PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Zbigniew Ciosek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Zalachenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zalachenko has chosen Fistfull of Credit Cards as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Alexander Zalachenko enters the ring!

Ciosek
vs
Zalachenko

220 cm
37
277 lbs
17 - 19 - 1

211 cm
33
270 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 19 - 1, fighting out of London, Zbigniew Ciosek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Zalachenko!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ciosek blocks a head kick by Zalachenko.
Ciosek scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zalachenko doesn't seem bothered though.
Ciosek scores with a head kick. Zalachenko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Zalachenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ciosek on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Zalachenko throws a shot from downtown. Ciosek moves away and avoids it.
Ciosek throws a lazy right hand but Zalachenko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zalachenko moves out of range as Ciosek throws a body kick.
Ciosek moves out of range of the strikes.
Zalachenko looks to throw the jab but Ciosek is out of range.
Ciosek walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zalachenko checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zalachenko digs a good body shot into Ciosek's ribs.
Ciosek swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ciosek throws a body shot but no joy.
Zalachenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ciosek moves away.
A head kick misses from Zalachenko.
Zalachenko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ciosek takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ciosek throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zalachenko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ciosek scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ciosek misses the shot to the body.
Ciosek throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ciosek is looking to land body kicks.
Zalachenko lands with a kick to the ribs.
Jab from Ciosek.
A slapping body kick lands there for Zalachenko.
Ciosek takes one to the side of the head.

It looks like Zbigniew Ciosek has been cut.
Zalachenko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ciosek is looking to chop away at Zalachenko's legs.
Alexander Zalachenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zalachenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Zalachenko throws a sloppy head kick and Ciosek moves out of range easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A solid body kick from Ciosek.
Zalachenko blocks the body kick.
Zalachenko misses with a hook. Ciosek ducked under it nicely.
Zalachenko avoids the head kick by Ciosek.
Ciosek misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zalachenko.
Ciosek sizes up Zalachenko with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Zalachenko throws out a leg kick but Ciosek moves out of range and Zalachenko only half commits.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalachenko is looking to clinch but Ciosek is avoiding it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zalachenko. Ciosek does a little dance to reset his feet.

Zalachenko darts in and clinches Ciosek up against the ropes.
Zalachenko utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ciosek managing to block the knees to the body from Zalachenko.
Zalachenko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ciosek.
Ciosek is working Zalachenko over against the ropes.
Zalachenko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Ciosek tries to stall but Zalachenko uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Zalachenko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ciosek has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zalachenko pushes Ciosek back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zalachenko avoiding damage as Ciosek throws knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ciosek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zalachenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zalachenko misses the shot to the body.
Ciosek throws a hook but Zalachenko blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Zalachenko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zbigniew Ciosek's cut.
That's time! Ciosek's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ciosek misses with a low kick.
Zalachenko tries to clinch but Ciosek moves out of range.
Zalachenko swings for the body but Ciosek moves out of range.
Zalachenko throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ciosek.

Ciosek closes the distance and pushes Zalachenko back into the ropes.
Zalachenko tries a knee to the head but Ciosek blocks it.
Zalachenko throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ciosek blocks it with crossed arms.
Zalachenko trying to stall but Ciosek improves his position.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ciosek - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ciosek presses Zalachenko against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ciosek missing with knees to the body.
Ciosek takes a knee to the side of the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zalachenko missing with knees to the body.
Zalachenko avoiding damage as Ciosek throws knees to the body.
Ciosek is trying to maintain a safe position but Zalachenko gets an underhook and turns Ciosek into the ropes.
Ciosek wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zalachenko has him pressed against the ropes.
Ciosek on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalachenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zalachenko tries to land a knee to the head but Ciosek blocks with his arms.
Zalachenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zalachenko tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ciosek avoids it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ciosek putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zalachenko in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ciosek tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zalachenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ciosek with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ciosek is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ciosek putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zalachenko in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Zalachenko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zalachenko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ciosek dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ciosek trying to land knees to the body.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ciosek connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zalachenko looks to land a left hand but Ciosek moved out of range nicely.
Alexander Zalachenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Ciosek closes the distance and pushes Zalachenko back into the ropes.
Ciosek trying to land knees to the body.
Zalachenko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zalachenko unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ciosek blocks a body shot from Zalachenko.
Zalachenko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ciosek throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zalachenko blocks it with crossed arms.
Zalachenko has thrown a lot of knees so far in this fight and we're lead to believe that's something he's been working on the gym prior to this fight.
Ciosek just leaning against Zalachenko, taking a breather.
Zalachenko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

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

Ciosek has closed the distance and engaged Zalachenko in a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zalachenko connects with a knee to the head.
Ciosek missing with knees to the body.
Zalachenko trying to land knees to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Zalachenko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ciosek is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexander Zalachenko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Zbigniew Ciosek's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ciosek connects with a looping right hand.
Ciosek misses with a body kick.
Ciosek misses with a wild body shot.
Zalachenko staying out of range there.

Ciosek moves into the clinch.
Zalachenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ciosek working Zalachenko over with knees to the body.
Zalachenko lands a nice elbow.
Zalachenko misses with a knee strike.
Ciosek lands a nice knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ciosek breaks from the clinch.
Ciosek lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Zalachenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zalachenko throws a hook but Ciosek avoids it easily.
Zalachenko keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ciosek is looking to slow Zalachenko down with leg kicks.
Ciosek misses with a body kick.
Zalachenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ciosek lands a nice looking body shot.
Zbigniew Ciosek is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zalachenko misses with a straight left.
Ciosek lands a glancing blow to the side of Zalachenko's head.
Zalachenko thumps Ciosek with a low kick.
Ciosek throws a nice head kick!
A head kick by Ciosek misses
and Zalachenko counters with a solid body kick.
Zalachenko works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ciosek misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zalachenko.
Ciosek lands a right hook to the body.
Ciosek tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zalachenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Ciosek.
Zalachenko lands with a cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zalachenko, right into the meat.
Alexander Zalachenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zalachenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ciosek avoids a kick to the body.
Zalachenko blocks a head kick by Ciosek.
Ciosek cracks Zalachenko with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ciosek is looking to wear down Zalachenko with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalachenko lands a head shot.
Ciosek is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ciosek misses with a low kick as Zalachenko jumps back.
Ciosek tries to land a front kick but Zalachenko steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Zalachenko connects with a jab.
Zalachenko throws a jab when Ciosek was well out of range.
Zbigniew Ciosek has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
It looks like Ciosek has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Ciosek pushes Zalachenko away with a front kick.
Zalachenko defending well as Ciosek loads up on a big left hand.
Zalachenko connects with a body shot that sends Ciosek's belly button to the back.

Ciosek moves into range and clinches up with Zalachenko.
Zalachenko misses with a knee strike.
Ciosek presses Zalachenko against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zalachenko misses with a knee to the head.
Zalachenko throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zalachenko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zalachenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ciosek tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zbigniew Ciosek showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zalachenko 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alexander Zalachenko!
An intense looking Alexander Zalachenko took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'I am pleased and shocked to have won this fight! Hope I can have some more big fights here in Tokyo.'.