distance and clinches up with Zalupin, looking for a takedown. Kostas pushes Zalupin against the cage but Zalupin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Good work by Zalupin as he checks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zalupin shoots in and drives through. Kostas sprawls well.
Kostas keeps the fight on the outside.
Kostas misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostas lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kostas.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zalupin lands a nice looking body kick.
Zalupin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kostas.
Kostas looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Zalupin throws a low kick but Kostas avoids it.
Kostas half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Zalupin as Kostas shoots in.
It seemed like Zalupin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kostas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zalupin pinned against the cage. Zalupin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonis Kostas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kostas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zalupin breaks from the clinch.
Zalupin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zalupin slaps away a takedown attempt from Kostas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kostas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zalupin as he jumps to the side.
Lev Zalupin seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Kostas gets caught flat footed, as Zalupin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Kostas wriggles free and stands up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zalupin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kostas as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zalupin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kostas somewhat.
Kostas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zalupin.
Kostas appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kostas dives in for a single leg takedown but Zalupin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zalupin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Zalupin prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zalupin gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kostas regains guard.

Kostas has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Zalupin has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Kostas gets underhooks to prevent Zalupin's takedown attempt.
Kostas can't break the clinch.

Kostas turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kostas working away.
Zalupin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kostas passes to side control.
Antonis Kostas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lev Zalupin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Kostas tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kostas has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Antonis Kostas.
I think Zalupin 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lev Zalupin!