PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henrik Danielsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ted Zanik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zanik has chosen Walk this way as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Danielsson
vs
Zanik

192 cm
27
255 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

220 cm
26
268 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Henrik Danielsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ted Zanik!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zanik scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Zanik thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Danielsson tries to improve position but can't.
Zanik throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Zanik tries to move to mount but Danielsson blocks the move with his legs.
Zanik scoring with punches from side control.
Zanik is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Danielsson is looking for a sweep.
Danielsson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Zanik is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Danielsson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Danielsson is letting Zanik control him for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danielsson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Zanik's best efforts.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Zanik working his ground and pound in the gym.
Danielsson punching from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanik thows a huge punch but Danielsson dodges it nicely.
Zanik thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Danielsson's head.

Danielsson actively working from the bottom here.
Zanik looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Danielsson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Zanik is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Danielsson wants to improve his position but Zanik is controlling well.
Zanik seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Danielsson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zanik is pressing down on Danielsson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Danielsson is holding on for now.
Zanik content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Danielsson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zanik is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Danielsson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Danielsson tries to roll over but Zanik keeps him under control.

Zanik seems to be working for a kimura but Danielsson defends the submission attempt.
Danielsson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Danielsson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zanik defends well.
Zanik wants to pass the guard but Danielsson is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanik trying to control but Danielsson is working from the bottom.
Zanik trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zanik must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zanik preventing the sweep.
Zanik showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Danielsson seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Zanik trying to control the position from guard on top but Danielsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zanik distracts Danielsson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Danielsson looking for a guillotine here but Zanik defends easily.
Zanik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zanik trying to control the position from guard on top but Danielsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zanik controlling from the top position.
Danielsson keeping moving, preventing Zanik from controlling successfully.
Danielsson is trying to keep Zanik in close.
Zanik trying to control but Danielsson is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Danielsson closes the distance and clinches up with Zanik, looking for a takedown. Danielsson pushes Zanik against the cage but Zanik circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zanik shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Zanik was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Who's going to make the next move?
Zanik working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ted Zanik dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fighters circling - Zanik throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Zanik closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Danielsson's guard.

Zanik drops back looking for a leg! Danielsson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Danielsson manages to kick Zanik off! Zanik jumps back into Danielsson's guard.
Zanik wants to control from the top but Danielsson keeps moving.
Zanik looking to pass the guard.

Danielsson is looking for a triangle but Zanik pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danielsson working a defensive guard here.
Danielsson keeping moving, preventing Zanik from controlling successfully.
Danielsson can't keep his opponent in guard - Zanik advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanik tries to pass to full mount but Danielsson defends it.
Danielsson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zanik is working away from the top position though.
Danielsson taking some punishment here, with Zanik in his half guard.
Danielsson is looking to control Zanik's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Danielsson avoid being mounted?
Zanik lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zanik misses with a head shot. Danielsson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Zanik wants to control from the top but Danielsson keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanik in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zanik's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Danielsson working a defensive guard here.

Danielsson has his foot on Zanik's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zanik works his way back into a safe position though.
Zanik's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Danielsson has Zanik pulled in close to control his posture.
Zanik is pushing down on Danielsson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Danielsson is fighting to maintain full guard but Zanik has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danielsson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Zanik wants to pass to mount but Danielsson is defending the position.
Ted Zanik has got the better of the ground game so far.

Danielsson looking for submissions off his back.
Zanik has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Danielsson missing with punches from the bottom.
Zanik trying to control from half guard but Danielsson is working away.
Danielsson taking some punishment here, with Zanik in his half guard.
Zanik trying to control the pace.
Danielsson is not content to let Zanik control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Zanik is looking for a kimura here.
Zanik thows a huge punch but Danielsson dodges it nicely.
Zanik working Danielsson over with strikes.

Danielsson is rocked!
Zanik lands a big elbow - Danielsson is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Zanik!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ted Zanik!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Ted Zanik made sure he mentioned FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!), along with how happy he was to win his fight.