PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Slugger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Zikic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zikic has chosen Matt Redman - Blessed Be Your Name as his entrance music. James Zikic will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Slugger
vs
Zikic

190 cm
18
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Slugger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Zikic !
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zikic moves into range and clinches up with Slugger.

Zikic breaks from the clinch.

Zikic moves into the clinch.
Zikic can't break the clinch.

Zikic manages to break the clinch.

Slugger shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zikic manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Slugger sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zikic wants to stand but Slugger is controlling the position.
Slugger slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Zikic wants to stand and escape but Slugger is having none of it.
Slugger has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Slugger not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

We're going to have a standup here because Joe Slugger wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Zikic pushes Slugger up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A frustrated look appears on Zikic 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Zikic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zikic is looking to break free of the clinch but Slugger has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zikic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zikic can't break the clinch.
Zikic wants to break the clinch but can't.
A frustrated look appears on Zikic 's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Zikic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zikic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zikic is trying to break the clinch but Slugger is controlling him.
Zikic wants to break the clinch but can't.

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

Slugger tries to keep at a distance but Zikic has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zikic tries to break free but Slugger pushes him back against the cage.
Slugger keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zikic 's efforts to push away.
Slugger taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zikic 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Zikic has Slugger up against the cage in a clinch.
Slugger controlling the action here for a moment.
Zikic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zikic is trying to push Slugger away but Slugger has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Slugger keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zikic 's efforts to push away.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Slugger takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Zikic tries to break the clinch but Slugger is controlling the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zikic is trying to force a seperation but Slugger has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zikic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zikic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Slugger stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Zikic tries to circle away but Slugger has him pinned against the cage.
Zikic wants to get back to striking at distance but Slugger won't allow it.
Slugger lands a body shot.
Zikic tries to break the clinch but Slugger is controlling the position.
Zikic is trying to force a seperation but Slugger has the dominant position.
Zikic is trying to force a seperation but Slugger has the dominant position.
Zikic has had enough of the clinch but Slugger keeps him there for the moment.
Zikic working hard to break the clinch.
Zikic misses with a punch on the inside.
Zikic wants to get back to striking at distance but Slugger won't allow it.

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

Zikic instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zikic wants to get back to striking at distance but Slugger won't allow it.
Zikic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Slugger turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Zikic struggling a bit here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zikic defending against the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zikic struggling a bit here.
Zikic wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slugger creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Zikic is being controlled here.
Zikic manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Slugger makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Slugger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zikic gets a clinch.

Zikic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Joe Slugger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Zikic closes the distance and pushes Slugger back into the cage.
Zikic is trying to break the clinch but Slugger is controlling him.
Slugger keeps control of Zikic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Slugger has Zikic pressed against the cage, preventing Zikic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Slugger tightens his grip and picks Zikic up, before dumping him to the ground. Zikic manages to land in guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Slugger looking to pass the guard.
Slugger sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Zikic wants to stand but Slugger is controlling the position.
Zikic is trying to keep Slugger in close.
Slugger is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Slugger connects with a looping right hand.
Nice body punch from Slugger.
James Zikic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zikic has Slugger up against the cage in a clinch.
Zikic wants to break free but Slugger has control.

Slugger's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Slugger moves into the clinch successfully.
Zikic has had enough of the clinch but Slugger keeps him there for the moment.
Slugger dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Zikic wants to get back to striking at distance but Slugger won't allow it.
Zikic can't break the clinch.
Slugger has Zikic pressed against the cage, preventing Zikic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zikic tries to break the clinch but Slugger is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zikic can't break the clinch.
Slugger leaning his opponent against the cage.
Slugger gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Zikic is trying to force a seperation but Slugger has the dominant position.
Slugger prevents Zikic from breaking the clinch.

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

Zikic takes the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Slugger has Zikic pressed against the cage.
Zikic is trying to break free.
Zikic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Slugger takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Zikic tries to break free but Slugger pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slugger will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zikic up against the cage.
James Zikic seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zikic has had enough of the clinch but Slugger keeps him there for the moment.
Zikic tries to break the clinch but Slugger is controlling the position.
Zikic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Zikic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Slugger wants a takedown.
Zikic wants to break free but Slugger has control.
Slugger keeps control of Zikic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Slugger goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zikic prevents it.
Zikic is looking to break free of the clinch but Slugger has double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Zikic 's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slugger is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zikic pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Slugger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zikic working hard to break the clinch.
Slugger scores with a nice hook to the head.
Zikic tries to break free but Slugger pushes him back against the cage.
Zikic is looking to break free of the clinch but Slugger has double underhooks.
Zikic will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Slugger up against the cage.
Zikic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Slugger prevents Zikic from breaking the clinch.
Slugger'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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zikic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Zikic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Slugger shoots for a double leg takedown but Zikic sprawls well. He's pushed Slugger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Zikic clinches up with Slugger and pushes him back against the cage.
Slugger looking for a takedown.
Zikic wants to break the clinch but can't.
A right hand to the body from Slugger.
Slugger is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zikic wants to get back to striking at distance but Slugger won't allow it.
Zikic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zikic is trying to force a seperation but Slugger has the dominant position.
Zikic tries to break free but Slugger pushes him back against the cage.
Zikic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zikic tries to break the clinch but Slugger is controlling the position.
Slugger has Zikic pressed against the cage, preventing Zikic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Slugger drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zikic gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Slugger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A frustrated look appears on Zikic 's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Slugger breaks the clinch.

Zikic drives through and clinches with Slugger against the cage.
Zikic wants to get back to striking at distance but Slugger won't allow it.
Zikic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

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

Zikic darts in and clinches Slugger up against the cage.
Zikic lands a body shot.
Zikic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zikic tries to break the clinch but Slugger is controlling the position.
Zikic letting Slugger take a breather here.

Zikic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Slugger shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zikic as he jumps to the side.

Zikic clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slugger'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.
Zikic wants to break free but Slugger has control.
Zikic lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Slugger or not.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zikic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Zikic working hard to break the clinch.
Zikic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Slugger keeps control of Zikic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zikic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Slugger is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zikic gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Zikic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Zikic rushes Slugger and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zikic wants to break free but Slugger has control.
Slugger keeps control of Zikic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Slugger keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zikic 's efforts to push away.
Nice body punch from Slugger.
Zikic tries to circle away but Slugger has him pinned against the cage.
Zikic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zikic being controlled against the cage.
Zikic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Slugger throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Zikic wants to get back to striking at distance but Slugger won't allow it.
Zikic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Joe Slugger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zikic manages to break the clinch.
James Zikic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Zikic tries to keep at a distance but Slugger has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zikic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zikic wants to get back to striking at distance but Slugger won't allow it.
Zikic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zikic is trying to push Slugger away but Slugger has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

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

Slugger gets a double leg takedown into Zikic 's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Slugger working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Slugger content to stall in guard here.
Slugger missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slugger stops Zikic from standing up.
James Zikic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Zikic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zikic 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Zikic !
Our winner, James Zikic , made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.