PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Krzysztof Czeplak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alen Zalac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Czeplak comes to the cage accompanied by Do przodu Polsko. Zalac has chosen Survival - Eminem as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Alen Zalac was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Czeplak
vs
Zalac

185 cm
27
210 lbs
5 - 14 - 0

185 cm
26
217 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Krzysztof Czeplak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alen Zalac!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Czeplak lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Zalac shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zalac showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zalac thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Czeplak pushes Zalac off looking to stand but Zalac dives back in and keeps control.
Zalac looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Czeplak works his way to full guard. Good work.
Zalac slips nicely into half guard.
Czeplak has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Zalac sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Czeplak defending well though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zalac throwing shots but Czeplak is blocking nicely.
Czeplak has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zalac is working away from the top position though.
Zalac working Czeplak over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalac working Czeplak over with strikes.
Zalac thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Czeplak is refusing to be controlled, as Zalac sits in half guard.
Czeplak wants to get back to his feet.
Zalac tries to pass the half guard into mount. Czeplak knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Zalac looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Czeplak with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Czeplak keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Czeplak wants to get back to his feet.
Zalac seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zalac is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zalac working the head and body with strikes.
Czeplak won't allow Zalac to pass to mount.
Zalac prevents Czeplak from improving his position.
Czeplak is working hard here to advance position.
Czeplak avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zalac.
Zalac thows a huge punch but Czeplak dodges it nicely.
Czeplak avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zalac.
Zalac throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Zalac is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Czeplak doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zalac.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Czeplak looks like he's trying to stand up.
Zalac missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zalac lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Zalac wants to work for an arm triangle but Czeplak is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zalac frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Czeplak tries to lock up and control but Zalac gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zalac lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Zalac looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Czeplak is looking to improve his position but Zalac isn't that keen on the idea.
Zalac raining down shots from the mount!
Zalac lands a heavy elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zalac landing shots from mount.
Czeplak is looking to improve his position but Zalac isn't that keen on the idea.
A nice elbow there by Zalac.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alen Zalac dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zalac shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Czeplak pinned against the cage. Czeplak gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Czeplak stuffs the takedown attempt from Zalac. Zalac gets slowly back to his feet.

Czeplak gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zalac postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Zalac thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zalac throwing strikes but missing.
Zalac has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Czeplak pushes Zalac off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zalac.
Krzysztof Czeplak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alen Zalac.
Zalac dives in for a single leg takedown but Czeplak sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Czeplak swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Zalac gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Czeplak breaks the clinch.
Zalac takes a jab right on the kisser.
Czeplak uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zalac.
Czeplak connects with a crisp jab.
Sloppy strikes from Zalac. Those never looked like landing.
Good exchange - Czeplak coming out on top.
Czeplak throws a series of punches but Zalac avoids them all with ease.

Czeplak shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Czeplak has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zalac is proving hard to escape from.
Zalac keeping moving, preventing Czeplak from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalac wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Czeplak trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zalac's guard.
Zalac controls Czeplak momentarily but Czeplak frees himself.
Czeplak trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zalac's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zalac has his hands on Czeplak's head, controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Czeplak drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Czeplak stands up.
Nice takedown defense from Czeplak. No joy for Zalac on that attempt.
Zalac throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Czeplak's waist but Czeplak gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zalac off to one side.
Krzysztof Czeplak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zalac tries for a takedown but Czeplak circles away easily
letting Czeplak counter with a right hand.
Zalac is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalac fails with a takedown attempt.
Zalac takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Czeplak cracks Zalac with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Zalac shoots in looking for a takedown but Czeplak manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zalac's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Czeplak lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Zalac backs up against the cage.
Czeplak lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Czeplak.
Czeplak goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Czeplak scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Czeplak is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Zalac's half guard.
Czeplak keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krzysztof Czeplak dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zalac has a takedown stuffed.
Czeplak lunges at Zalac with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Zalac's hand.
Alen Zalac seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zalac shoots in for a takedown but Czeplak shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zalac will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Krzysztof Czeplak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alen Zalac.
Zalac with a poor takedown
and Czeplak counters with a right hand to the body.
Zalac walks into a left hand.
Czeplak stalks Zalac and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Zalac's face. Zalac staggers backwards, shaken.

Czeplak gets a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Czeplak tries to stand and escape but Zalac is controlling the position.
Zalac takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalac is trying to stand.

Czeplak is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Czeplak escapes and gets back to his feet.
Czeplak misses with a head kick.

Zalac has Czeplak up against the cage in a clinch.
Czeplak gets underhooks to prevent Zalac's takedown attempt.
Czeplak is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zalac can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Czeplak prevents a takedown attempt there.
Czeplak can't break the clinch.
Czeplak scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Zalac prevents Czeplak from breaking the clinch.
Zalac is trying to pull guard but Czeplak has him pressed against the cage.
Czeplak tries to break free but Zalac pushes him back against the cage.
Zalac throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Zalac tries for a takedown. No joy.
Czeplak wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zalac has him pressed against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zalac tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Czeplak smiles and moves away.
Czeplak tries to bum rush Zalac with a series of wild strikes but Zalac uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zalac changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Czeplak gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Czeplak is trying to control. Zalac wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zalac trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Alen Zalac has got the better of the ground game so far.
Czeplak controlling the pace for now.
Zalac is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Czeplak can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zalac is looking to escape.
Czeplak controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zalac can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Krzysztof Czeplak showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Czeplak has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Krzysztof Czeplak!
An out of breath Krzysztof Czeplak thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.