PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Medi Klassen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zorko Mlaticka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Klassen
vs
Mlaticka

186 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Medi Klassen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zorko Mlaticka!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Klassen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mlaticka's head.

Mlaticka gets a takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Klassen punching from the bottom.
Klassen trying to control here.
Mlaticka wants to take a breather but Klassen is having none of it.
Mlaticka content to control rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mlaticka tries to pass the half guard into mount. Klassen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mlaticka content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klassen tries to get to full guard but Mlaticka has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Klassen is trying to maintain the position but Mlaticka is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Klassen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Klassen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mlaticka counters with a left and a right that stings Klassen.

Klassen tries to sprawl but Mlaticka drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mlaticka looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Mlaticka passes to side control.
Mlaticka throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Klassen is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Mlaticka is looking to take a break and control but Klassen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mlaticka lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Klassen down.
Mlaticka lands some shots froms side control.
A lull in the action here.
Mlaticka lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Klassen down.
Mlaticka controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mlaticka lands some shots froms side control.
Klassen taking punishment in the form of punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Klassen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Mlaticka working the ground and pound.
Mlaticka is looking to take a break and control but Klassen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zorko Mlaticka dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mlaticka gets a takedown into half guard.

Klassen manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Mlaticka keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Mlaticka has Klassen pressed against the cage, preventing Klassen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mlaticka looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mlaticka pulls guard.
Mlaticka working a defensive guard here.
Klassen preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klassen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Klassen stopping the sweep attempt from Mlaticka.
Klassen trying to control but Mlaticka is working from the bottom.
Mlaticka is pulling down on Klassen's head to control his posture.
Mlaticka wants to stand up but Klassen is controlling him.

Mlaticka has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Klassen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Klassen wants to control from the top but Mlaticka keeps moving.

That's two 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.

Klassen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Klassen shoots in looking for a takedown but Mlaticka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Klassen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Mlaticka gets a double leg takedown into Klassen's guard.
Klassen is wriggling around but Mlaticka manages to pass to half guard.

Mlaticka is looking to take a break and control but Klassen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Mlaticka stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mlaticka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Klassen!

Klassen throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Klassen doesn't manage to clinch there - Mlaticka circles away.
Mlaticka tries to counter by closing the distance.
Mlaticka shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Klassen pinned against the cage. Klassen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mlaticka.
Klassen tried to counter with a leg kick but Mlaticka avoided it.
Medi Klassen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klassen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Klassen shoots in for a takedown but Mlaticka shows good takedown defense.
No luck for Klassen with that takedown attempt.
Mlaticka wants to counter with a clinch but Klassen pushes him away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Medi Klassen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Klassen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mlaticka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mlaticka tries for a takedown but Klassen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mlaticka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mlaticka keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Medi Klassen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Klassen shoots in looking for a takedown. Mlaticka tries to sprawl out of it but Klassen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mlaticka manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mlaticka.

Mlaticka tries for a kimura but Klassen is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Klassen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Zorko Mlaticka has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mlaticka is trying to control. Klassen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Klassen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Mlaticka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Klassen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Klassen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mlaticka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Klassen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mlaticka is trying to control. Klassen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mlaticka working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Mlaticka working the head and body with strikes.

Mlaticka is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Klassen is not content to let Mlaticka control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Mlaticka seems content to control.
Klassen is trying is best to control the position here.
Klassen has hold of Mlaticka's hands but Mlaticka slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Mlaticka with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Klassen is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mlaticka wants to pass to mount but Klassen is defending the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Medi Klassen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Klassen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mlaticka counters with a leg kick.
Klassen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mlaticka as he avoids it easily.
Klassen sets himself, and Mlaticka steps forward looking for the clinch! Klassen avoids it this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Medi Klassen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mlaticka closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mlaticka lands in his opponent's guard.
Klassen wants to get back to his feet but Mlaticka passes into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mlaticka connects with a nice short shot to Klassen's temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zorko Mlaticka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mlaticka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zorko Mlaticka!