PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sami Vatanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ales Zhandunka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vatanen comes to the cage accompanied by Kalmah - Heros to Us. 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.

Vatanen
vs
Zhandunka

200 cm
20
300 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

220 cm
49
291 lbs
47 - 30 - 0

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sami Vatanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 47 - 30 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ales Zhandunka!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vatanen throws a body shot but no joy.
Vatanen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Vatanen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at LOD: Contenders in the buildup to the fight.
Vatanen throws a right and a left that Zhandunka avoids nicely.
Vatanen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Zhandunka clinches with his opponent.
Zhandunka lands with a left to the head.
Zhandunka is looking to break free of the clinch but Vatanen has double underhooks.

Zhandunka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Vatanen. Those never looked like landing.
Zhandunka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vatanen.
Vatanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Vatanen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Zhandunka counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Sami Vatanen has been cut.
Zhandunka throws a body punch but Vatanen moves out of range.
Zhandunka cracks Vatanen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Zhandunka punishes Vatanen's body with a nice straight punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhandunka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatanen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zhandunka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vatanen tries to clinch up but Zhandunka circles away and keeps his distance.
Vatanen misses with a looping left.
Zhandunka fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Vatanen on the side of the head.
Vatanen tries to close the distance and clinch but Zhandunka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zhandunka is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Vatanen throws a big shot that misses.
Vatanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zhandunka misses with a double jab.
Vatanen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Vatanen misses with a straight right.

Vatanen forces Zhandunka back against the cage and clinches.
Zhandunka is trying to push Vatanen away but Vatanen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Vatanen lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Ales Zhandunka has been cut.

Zhandunka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zhandunka swats away the attempt to clinch by Vatanen.
Vatanen darts in trying to clinch
and Zhandunka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vatanen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhandunka lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zhandunka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Vatanen tries to land knees in the clinch but Zhandunka avoids the damage to the body.
Vatanen tries to throw a body punch but Zhandunka avoids it by throwing Vatanen back against the cage.
Zhandunka lands a left hand that snaps the head of Vatanen backwards.
Vatanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zhandunka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zhandunka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zhandunka tries to break the clinch but Vatanen is controlling the position.
Vatanen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zhandunka's efforts to push away.
Zhandunka lands a left hand.
Vatanen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka is trying to break free.
Zhandunka wants to break free but Vatanen has control.
Vatanen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zhandunka backwards.

Zhandunka breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen throws a series of punches but Zhandunka avoids them all with ease.

Zhandunka clinches up with Vatanen and pushes him back against the cage.

Zhandunka breaks the clinch.
Vatanen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zhandunkas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Zhandunka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Vatanen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Vatanen instigates a clinch.
Zhandunka wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vatanen tries to land a knee to the head but Zhandunka blocks with his arms.
Zhandunka has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Zhandunka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vatanen tries to clinch up.
A big right from Zhandunka misses.
Vatanen is looking to clinch but Zhandunka is avoiding it.
Vatanen is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Zhandunka's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Vatanen wants to clinch but Zhandunka slips to the side
and Zhandunka counters with a two punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Vatanen forces Zhandunka back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen misses with a knee to the head.
Zhandunka on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Zhandunka breaks the clinch.
Zhandunka misses with a hook. Vatanen ducked under it nicely.
Zhandunka has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Vatanen scores with a jab to the head.
Vatanen lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Vatanen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Decent striking displayed by Vatanen there.
Vatanen misses with a series of wild punches.
Zhandunka is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Vatanen lands the left hand.
Vatanen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sami Vatanen will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vatanen scores with a nice right hand.
Vatanen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zhandunka counters with a nice body shot.
Zhandunka fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vatanen connects with a jab.
A slow jab from Vatanen misses its intended target.
Vatanen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zhandunka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vatanen closes the distance but Zhandunka moves to the side
and Zhandunka counters with a nice body shot.
Vatanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhandunka manages to avoid it.
Zhandunka blocks a jab.
Vatanen tries to clinch but Zhandunka moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhandunka swats away the attempt to clinch by Vatanen.
Vatanen throws a sloppy body shot
and Zhandunka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zhandunka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vatanen.
Vatanen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zhandunka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhandunka swats away the attempt to clinch by Vatanen.
Zhandunka takes a swing at Vatanen's ribcage but misses.
Zhandunka swats away the attempt to clinch by Vatanen.

