PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vasily Zaytsev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Egeland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zaytsev comes to the cage accompanied by Katyusha. Egeland has chosen Jan Egeland as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zaytsev
vs
Egeland

184 cm
22
190 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

187 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vasily Zaytsev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jan Egeland!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Phil Schofield and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaytsev connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Zaytsev misses with a right hand

and Egeland counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Zaytsev's coaches at The Pit have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Zaytsev wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Egeland is pressing down on Zaytsev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zaytsev is holding on for now.
Egeland looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zaytsev is refusing to be controlled, as Egeland sits in half guard.
Egeland throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zaytsev is staying active underneath Egeland, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zaytsev gets full guard.
Zaytsev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Egeland preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Egeland is looking to control Zaytsev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Egeland avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaytsev trying to pass the guard but Egeland defending well.
Zaytsev wants to stand up but Egeland manages to regain full guard.
Zaytsev wants to stand but Egeland is controlling his posture from full guard.

Egeland looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Egeland seems keen to control Zaytsev's posture.
Zaytsev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zaytsev wants to stand but Egeland has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zaytsev stopping the sweep attempt from Egeland.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Egeland keeping moving, preventing Zaytsev from controlling successfully.
Egeland 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.
Zaytsev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Vasily Zaytsev just wasn't active enough.
Egeland shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zaytsev but Zaytsev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Egeland dives in and grabs Zaytsev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zaytsev pushes down on Egeland's head and hops out.
Zaytsev fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Egeland.
Zaytsev tries to clinch but Egeland is having none of it.
Egeland scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A looping hook to the body misses from Egeland. Zaytsev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zaytsev connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Egeland takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zaytsev misses with a hook. Egeland ducked under it nicely.
Egeland goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Zaytsev closes the distance and clinches.
A nice left hand lands by Zaytsev.
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!
Zaytsev takes a shot to the head.
Egeland misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Egeland misses with a hook to the ribs.
A body shot lands from Egeland.
Egeland trying to land knees to the body.
Zaytsev prevents a body shot from Egeland.
Zaytsev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Egeland misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Zaytsev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Egeland has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Egeland changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zaytsev looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Egeland remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
You can see the frustration on Zaytsev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Egeland wants to control but Zaytsev is keeping him busy.
Egeland throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jan Egeland will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A clash of legs there as Egeland blocks the low kick.
A shot to the body from Egeland misses
and Zaytsev counters with a slapping leg kick.
Egeland keeps the fight on the outside.
Egeland tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Egeland misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaytsev.
Zaytsev throws a jab when Egeland was well out of range.
Zaytsev tries to clinch

and Egeland counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Egeland thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zaytsev's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaytsev is trying to control but can't.
Zaytsev is trying to get back to full guard.
Egeland is thwarting Zaytsev's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaytsev controlling the position well.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Egeland missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Egeland has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Still in half guard, Egeland seems content to control.
Egeland trying to control from Zaytsev's half guard. Zaytsev has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Egeland trying to control but Zaytsev is working from the bottom.
Egeland postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Egeland loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Egeland loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Egeland won't allow Zaytsev to sweep him here.
Egeland throws a strike but Zaytsev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Egeland has a closed guard, preventing Zaytsev from standing up.
Egeland is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Egeland working for a triangle but Zaytsev defends it easily.
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!
Zaytsev wants to get up but he can't break Egeland's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Egeland is looking for a triangle but Zaytsev pushes his legs off easily.
Zaytsev trying to control but Egeland is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaytsev won't allow Egeland to sweep him here.
Zaytsev wanted to stand there but Egeland had control of the position.
Zaytsev preventing the sweep.
Jan Egeland has got the better of the ground game so far.

Egeland has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zaytsev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Egeland is trying to control the position but Zaytsev postures up.
Zaytsev trying to stand up but can't free himself from Egeland's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaytsev wants to stand and escape but instead Egeland has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Egeland trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zaytsev has momentary wrist control but Egeland slips an elbow through the middle.
Egeland with a flurry of punches that miss.
Egeland wants to pass the guard but Zaytsev is keeping the position.
Egeland is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Egeland working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Egeland is looking to work some ground and pound but Zaytsev has wrist control.
Zaytsev 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Egeland showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Egeland looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zaytsev is fending him off so far but Egeland persists. Nope, Zaytsev circles away and we're back to standing.
Zaytsev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Egeland.
Zaytsev is looking to clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Zaytsev. That snapped Egeland's head back.
Vasily Zaytsev is winning the standup battle so far.
Zaytsev misses with a series of wild punches.
Egeland slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Egeland wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
An inside leg kick lands from Egeland.
Egeland swats away the attempt to clinch by Zaytsev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaytsev scores with a jab.
Zaytsev listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Egeland closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zaytsev to the mat! Zaytsev manages to get full guard.
Zaytsev manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Egeland working to try and regain half guard.
Egeland manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Zaytsev tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Egeland wants to control but Zaytsev is keeping busy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaytsev wants to stand but Egeland has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Egeland controlling the position well.
Egeland is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Egeland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Egeland is trying to get back to full guard.
Jan Egeland is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Zaytsev is going to stand back up.
Egeland moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Zaytsev wants to get up but he can't break Egeland's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Egeland is trying to keep Zaytsev in close.
Zaytsev wants to stand and escape but instead Egeland has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Zaytsev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Egeland wants to improve his position but Zaytsev is controlling well.
Vasily Zaytsev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaytsev is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Egeland keeping moving, preventing Zaytsev from controlling successfully.
Zaytsev would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Egeland working for a triangle but Zaytsev defends it easily.
Zaytsev is looking to work some ground and pound but Egeland has wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Egeland bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zaytsev's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jan Egeland.
I've got Egeland 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jan Egeland!
Jan Egeland seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.