PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vuk Zivanovic (ranked 3488 p4p, 3440 weight class) and John Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Paul told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Zivanovic
vs
Paul

210 cm
21
250
2 - 2 - 0

200 cm
27
255
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vuk Zivanovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Paul!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Zivanovic does no damage.
Paul misses with a looping left.

Paul has taken the fight to the clinch.
Paul has a couple of punches blocked by Zivanovic.
A short right from Paul on the inside.
Zivanovic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Paul lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zivanovic backwards.
Paul tries to work over Zivanovic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

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

Zivanovic tries to keep at a distance but Paul has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul lands an uppercut.
Paul misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zivanovic definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
A head punch on the inside from Paul fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short left from Paul.

It looks like Vuk Zivanovic has been cut.
Nice body punch from Paul - that landed with a thud.
Paul misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paul scores with a shot to the side of Zivanovic's head.
Paul misses with a punch on the inside.
Paul swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Paul lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zivanovic backwards.
Paul misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paul.
Paul fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Paul goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul lands with a left to the head.
Zivanovic blocks an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Paul.
Zivanovic has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Paul avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Paul swings wildly with an uppercut but Zivanovic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paul struggles to land a body shot inside as Zivanovic controls his hands.
Paul misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zivanovic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paul misses with a body punch.
Zivanovic blocks a body shot from Paul.
Paul stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Paul.
A hook to the body from Paul.
Paul misses with a punch on the inside.
Paul has Zivanovic pressed against the cage, preventing Zivanovic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Paul doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Paul's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zivanovic throws a hook to the side of Paul's head but Paul sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Paul swings for the body but Zivanovic moves out of range.
Zivanovic throws a jab when Paul was well out of range.
Zivanovic misses with a jab, cross combination.

Paul moves into the clinch successfully.
Paul misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zivanovic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zivanovic.
A nice left hand lands by Paul.
Paul swings wildly with an uppercut but Zivanovic uses good head movement to avoid it.

Paul breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Paul has Zivanovic up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zivanovic.
Paul misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paul keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zivanovic's efforts to push away.
A nice right hand lands inside from Paul.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Paul dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vuk Zivanovic's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zivanovic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Paul circles away quickly and effectively.

Paul pushes Zivanovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Paul working aggressively here.
Paul softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Paul throws a punch but it's blocked by Zivanovic.
Paul misses with a body punch.
Paul lands with a short shot to the head.
Paul gets through Zivanovic's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Paul has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Paul swings wildly with an uppercut but Zivanovic uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zivanovic is trying to push Paul away but Paul has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Still in the clinch, Paul scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zivanovic working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zivanovic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Paul lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zivanovic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Paul prevents Zivanovic from breaking the clinch.
Zivanovic tries to break free but Paul pushes him back against the cage.
Paul is working Zivanovic over against the cage.
Paul misses with some punches.
Paul fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Paul working aggressively here.
Paul manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Paul misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Paul.
Zivanovic blocks a body shot from Paul.
Paul misses with a hook to the ribs.

Zivanovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zivanovic misses with a series of wild punches.
Paul's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zivanovic under the eye.
Zivanovic lands with an uppercut that bounces Paul off the cage and back into range.
Paul has a takedown stuffed.
Paul looks to land a combination but Zivanovic avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zivanovic misses with a wild combination.
Paul fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zivanovic looks to land a combination but Paul avoids it well.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Paul! But no joy.
Zivanovic jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Paul misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zivanovic.
Zivanovic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vuk Zivanovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zivanovic tries to bum rush Paul with a series of wild strikes but Paul uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zivanovic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zivanovic 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.

Paul closes the distance and clinches.
Paul misses with the head strike.

Paul breaks the clinch.
Zivanovic misses with an uppercut.
Paul catches Zivanovic with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paul pushes Zivanovic up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paul throws a punch but it's blocked by Zivanovic.
Paul tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Paul lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zivanovic.
Zivanovic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A head punch on the inside from Paul fails to land.
Paul throws a head punch that misses.
Zivanovic looking to slow down the pace here.
Paul digs a right hand into Zivanovic's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zivanovic's gas tank.
Good body shot from Paul.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Paul showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vuk Zivanovic's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Paul throws a hook but Zivanovic avoids it easily.

Paul moves into the clinch.
Paul misses with a punch to the body.
Zivanovic is trying to push Paul away but Paul has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Paul lands with a short shot to the head.
Zivanovic blocking some punches.
Paul lands on the inside with an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Paul creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zivanovic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul has a couple of punches blocked by Zivanovic.
Paul is working Zivanovic over against the cage.
Paul has Zivanovic pressed against the cage, preventing Zivanovic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
John Paul seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul scores with a nice hook to the head.
Paul misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Paul throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zivanovics head.
Zivanovic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Paul throws a head punch that misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Paul scores with a shot to the side of Zivanovic's head.
Paul lands a body punch in the clinch.
Zivanovic tries to break the clinch but Paul is controlling the position.

Paul breaks from the clinch.
Paul showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zivanovic.
Paul swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zivanovic throws a right and a left that both miss.
John Paul seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zivanovic throws a series of punches but Paul moves out of range.
Paul lands a body shot.
Zivanovic throws a right and a left that Paul avoids nicely.
Paul throws a hook but Zivanovic avoids it easily.

Paul drives through and clinches with Zivanovic against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paul lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paul.
Paul lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Paul misses with a body punch.
Zivanovic working hard to break the clinch.
Paul lands a hook that snaps the head of Zivanovic backwards.
Paul lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zivanovic backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paul misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Paul.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Paul.
Paul lands a shot to the body.
Paul lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
John Paul is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Paul lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Paul misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul keeps control of Zivanovic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zivanovic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Paul has him pressed against the cage.
Paul cracks Zivanovic with a nice body shot.
Zivanovic has had enough of the clinch but Paul keeps him there for the moment.
Paul throws a head punch that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Paul comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Paul 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Paul!