PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Xander Lagos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Zlatan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir Zlatan will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Lagos
vs
Zlatan

178 cm
25
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Xander Lagos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vladimir Zlatan!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zlatan wants to clinch but Lagos slips to the side
and Lagos counters with a straight right hand.

Zlatan tries to sprawl but Lagos drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Zlatan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zlatan is trying to control the position but Lagos postures up.
Lagos is stalling in the full guard.
Zlatan controls Lagos momentarily but Lagos frees himself.

Zlatan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zlatan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lagos is controlling him.

Zlatan throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Lagos escapes and throws Zlatan's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Zlatan tries to bench press Lagos off him but Lagos keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lagos working away.
Zlatan prevents Lagos from improving position.
Zlatan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lagos's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lagos controlling the action here.
Zlatan trying to control but Lagos postures up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lagos perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Vladimir Zlatan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Zlatan misses with a takedown

and Lagos counters with a takedown into side control.
Lagos happy to just control the position for now.
Zlatan is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Lagos dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zlatan throws a head kick that misses.
Zlatan wants to clinch but Lagos slips to the side

and Lagos counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zlatan won't be happy with that.
Zlatan pushes Lagos away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Lagos gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Lagos tries to move to mount but Zlatan blocks the move with his legs.
Zlatan wants to control but Lagos postures up.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Zlatan pushes Lagos away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Lagos gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Zlatan is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zlatan can't do much from the bottom here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Lagos controls the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zlatan moves to clinch but Lagos breaks away

and Lagos counters with a shoot takedown. Zlatan fights it but they end up in guard.
Lagos showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Lagos has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zlatan keeping full guard, as Lagos tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lagos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Xander Lagos has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Zlatan misses with a takedown

and Lagos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zlatan's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zlatan is trying to keep Lagos in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lagos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zlatan is keeping the position for now.
Lagos is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Lagos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zlatan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A left hand lands to the body for Lagos.
Zlatan is trying to drag Lagos to the mat but Lagos just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Xander Lagos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Zlatan.
Zlatan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lagos pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zlatan darts in trying to clinch

and Lagos counters with a single leg into guard. Zlatan didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Lagos dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zlatan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lagos to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lagos engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Lagos'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 is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zlatan looking to control but Lagos passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagos performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Xander Lagos.
Zlatan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lagos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zlatan's guard.
Zlatan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zlatan trying to control the position.
Lagos passes Zlatan's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zlatan is trying to get back to full guard.
Lagos works his foot free and advances to mount.
Zlatan manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lagos tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zlatan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lagos is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zlatan trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Lagos manages to pass to mount!
Xander Lagos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zlatan wants to hold on but Lagos pushes him away.
Lagos tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xander Lagos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lagos has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:26
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xander Lagos!