PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anton Zanin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Force (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zanin
vs
Force

200 cm
20
273 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Underworld Clothing
GREEN!160

GREEN!160

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anton Zanin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Force!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Force takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Force shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zanin but Zanin pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Force closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Force tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Force fails to land.
Zanin wants to break free but Force has control.
Force goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Force.
Force lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Force lands a hook that snaps the head of Zanin backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Force has a couple of punches blocked by Zanin.
Force misses with a hook to the ribs.
Force lands with a short shot to the head.
I was talking to Zanin's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Force swings wildly with an uppercut but Zanin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Force digs a right hand underneath Zanin's ribcage. Zanin let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Force misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zanin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Force scores with a nice short uppercut.
Force content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Force tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zanin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Force fails to land.
Force lands with a left to the head.
Zanin blocks an uppercut.
Zanin blocks an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Force.
Zanin prevents a body shot from Force.
A shot in the inside from Force.
Force misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanin is trying to force a seperation but Force has the dominant position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zanin.
Force tries for a takedown. No joy.
Force is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Force working aggressively here.
A nice left hand lands by Force.
Force throws a punch but it's blocked by Zanin.
Force tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Force.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Force misses with the head strike.
Force misses with some punches.
Zanin prevents a body shot from Force.
Force working aggressively here.
Zanin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Force lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Force swings wildly with an uppercut but Zanin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Force misses with a hook to the ribs.
Force manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Force lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Force misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Force lands a hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Anton Zanin has been cut.
Zanin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zanin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Force lands a shot to the body.
Force misses with some punches.
Zanin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Force working aggressively here.
Force lands an uppercut.
Zanin blocking some punches.
A shot in the inside from Force.
Force is stalling here.
Force lands with a right to the head.
Force lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zanin.
Force tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Force creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Force misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Force fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Force throws a punch but it's blocked by Zanin.
Force is pushing Zanin up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Force dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anton Zanin's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zanin tries to keep at a distance but Force has taken the fight into the clinch.
Force throws a head punch that misses.
Force digs a right hand into Zanin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zanin's gas tank.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Force.
Zanin is trying to force a seperation but Force has the dominant position.
Zanin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Force prevents it.
Force goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Force lands a nice uppercut.
Zanin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Force has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A short left from Force.
A head punch on the inside from Force fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Force changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zanin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Zanin misses with a few strikes there.
Nice sprawl there from Force as Zanin shoots in.
Zanin missing with a left hand there. Force was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Force ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zanin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zanin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Nick Force has been cut.

Force gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Come on Force - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Force lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Force works on Zanin's body with a couple of short punches.
Force swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Force.
Force can't find room to land a body shot as Zanin controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zanin.
Force lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Force misses with some punches.
Force has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zanin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Force has clasped his hands together around Zanin's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Force in side control, throwing shots but Zanin defends.
Zanin avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Force.
Force throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Zanin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Force on the ground.
Force in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Force in side control, throwing shots but Zanin defends.
An elbow from Force crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Force scores with punches from side control.
The ground and pound from Force seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Zanin is working to avoid the ground and pound but Force connects with a decent elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Force throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The strikes coming from Force are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Force lands a nice forearm strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The strikes coming from Force are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Force misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Force in side control, throwing shots but Zanin defends.
Zanin takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Force in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Force is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zanin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Force cracks Zanin with a big right hand but Zanin just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Force has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Check out the look on Force's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Force working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Zanin defending against the ground and pound.
Force is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Force showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Zanin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Force has a takedown stuffed.
Force changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zanin tries to avoid it but Force manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zanin to the ground. Zanin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Force fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zanin lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Force dives in for a single leg takedown but Zanin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zanin changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Anton Zanin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Force.
Zanin throws a lazy right hand but Force sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zanin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Force moves into the clinch successfully.
Force lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Force digs a right hand underneath Zanin's ribcage. Zanin let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Force scores with a hook to the body.
Force lands a left hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Force lands a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Force lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zanin backwards.
Force controlling the action here for a moment.
Force working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Zanin blocking some punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Force.
Force lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zanin is looking to break free of the clinch but Force has double underhooks.
Force throws a punch but it's blocked by Zanin.
Force stalling the fight.
Force misses with a hook from the clinch.
Force misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Force fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Force has Zanin pressed against the cage.
Force leaning his opponent against the cage.
Force just leaning against Zanin, taking a breather.
Force misses with a body punch.
Force can't find room to land a body shot as Zanin controls the action.
Force throws a punch but it's blocked by Zanin.
Force struggles to land a body shot inside as Zanin controls his hands.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Force.
Force lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Force pushes Zanin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Force throws a punch but it's blocked by Zanin.
Force tries a body shot but Zanin blocks it.
Force will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zanin up against the cage.
Force is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Anton Zanin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zanin.
Force lands a shoulder strike.
Zanin tries a body shot but Force blocks it.
Zanin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zanin gets underhooks to prevent Force's takedown attempt.
Zanin blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Force lands a left hand.
Force stalling.
Force lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Anton Zanin's cut is getting worse.
Force has a couple of punches blocked by Zanin.
Force lands with a light punch inside.
Force swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Force swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Force misses with the head strike.
Force lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zanin backwards.
Force pushes Zanin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Force lands an uppercut.
Zanin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Force digs a right hand underneath Zanin's ribcage. Zanin let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Force makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Force lands a hook to the side of the head.

Zanin is rocked!

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Force comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Force winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Force!