PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tank Shamrock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timur Zolner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Tank Shamrock has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Tank Shamrock seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Shamrock
vs
Zolner

188 cm
22
255 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

199 cm
24
270 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tank Shamrock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Timur Zolner!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zolner misses with an uppercut
and Shamrock cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Timur Zolner has been cut.
Shamrock definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Shamrock misses with a straight left.
Shamrock throws an off balance right hand
and Zolner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shamrock missing with a left hand there. Zolner was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shamrock tests Zolner's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Zolner blocks the leg kick.
Zolner throws a wild body kick that Shamrock sees coming a mile off.
Shamrock fires out a quick counter leg kick but Zolner just manages to avoid it.
Shamrock misses with an uppercut
and Zolner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shamrock ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zolner moves away.
Zolner appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zolner darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shamrock taking some punishment here, with Zolner in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zolner controlling the action here.
Zolner slips a nice elbow through Shamrock's hands, connecting with Shamrock's forehead.
Zolner trying to pass the guard but Shamrock defending well.
Zolner perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Shamrock is trying to maintain the position but Zolner is very close to passing his half guard.
Zolner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zolner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shamrock's head.
Zolner is taking a breather. Shamrock says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Shamrock is defending against the submission attempts here by Zolner.
Shamrock blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zolner.
Shamrock avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zolner.
Zolner trying to control the pace.
Zolner working Shamrock over with strikes.
Shamrock knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zolner on the ground.
Shamrock blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zolner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zolner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Shamrock taking some punishment here, with Zolner in his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shamrock trying to control but Zolner postures up.
Zolner keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Shamrock taking some punishment here, with Zolner in his half guard.
Zolner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Shamrock avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zolner.
Shamrock is trying to stand.
Zolner is controlling the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock throws a poor cross that misses
and Zolner counters with a right hand to the body.
Shamrock swings widly with a right hand
letting Zolner counter with a right hand.
Zolner misses with a body kick.

Zolner drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Shamrock wants to get back to his feet but Zolner passes into half guard.

Zolner not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zolner perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Zolner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Zolner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Timur Zolner's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zolner lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Zolner fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shamrock sprawls well initially but Zolner persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zolner stalling.
Zolner working Shamrock over with strikes.
Shamrock wants to improve his position but Zolner is controlling well.
Shamrock might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shamrock on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zolner in particular looking to stall.
Shamrock on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shamrock tries to get out of the position.
Shamrock avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zolner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zolner not doing much here.
Shamrock looks like he's trying to stand up.
Timur Zolner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zolner throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zolner trying to control the pace.
Zolner lands with a punch from half guard.
Zolner working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Zolner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shamrock defending well though.
Shamrock is looking to control Zolner's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shamrock avoid being mounted?
Shamrock avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zolner.
Zolner content to control rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zolner scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zolner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shamrock.

Zolner moves into the clinch.

Shamrock breaks from the clinch.
Zolner avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zolner is looking for the big counter here.
Tank Shamrock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shamrock misses with a left hand
and Zolner counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Tank Shamrock has been cut.
Shamrock throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shamrock throws a hook to the side of Zolner's head but Zolner sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zolner! But no joy.
Zolner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shamrock.
Shamrock throwing a counter right hand but Zolner manages to avoid it.
Zolner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shamrock swivels and escapes.
Shamrock throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zolner counters with a nice uppercut.
Shamrock misses with a left hand
and Zolner counters with a nice uppercut.
Shamrock is looking to land body kicks.
Zolner let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Zolner is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zolner fails to land with a series of punches.
Shamrock is looking to counter punch.
Shamrock stuns Zolner with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Zolner gets a double leg takedown into Shamrock's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zolner not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Zolner is continuing to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Let's hope that Zolner has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Zolner 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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zolner takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Shamrock gets tackled into the cage by Zolner. Zolner maintains the clinch.
A short left from Shamrock.
Shamrock misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shamrock struggles to land a body shot inside as Zolner controls his hands.
Shamrock swings wildly with an uppercut but Zolner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shamrock avoids a wild elbow strike from Zolner.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zolner goes for a takedown in the clinch but Shamrock prevents it.
Zolner has Shamrock pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shamrock manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Shamrock swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A shot in the inside from Shamrock.
Zolner is pushing Shamrock up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamrock blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zolner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shamrock misses with the head strike.
Zolner changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shamrock fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tank Shamrock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timur Zolner.
Zolner looks to land a left hand but Shamrock moved out of range nicely.
Shamrock ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zolner moves away.
A shot to the liver by Shamrock. Beautiful body shot.
Shamrock throws an off balance right hand
and Shamrock takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zolner bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zolner tries to counter with a clinch but Shamrock shakes him off and moves away.
Shamrock throws a lazy uppercut
and Zolner counters with a nice uppercut.
Zolner smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zolner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tank Shamrock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zolner doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Shamrock throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shamrock scores with a jab to the jaw.
Shamrock circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shamrock lands with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zolner tries to clinch up but Shamrock circles away and keeps his distance.
Zolner has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Zolner uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shamrock.
Zolner let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Zolner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shamrock as he jumps to the side.
Shamrock was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Shamrock misses with a hook. Zolner ducked under it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Zolner on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zolner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shamrock.
Zolner tries a quick counter leg kick but Shamrock is wise to it.
Shamrock throws out a loose jab but Zolner uses good head movement to avoid it.

Zolner instigates a clinch.
Shamrock tries to break free but Zolner pushes him back against the cage.
Shamrock tries a body shot but Zolner blocks it.

Shamrock pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shamrock throws a hook but Zolner avoids it easily.
Zolner counters with a body kick.
Shamrock misses with a right hand
and Zolner counters with a stiff right hand.
Zolner walks into a jab.
Shamrock misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zolner.
Shamrock takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Timur Zolner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zolner takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Shamrock waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zolner.
Shamrock looks to land a left hand but Zolner moved out of range nicely.
A little jabbing left from Zolner on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Zolner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shamrock.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shamrock misses with a body shot.
Zolner scores with a shot to the body.
Shamrock connects with a nice looking jab.

Zolner moves into the clinch successfully.
Shamrock struggles to land a body shot inside as Zolner controls his hands.
Shamrock misses with the head strike.
Shamrock throws a punch but it's blocked by Zolner.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tank Shamrock showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zolner has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

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