PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sahko Zelenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Protagonist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Protagonist has chosen Teenage Bottlerocket - Bigger Than Kiss as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Zelenko
vs
Protagonist

180 cm
26
185 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

183 cm
40
195 lbs
36 - 17 - 1

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sahko Zelenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Hiro Protagonist!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Protagonist throws a front kick that sends Zelenko stumbling back into the cage.
Zelenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Protagonist counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Zelenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Protagonist counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zelenko steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Protagonist. That one must have hurt.
Zelenko is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from Protagonist finds it's way through Zelenko's defenses.
Protagonist throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Protagonist takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Protagonist.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Protagonist. Zelenko shrugs it off though.
Zelenko gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Protagonist connects with a body shot.

Protagonist throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Zelenko tumbling to the canvas!

Zelenko is rocked!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Protagonist in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Oh Zelenko is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Protagonist sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Zelenko seems to have got his legs back now.
Protagonist forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Protagonist thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Protagonist perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Hiro Protagonist has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Zelenko misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist connects with the punch.
Protagonist connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zelenko momentarily.
Zelenko throws a hook but Protagonist avoids it easily.
Zelenko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Protagonist slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Protagonist jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Protagonist wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Protagonist lands a nice looking kick to the body. Zelenko takes a step back to recover.
Zelenko falls off balance throwing a combination
and Protagonist counters with a nice body kick.
Protagonist lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Zelenko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Zelenko will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
The fighters circle, before Protagonist throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Zelenko's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! Protagonist lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Hiro Protagonist!
An out of breath Hiro Protagonist thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.