PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Alexander Zalachenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bjarno Lackenmeier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zalachenko comes to the ring accompanied by Fistfull of Credit Cards. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zalachenko
vs
Lackenmeier

211 cm
34
270 lbs
18 - 14 - 0

188 cm
36
243 lbs
15 - 7 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Zalachenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Bjarno Lackenmeier!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lackenmeier clinches up with Zalachenko and pushes him back against the ropes.
Lackenmeier gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zalachenko lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Bjarno Lackenmeier has been cut.
Lackenmeier takes a knee to the side of the body.
Zalachenko blocks an elbow strike from Lackenmeier.
Lackenmeier cracks Zalachenko with a nice body shot.
Lackenmeier blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lackenmeier takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lackenmeier throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Zalachenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zalachenko is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lackenmeier is keeping busy.
Lackenmeier lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Zalachenko managing to block the knees to the body from Lackenmeier.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Lackenmeier tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zalachenko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lackenmeier has Zalachenko pushed against the ropes.
Zalachenko misses with some punches.
Lackenmeier looking to stall.
Lackenmeier is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zalachenko is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lackenmeier on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zalachenko lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lackenmeier backwards.
Lackenmeier pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Zalachenko misses with a knee strike.
Lackenmeier tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lackenmeier tries to land knees in the clinch but Zalachenko avoids the damage to the body.
Zalachenko landing knees to the head.
Zalachenko looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zalachenko misses with a knee strike.
Zalachenko is trying to maintain a safe position but Lackenmeier gets an underhook and turns Zalachenko into the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zalachenko.
Lackenmeier avoiding damage as Zalachenko throws knees to the body.
Zalachenko throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lackenmeier blocks it with crossed arms.
Zalachenko tries to land a knee to the head but Lackenmeier blocks with his arms.
Lackenmeier using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zalachenko wants to stall.
Lackenmeier wants to stall.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lackenmeier.
Zalachenko is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lackenmeier with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lackenmeier effectively controlling the action here.
Zalachenko stalling in the clinch but Lackenmeier improves position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lackenmeier obliges.
Lackenmeier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zalachenko's defenses.
Lackenmeier utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Lackenmeier tries a knee to the head but Zalachenko blocks it.
Lackenmeier trying to land knees to the body.
Lackenmeier connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zalachenko's face.
Lackenmeier lands a knee to the body.
Lackenmeier tries to land a knee to the head but Zalachenko blocks with his arms.
Lackenmeier working Zalachenko over with knees to the body.
Lackenmeier working Zalachenko over with knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lackenmeier lands a damaging elbow.
Lackenmeier lands an elbow inside.
Lackenmeier slows down the pace here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zalachenko throws a sloppy head kick and Lackenmeier moves out of range easily.

Lackenmeier clinches with his opponent.
Lackenmeier missing with knees to the body.
Lackenmeier is trying to stall.
Nice elbow from Zalachenko.
Lackenmeier throws an elbow that misses.
Zalachenko prevents a body shot from Lackenmeier.
Zalachenko lands a knee to the head.
Zalachenko tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lackenmeier avoids it.
Lackenmeier misses with a knee strike.
Lackenmeier scores with a knee to the head.
Zalachenko throws a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for Lackenmeier to work.
Lackenmeier avoiding damage as Zalachenko throws knees to the body.
Zalachenko misses with a body punch.
Zalachenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lackenmeier is struggling to control the position.
Lackenmeier looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalachenko missing with knees to the body.
Lackenmeier stalls.
Zalachenko trying to land knees to the body.
Lackenmeier is trying to maintain a safe position but Zalachenko gets an underhook and turns Lackenmeier into the ropes.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Bjarno Lackenmeier.

Lackenmeier rushes Zalachenko and presses him up against the ropes.
Lackenmeier throws an elbow but it misses.
Zalachenko lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lackenmeier.
Lackenmeier is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zalachenko is defending well for now.
Stalling in the clinch from Lackenmeier.
Zalachenko lands an elbow inside that Lackenmeier shrugs off.
Zalachenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice elbow from Zalachenko.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalachenko putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Lackenmeier in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Lackenmeier is breathing heavily.
Zalachenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zalachenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lackenmeier throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Zalachenko creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lackenmeier's defenses.

That has opened up Bjarno Lackenmeier's cut even more.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Lackenmeier. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zalachenko tries to land a knee to the head but Lackenmeier blocks with his arms.
Lackenmeier has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lackenmeier takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lackenmeier looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zalachenko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zalachenko lands a nice uppercut.
Zalachenko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lackenmeier.
Zalachenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zalachenko missing with knees to the body.
Zalachenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lackenmeier missing with knees to the body.
Zalachenko letting Lackenmeier take a breather here.
Zalachenko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lackenmeier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Zalachenko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bjarno Lackenmeier's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zalachenko throws a leg kick but Lackenmeier checks it.
Zalachenko connects with an inside leg kick.
Good leg kick by Zalachenko there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Lackenmeier darts in and clinches Zalachenko up against the ropes.
Stalling in the clinch from Lackenmeier.
Lackenmeier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zalachenko's defenses.
Zalachenko lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees in the clinch landing for Lackenmeier.
Zalachenko missing with knees to the body.
Lackenmeier slows down the pace here.
Zalachenko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lackenmeier landing knees to the head.
Zalachenko is looking to control Lackenmeier's arms but Lackenmeier gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zalachenko has his back to the ropes.
Lackenmeier tries to land knees in the clinch but Zalachenko avoids the damage to the body.
Lackenmeier landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lackenmeier avoiding damage as Zalachenko throws knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lackenmeier lands an elbow just above Zalachenko 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalachenko blocks an elbow strike.
Zalachenko missing with knees to the body.
Zalachenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lackenmeier scores a nice knee to the body.
Lackenmeier lands an elbow inside that Zalachenko shrugs off.
Lackenmeier with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lackenmeier as Zalachenko tries to tie him up.
A knee to the head by Lackenmeier.
Zalachenko connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lackenmeier's face.
Lackenmeier lands a nice knee to the body.
Lackenmeier stalls.
Lackenmeier lands a nice knee to the body.
Lackenmeier crunches a lovely knee into Zalachenko's ribcage.
Lackenmeier lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lackenmeier is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lackenmeier.
Lackenmeier lands a nice elbow.
Lackenmeier lands a shot to the body.
Lackenmeier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zalachenko avoids it.
Bjarno Lackenmeier seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zalachenko trying to land knees to the body.
Lackenmeier unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zalachenko lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lackenmeier obliges.
Lackenmeier lands a damaging elbow.
Lackenmeier landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Lackenmeier lands a shot to the body.
Lackenmeier landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Lackenmeier lands a damaging elbow.
Lackenmeier leaning his opponent against the ropes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lackenmeier gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lackenmeier utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Lackenmeier stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bjarno Lackenmeier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lackenmeier 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bjarno Lackenmeier!
After winning the bout, Bjarno Lackenmeier thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Alexander Zalachenko was interviewed post fight and said 'I wish I hadn't spent the night with a Thai prostitute ... not making excuses here but that girl was willing to do some crazy stuff and I had to try everything she offered ... '.