PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mathias Alm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zinaid Zinaidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alm comes to the cage accompanied by Rise Against - Give It All. Mathias Alm looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Alm
vs
Zinaidov

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mathias Alm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zinaid Zinaidov!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alm lands a nice shot that snaps Zinaidov's head back.
Zinaidov fails to land the takedown.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Alm stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Alm wants it to stay on the feet.
Zinaidov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Alm counter with a right hand.
Mathias Alm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zinaid Zinaidov.
Zinaidov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alm swivels and escapes.
Zinaidov tries to clinch but Alm is having none of it.
Zinaidov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Alm defends well and Zinaidov ends up having to push Alm into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Zinaidov manages to pull guard.

Zinaidov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alm can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Alm is in close to Zinaidov's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Zinaidov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Zinaidov 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.
Zinaidov looking for a sweep. Not yet Zinaidov, not yet.
Alm is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Zinaidov wants to sweep here but Alm controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alm lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Alm is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Alm working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zinaidov's head.

Zinaidov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Zinaidov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Alm is aware though and is defending well.
Zinaidov looks winded!

Zinaidov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alm can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alm keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zinaidov's head.

Alm got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zinaidov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Alm has managed to get both his arms back between Zinaidov's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zinaidov has his foot on Alm's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alm works his way back into a safe position though.
Alm lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Zinaidov working for a triangle but Alm defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zinaidov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Alm scoring with some ground and pound.
Zinaidov wants to sweep here but Alm controlling him for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alm scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zinaid Zinaidov will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Alm closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Zinaidov tries to clinch but Alm is having none of it.
Alm lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Zinaidov backs up against the cage.
Mathias Alm is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zinaidov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alm swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zinaidov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Alm circles away.
Zinaidov tries to close the distance and clinch but Alm swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alm lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zinaidov circles away quickly and effectively.
Alm misses with a low kick.
Zinaidov wants to clinch but Alm slips to the side
and Alm connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zinaidov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alm throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alm misses with a double jab.
Zinaidov shoots in but Alm avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zinaidov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Alm counters with a left to the body.
Zinaidov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alm is fending him off so far but Zinaidov persists. Nope, Alm circles away and we're back to standing.
Mathias Alm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zinaid Zinaidov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alm tries a low kick but Zinaidov avoids it.
Alm scores with a jab to the head.
Alm thuds his right hand into Zinaidov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Zinaidov is breathing heavily.
A left and a right from Alm both land. Nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alm scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Zinaidov wants to clinch up but Alm keeps it at a distance.
Mathias Alm is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alm rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zinaidov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zinaidov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alm as he jumps to the side.
Zinaidov walks into a stiff left hand from Alm.
Alm keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zinaidov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Alm counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Alm lands a jab.
Alm avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zinaidov has his takedown stuffed
and Alm counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Left hook, right uppercut from Alm.
Zinaidov walks into a straight right hand from Alm.
Mathias Alm is winning the standup battle so far.
Alm digs a good hook to Zinaidov's body.
It looks like Alm has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alm lands with a nice body punch.
Zinaidov dodges the punch combination from Alm.
A left and a right from Alm both land. Nice combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zinaidov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Alm defends it nicely.
Alm throws a right hand that Zinaidov ducks under and follows up with a left that Zinaidov also avoids with ease.
Sloppy strikes from Alm. Those never looked like landing.

Zinaidov feints and as Alm raises his hands in defense, Zinaidov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zinaidov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zinaidov advances position into side control!

Zinaidov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Alm is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinaidov throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Zinaidov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alm can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zinaidov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Alm, who protects the arm well.
Zinaidov prevents Alm from escaping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zinaidov has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Alm is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Zinaidov yanks on the arm and Alm is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Zinaidov.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Zinaid Zinaidov!
Mathias Alm spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back.'.