PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Zderic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Perkele Saatana (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.

Zderic
vs
Saatana

185 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

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 Helsinki, Ivan Zderic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Perkele Saatana!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saatana swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zderic blocks a head kick by Saatana.
Perkele Saatana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slapping body kick lands there for Saatana.
Zderic on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Saatana. Saatana obviously looking to wear him down.
Zderic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zderic.
Zderic staying calm.
Saatana connects with an elbow from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zderic in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saatana is looking for a sweep.
Zderic trying to control the action but Saatana is working from the bottom.
Zderic taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saatana sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Zderic trying to control from half guard but Saatana is working away.
Saatana is trying to maintain the position but Zderic is very close to passing his half guard.
Saatana might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Zderic kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Zderic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Saatana wants to get back to his feet.
Zderic controlling the action here.
Zderic has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zderic is trying to control the action in half guard but Saatana is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Zderic trying to control the pace.
Zderic's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ivan Zderic.
Saatana tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zderic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zderic ducks under a wild hook from Saatana.
Saatana throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zderic is breathing heavily.
Saatana misses with a takedown

and Zderic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Saatana's guard now.
Saatana is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saatana is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zderic trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zderic sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zderic being controlled here momentarily.
Zderic is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Saatana keeping moving, preventing Zderic from controlling successfully.
Saatana should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Saatana wants to stand and escape but Zderic is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Saatana is trying to keep Zderic in close.
Zderic controlling from the top position.
Zderic trying to control the position from guard on top but Saatana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zderic working some strikes from top position.
Zderic is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Zderic trying to control but Saatana is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Saatana shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zderic counters with a nice double leg into side control. Saatana won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Zderic dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zderic shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Zderic was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Saatana tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zderic lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Zderic content just to control the position here.
Zderic breaks from Saatana's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Zderic tries to control but Saatana wriggling away.
Zderic takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Saatana is breathing heavily.
Zderic tries to control but Saatana wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zderic tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Saatana is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zderic fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Zderic sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Zderic wants to control the pace but Saatana is squirming around nicely.
Zderic sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Saatana wants to hold on but Zderic pushes him away.
Zderic controlling his opponent.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ivan Zderic just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Saatana misses with a head kick.
Zderic blocks a head kick by Saatana.
Saatana misses with a head kick.

Zderic shoots in and bounces Saatana off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zderic is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zderic wants to control from the top but Saatana keeps moving.
Zderic controlling from the top position.
Zderic trying to control the position from guard on top but Saatana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ivan Zderic.
Saatana thows a body kick. Zderic tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Zderic shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zderic showed some decent athleticism there.

Zderic is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Saatana doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zderic.
Ivan Zderic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zderic is trying to control. Saatana wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Saatana wants to get back to his feet.
Saatana tries to roll over but Zderic keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Zderic dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zderic changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Saatana looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Saatana is not content to let Zderic control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zderic connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Saatana some visible discomfort.
Zderic lands some shots froms side control.
Zderic lands some shots froms side control.
Zderic trying to control the action but Saatana is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saatana trying to remain calm as Zderic controls from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zderic trying to control the action but Saatana is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ivan Zderic.
Saatana gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zderic counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zderic stays in close to Saatana's body and controls the position.
Zderic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saatana works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zderic trying to control but Saatana is working from the bottom.
Saatana looking for a sweep. Not yet Saatana, not yet.
Saatana keeping moving, preventing Zderic from controlling successfully.
Zderic is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Saatana throws a sloppy head kick and Zderic moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zderic blocks a head kick by Saatana.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Saatana.

Zderic closes the distance and clinches.

Saatana is fighting off a takedown attempt but Zderic is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Saatana to the mat. Saatana regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Saatana working a defensive guard here.
Ivan Zderic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zderic controls from within his opponent's guard.
Perkele Saatana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saatana keeping moving, preventing Zderic from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saatana working a defensive guard here.
Zderic looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ivan Zderic.
Zderic avoids the head kick by Saatana.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Zderic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zderic, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Zderic!