PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Zrinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Capone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Don Capone was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Zrinski
vs
Capone

185 cm
22
189 lbs
2 - 16 - 0

150 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Knockout power

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 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikola Zrinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Don Capone!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Capone changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zrinski looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Capone in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Capone wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zrinski keeps working.
Capone working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Capone tries to advance to mount but Zrinski denies him.

Capone wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zrinski, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zrinski is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Zrinski is breathing heavily.

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

Capone stands up.

Zrinski gets tackled into the cage by Capone. Capone maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Capone lands a knee to the body.
Capone utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Capone lands a good knee to the midsection. Zrinski won't want to take too many of those.
Capone will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zrinski up against the cage.
Capone is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Capone is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Capone has eaten all the pies!
Zrinski takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Capone stalling the fight.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Don Capone.
Capone has a takedown stuffed.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Capone is defended easily by Zrinski.

Capone moves into range and clinches up with Zrinski.
Zrinski takes a knee to the side of the body.
Capone is struggling to control the position.
The crowd are getting on Capone's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Capone gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Capone is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Capone lands an elbow just above Zrinski 's eye.

It looks like Nikola Zrinski has been cut.
Capone lands a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Capone taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Zrinski is looking to break free of the clinch but Capone has double underhooks.
Capone throws a knee to the head but misses.
Capone is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Capone putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zrinski in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Capone unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zrinski lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Capone lands an elbow just above Zrinski 's eye.
Capone will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zrinski up against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Capone with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Capone dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nikola Zrinski's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Capone fails with the takedown.
Capone shoots in but no luck this time.
Zrinski scores with a head kick. Capone tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Nikola Zrinski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Capone gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zrinski counters with a head kick. That will keep Capone thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Nikola Zrinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Capone.
Capone shoots in but Zrinski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Capone takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Capone gets caught napping as Zrinski dives in and scores a takedown. Capone manages to retain guard.

Capone is looking for a triangle but Zrinski pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Capone had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zrinski defends it easily.
Capone controls Zrinski momentarily but Zrinski frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Capone pushes Zrinski off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Capone fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Capone pushes Zrinski up against the cage in a clinch.
Capone's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Capone scores a nice knee to the body.
Capone displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zrinski up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Capone.
Capone landing knees to the head.
Capone connects with a knee to the head.
Capone has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Capone slowing the pace effectively.
Capone throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zrinski blocks it with crossed arms.
Capone lands a knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zrinski being controlled against the cage.
Capone lands a nice elbow.
Capone connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Capone looking to throw knees to the head but Zrinski is blocking nicely.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Don Capone.
Capone will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Capone moves into the clinch successfully.
Capone with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Capone dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Capone comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Capone's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Zrinski tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Capone smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Capone shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zrinski as he avoids it easily.
Capone shoots in looking for a takedown but Zrinski manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Capone's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Capone closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Capone throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zrinski blocks it with crossed arms.
Zrinski tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Capone smiles and moves away.
Capone fails in his attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Capone shoots in looking for a takedown but Zrinski manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Capone's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Capone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck for Capone with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Capone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nikola Zrinski's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Capone is defended easily by Zrinski.
Zrinski keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Capone shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zrinski defends it nicely.
Nikola Zrinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Capone.

Zrinski changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Capone looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zrinski prevents Capone from escaping the position.
Capone gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Capone wants to control but Zrinski is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Capone is pressing down on Zrinski's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Capone working a defensive guard here.

Zrinski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Capone has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zrinski has managed to get both his arms back between Capone's legs - danger averted.
Zrinski will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zrinski throws a big right hand that misses.
Zrinski postures up.

Capone is looking for a triangle but Zrinski pushes his legs off easily.

Capone wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Capone takes a kick to the side of the head.
Capone moves in looking to clinch but Zrinski pushes him off.

Capone instigates a clinch.
Capone working Zrinski over with knees to the body.
Capone lands a knee to the body.
Zrinski takes a knee to the side of the body.
Capone using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Capone displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zrinski up against the cage.
Capone with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Capone looking to throw knees to the head but Zrinski is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Capone stalling against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Zrinski jumps guard but Capone stands there with Zrinski around his waist. Zrinski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Capone.
Capone putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zrinski in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Zrinski takes a knee to the side of the body.
Capone is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Don Capone.
A head kick misses from Zrinski.
Capone wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Capone shoots in for a takedown but Zrinski shows good takedown defense.
Nikola Zrinski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Capone shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zrinski but Zrinski pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Capone tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zrinski manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Capone shoots in but Zrinski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Capone shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zrinski defends it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Don Capone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Capone landing knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Capone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Capone has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 26:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Capone!