PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kimi Iceman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zlatko Zahovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kimi Iceman could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Zlatko Zahovic's chin.

Iceman
vs
Zahovic

171 cm
21
162 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

175 cm
22
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kimi Iceman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zlatko Zahovic!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zahovic dodges the punch combination from Iceman.
Nice straight punches there by Zahovic. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zahovic.
Zahovic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zahovic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Iceman throws a shot from downtown. Zahovic moves away and avoids it.
Sloppy strikes from Zahovic. Those never looked like landing.
Zahovic misses the shot to the body.
Iceman uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zahovic has time to react.

It looks like Zlatko Zahovic has been cut.
Iceman fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zahovic has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Iceman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zlatko Zahovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Iceman fails with a takedown attempt.
Zahovic keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Iceman avoids the body shot from Zahovic.
Zahovic ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Zahovic gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zahovic doesn't manage to clinch there - Iceman circles away.
Iceman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zahovic was well out of range. Poor timing from Iceman.
Zlatko Zahovic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zahovic takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Zahovic wants to clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Iceman 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Iceman tries to clinch there but Zahovic circles away.
Zahovic fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Iceman looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zahovic with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Iceman darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Iceman prevents Zahovic from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iceman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zahovic wants to control but Iceman is keeping busy.
Iceman passes to full mount!
Iceman prevents Zahovic from getting the reversal.
Iceman misses with a head shot.
Zahovic tries to hold on but Iceman pushes him away.
Iceman looking to control and managing it successfully.
Iceman throws some wild stikes that Zahovic manages to avoid easily.
Iceman looking to control but Zahovic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Iceman landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zahovic wants to control but Iceman is having none of it.
Iceman throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Zahovic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zahovic is working to get back to half guard.
Zahovic felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Iceman throws some wild stikes that Zahovic manages to avoid easily.
Iceman throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Zahovic because Iceman loaded up on that one.
Zahovic is wriggling around trying to escape.
Iceman trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zahovic tries to hold on but Iceman pushes him away.
Zahovic regains half guard.

Zahovic looking for submissions off his back.
Iceman is trying to control. Zahovic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Iceman controlling the pace.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zahovic tries to get to full guard but Iceman has control of the leg.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Iceman is trying to control. Zahovic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Zahovic looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zlatko Zahovic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Zlatko Zahovic's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice defenses there by Zahovic.
Zahovic lands a glancing blow to the side of Iceman's head.
Iceman throws a series of punches but Zahovic avoids them all with ease.
Zahovic misses with a two punch combination.
Zlatko Zahovic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Iceman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zahovic throws a shot to the body.
Iceman shoots for a double leg takedown but Zahovic sprawls well. He's pushed Iceman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A head kick misses from Iceman.

Zahovic clinches with his opponent.
Iceman working aggressively here.
Iceman stalling against the cage.
Iceman has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zahovic misses with a hook to the ribs.
Iceman content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zahovic lands a hook that snaps the head of Iceman backwards.
Zahovic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Iceman tries to score a body lock takedown but Zahovic shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kimi Iceman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zahovic misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Iceman is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Zahovic can't fight it off and eventually Iceman manages to take the fight to the floor. Zahovic looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Iceman advances position into side control!
Kimi Iceman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zahovic gets back to half guard.
Iceman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Zahovic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Iceman pulls his head out easily.
Zahovic trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zahovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Well, if Iceman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Zahovic gets back to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Iceman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Iceman throws a big elbow that misses.
Zahovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Zahovic, not yet.
Iceman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Iceman is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Zahovic looking for a guillotine here but Iceman defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zahovic has his foot on Iceman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Iceman works his way back into a safe position though.
Iceman trying to control but Zahovic is working from the bottom.
Zahovic working a defensive guard here.

Zahovic has his foot on Iceman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Iceman works his way back into a safe position though.

Zahovic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Iceman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zahovic is keeping the position for now.

Zahovic is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Iceman is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iceman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Iceman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zahovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Iceman looking to pass the guard.
Zahovic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Iceman won't allow Zahovic to sweep him here.

Zahovic working for a triangle but Iceman defends it easily.
Iceman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zlatko Zahovic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Zlatko Zahovic's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zahovic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Iceman.
Iceman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zahovic swings for the body but Iceman moves out of range.
Iceman shoots in but Zahovic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Iceman wants to clinch.
Iceman tries to close the distance and clinch but Zahovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Iceman moves out of range of the strikes.
Iceman slips a straight right by Zahovic.
Iceman shoots in looking for a takedown. Zahovic tries to sprawl out of it but Iceman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zahovic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jab from Zahovic.
Zahovic walks into a stiff left hand from Iceman.
Zahovic scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Iceman doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Iceman misses.
Iceman misses with a looping left.

Iceman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Iceman is working for a submission of some sort.
Zahovic wants to control but Iceman is keeping busy.
Zahovic tries to get to full guard but Iceman has control of the leg.
Iceman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zahovic is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Iceman is thwarting Zahovic's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iceman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zahovic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Iceman is working away from the top position though.

Iceman is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Zahovic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Iceman pulls his head out easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Iceman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Iceman works his way into side control.
Iceman wants to control but Zahovic is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iceman lands a few punches from side control.
Zahovic is trying to improve his position.
Iceman working the ground and pound but Zahovic is defending the strikes.
Iceman slows the pace down.
Iceman throws a strike aimed at the side of Zahovic's head but Zahovic avoids it well.
Iceman fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Zahovic tries to buck Iceman off but Iceman is having none of it.
Zahovic dodges the ground and pound from Iceman.
Iceman tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Iceman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kimi Iceman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zahovic wants to control but Iceman postures up.
Zahovic avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Iceman.
You can see the frustration on Zahovic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Iceman trying to control the position but Zahovic is working away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zahovic avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Iceman.

Iceman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zahovic has escaped the position, nice work there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kimi Iceman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zahovic has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zlatko Zahovic!
During a confident post fight interview, Zlatko Zahovic thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.