Zhandunka moves into the clinch.
Zhandunka blocks a body shot from Vatanen.
Zhandunka takes a knee right on the jaw!
Vatanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zhandunka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zhandunka managing to block the knees to the body from Vatanen.
Zhandunka throws a punch but it's blocked by Vatanen.
Vatanen tries to land knees in the clinch but Zhandunka avoids the damage to the body.
A short left from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Zhandunka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vatanen tries to close the distance and clinch but Zhandunka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vatanen.
Vatanen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zhandunka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vatanen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zhandunka scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zhandunka jabs at Vatanen's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhandunka darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Zhandunka connects with a right hand. Vatanen shakes it off.
Vatanen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ales Zhandunka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Vatanen!

Vatanen gets a clinch.
Vatanen looking to throw knees to the head but Zhandunka is blocking nicely.
Vatanen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zhandunka.

Zhandunka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Vatanen rushes Zhandunka and presses him up against the cage.
Sami Vatanen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Still in the clinch, Zhandunka scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zhandunka is defending well for now.
Vatanen lands a nice knee to the body.
Zhandunka digs a right hand into Vatanen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Vatanen's gas tank.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vatanen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Zhandunka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zhandunka just misses with a punch to the body.
Vatanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vatanen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Zhandunka counters with a left to the body.
Zhandunka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vatanen.
A countering left hand to the body from Zhandunka misses.

Vatanen instigates a clinch.
Vatanen misses with a knee strike.
Zhandunka wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vatanen struggles to land a body shot inside as Zhandunka controls his hands.
Nice body punch from Zhandunka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka tries a body shot but Vatanen blocks it.
Zhandunka scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Zhandunka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zhandunka fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zhandunka uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhandunka bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Vatanen's head.
Zhandunka lands a jab to Vatanen's midsection.

Vatanen moves into the clinch successfully.

Zhandunka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zhandunka connects with a looping right hand.
Vatanen throws a body shot but no joy.
Vatanen looks to clinch
and Zhandunka counters with a one-two to the body.
A shot to the body from Vatanen misses
enabling Zhandunka to counter with a crisp jab.
Vatanen walks into a straight right hand from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ales Zhandunka 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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Vatanen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Vatanen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zhandunka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zhandunka misses with a body shot.
Zhandunka slips under a jab.
Vatanen doesn't manage to clinch there - Zhandunka circles away.
Zhandunka blocks a jab.
Vatanen doesn't manage to clinch there - Zhandunka circles away.
Vatanen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhandunka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vatanen.
Vatanen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vatanen misses with a shot to the body
enabling Zhandunka to counter with a crisp jab.
Vatanen is looking to clinch but Zhandunka is avoiding it.
Vatanen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zhandunka.
Zhandunka appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatanen is looking to clinch.
Zhandunka misses with a body shot.

Vatanen takes the fight into the clinch.
Zhandunka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Zhandunka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zhandunka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sami Vatanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhandunka lands a nice hook to Vatanen's body. Vatanen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vatanen tries to clinch there but Zhandunka circles away.
A big left from Vatanen misses.
Zhandunka is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Zhandunka moves into range and connects with a jab.

Sami Vatanen's cut is getting worse.
Zhandunka scores with a jab to the body.
A slow jab from Vatanen misses its intended target.
Vatanen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Zhandunka lands a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vatanen gets tackled into the cage by Zhandunka. Zhandunka maintains the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A body shot lands from Zhandunka.

Zhandunka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zhandunka keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Vatanen throws a right hand that misses
and Zhandunka counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Vatanen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Vatanen is rocked!
Vatanen looks up at the clock. Bad move! Zhandunka lands a right hand from hell, dropping Vatanen. Zhandunka pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ales Zhandunka!
Ales Zhandunka thanked the fans post fight for their support.