PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vasiliy Zaycev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stelio Kantos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zaycev
vs
Kantos

182 cm
21
141 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

172 cm
23
144 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vasiliy Zaycev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Stelio Kantos!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaycev blocks a head kick by Kantos.
Kantos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zaycev takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The fighters circling - Kantos throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kantos looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zaycev with a poor takedown
and Kantos counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kantos throws a head kick that half lands.
Zaycev on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kantos. Kantos obviously looking to wear him down.
Kantos slaps away a takedown attempt from Zaycev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zaycev misses with a takedown attempt
and Kantos counters with an inside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasiliy Zaycev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kantos tests Zaycev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zaycev shoots for a takedown but Kantos saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantos thumps Zaycev with a low kick.
Zaycev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kantos throws a head kick but Zaycev moves out of range.
Kantos scores with a head kick. Zaycev tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zaycev.
Kantos moves into range and connects with a jab.
Zaycev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kantos.
Zaycev shoots in but Kantos avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaycev fails to land the takedown.
Kantos thumps Zaycev with a low kick.
Kantos bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Zaycev's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kantos throws a head kick that Zaycev semi-blocks.
Kantos scores with the left hand. Zaycev knows he should have avoided that one.
Zaycev shoots in for a takedown but Kantos shows good takedown defense.
Kantos throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kantos throws a wild body kick that Zaycev sees coming a mile off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaycev blocks a head kick by Kantos.
Zaycev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kantos is fending him off so far but Zaycev persists. Nope, Kantos circles away and we're back to standing.
Kantos keeps Zaycev at a distance using the push kick.
Kantos misses with a head kick.
Zaycev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zaycev.
Vasiliy Zaycev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kantos lands an overhand right.
Kantos explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
An inside leg kick lands from Kantos.
A right-left combo lands from Kantos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaycev shoots for a double leg takedown but Kantos sprawls well. He's pushed Zaycev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zaycev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kantos circles away.
Zaycev is breathing heavily.
Kantos tries a head kick but it misses.
Kantos keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zaycev misses with a takedown
and Kantos counters with a good low kick that Zaycev was not able to check.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kantos.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Zaycev. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zaycev blocks a head kick by Kantos.
A head kick misses from Kantos.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stelio Kantos dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kantos tries a head kick but it misses.
Kantos throws a head kick that misses.
Zaycev has a takedown stuffed.
Zaycev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kantos avoids it really well and circles away.
Kantos moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kantos misses with a low kick.
Stelio Kantos seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kantos feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zaycev's calf.
Zaycev is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Zaycev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kantos counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Zaycev thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasiliy Zaycev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantos misses with a body shot.
Zaycev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stelio Kantos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zaycev shoots in but Kantos avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zaycev checks the leg kick nicely there.
A head kick misses from Kantos.
Zaycev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kantos is fending him off so far but Zaycev persists. Nope, Kantos circles away and we're back to standing.
Kantos slaps away a takedown attempt from Zaycev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zaycev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaycev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kantos counters with a good low kick that Zaycev was not able to check.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kantos lands with an uppercut that bounces Zaycev off the cage and back into rage.
Kantos scores with a kick to the midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice leg kick lands there from Kantos.
Nice body kick there by Kantos.
Zaycev avoids the head kick by Kantos.
Zaycev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kantos counters with a head kick. That will keep Zaycev thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Kantos thumps Zaycev with a low kick.
Zaycev takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantos connects with a solid leg kick.
Kantos buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zaycev moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Zaycev takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kantos throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick from Kantos lands but Zaycev takes it in his stride.
Zaycev shoots in looking for a takedown. Kantos tries to sprawl out of it but Zaycev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kantos manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zaycev avoids the head kick by Kantos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantos throws a head kick that misses.
Zaycev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kantos tries to avoid it but Zaycev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kantos to the ground. Kantos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zaycev really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kantos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zaycev looks for a takedown but Kantos sprawls well.
Kantos lands with a slapping head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zaycev fails with a takedown attempt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kantos.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stelio Kantos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Kantos scores with a leg kick.
Zaycev blocks a head kick by Kantos.
Kantos throws a head kick that half lands.
Horrible takedown by Zaycev or perhaps it was just good defense by Kantos which made him look bad.
Kantos lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Zaycev fails to land the takedown.
A head kick misses from Kantos.
Kantos throws a push kick but Zaycev slaps the foot to one side.
Kantos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantos slaps away a takedown attempt from Zaycev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasiliy Zaycev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zaycev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kantos.

Zaycev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Kantos's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kantos gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Zaycev trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zaycev seems to be working for a kimura but Kantos defends the submission attempt.
Kantos gets full guard.
Zaycev looking to pass the guard.
Zaycev trying to control but Kantos is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantos wants to sweep but no luck.
Zaycev forces his way into half guard.
Zaycev wants to control but Kantos is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zaycev wants to work for an arm triangle but Kantos is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Zaycev is looking for a kimura here.
Vasiliy Zaycev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zaycev stalling away here and it's allowed Kantos to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Stelio Kantos.
I've got Kantos 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stelio Kantos!