PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joos Frank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Zolnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joos Frank has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Frank
vs
Zolnikov

202 cm
22
138 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joos Frank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alexander Zolnikov!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Winston Alpacca and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Frank!
Frank really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zolnikov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Frank counters by clinching up.
Frank goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zolnikov prevents it.

Zolnikov manages to pull guard.
Frank stays in close to Zolnikov's body and controls the position.
Frank trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zolnikov wants to get back to his feet but Frank is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frank looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Zolnikov wants to stand but Frank is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zolnikov is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Frank postures up in Zolnikov's guard and throws a big left but Zolnikov blocks it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Frank scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Frank prevents Zolnikov from standing back up.
Frank is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Frank works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Frank stalls from top position.
Frank seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Zolnikov for as long as he can get away with.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Frank in side control, throwing shots but Zolnikov defends.
Zolnikov wants to get back to his feet but Frank drags him back down.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Oooooh!!! Zolnikov has knocked Frank down with a huge combo! Zolnikov steps away and waves a wobbly Frank back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Frank is rocked!
Zolnikov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Frank moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Oh Frank is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zolnikov looks winded!
Zolnikov fails to land with a series of punches.
Zolnikov fails to land with a series of punches.
Frank throws a body shot but no joy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zolnikov swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frank lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zolnikov circles away quickly and effectively.
Zolnikov is looking for the big counter here.
Frank misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Frank seems to have got his legs back now.
Zolnikov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Frank moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Frank moves into range and clinches up with Zolnikov.
Frank drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zolnikov gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Frank's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zolnikov looks to land a combination but Frank avoids it well.
Frank goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Frank rushes Zolnikov and presses him up against the cage.

Frank's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Frank is looking to slow Zolnikov down with leg kicks.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
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 Joos Frank will probably get the nod.
That's time! Frank's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zolnikov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
As Zolnikov tries to get set, Frank tries to push him back and clinch up but Zolnikov manages to avoid the attempt.
Joos Frank is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Frank dives in and scores a takedown into Zolnikov's guard.
Zolnikov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Frank manages to pass to side control.
Frank perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Zolnikov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Frank.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frank trying to control the pace.
Frank frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frank controlling from mount.
Zolnikov really wants to buck Frank off and get back to his feet.
Zolnikov is breathing heavily.
Frank sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

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.
Zolnikov is trying to stand.
Frank looking to control and managing it successfully.
Frank will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Frank's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Further stalling from Frank.
Frank looking to finish Zolnikov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Zolnikov!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frank tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant 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.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Frank is stinking the place up with his stalling.
Zolnikov is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Frank controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joos Frank dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Frank darts in and clinches Zolnikov up against the cage.
Zolnikov tries to pull guard but Frank holds him up against the cage and eventually Zolnikov drops back down to his feet.

Frank jumps guard and drags Zolnikov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Frank pushes Zolnikov off and gets back to his feet.
Zolnikov misses with a wild combination.
Frank's corner calls for a 1-2. Frank obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frank thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Zolnikov if he has to take too many more of those.
Zolnikov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Frank moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Frank changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Frank closes the distance and pushes Zolnikov back into the cage.
Frank is working for takedown but Zolnikov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zolnikov tries to pull guard but Frank forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zolnikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zolnikov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Frank pulls his leg out and moves away.
Joos Frank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Zolnikov.
Zolnikov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Frank. Frank obviously looking to wear him down.
Alexander Zolnikov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zolnikov throws a nice looking combination but Frank bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zolnikov throws a right and a left that Frank avoids nicely.
Frank throws a head kick that misses.

Frank shoots in and bounces Zolnikov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Frank gets to his feet - Zolnikov follows without any prompting.
Frank lands with a slapping head kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zolnikov enables Frank to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zolnikov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Frank controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Frank decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A head kick from Frank lands but Zolnikov takes it in his stride.
Zolnikov throws a right and a left that Frank avoids nicely.
Frank feinted with a counter takedown.
Zolnikov takes a kick to the side of the head.

Frank drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Frank passes Zolnikov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zolnikov is trying to stand back up but Frank is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Frank works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frank takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Joos Frank overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joos Frank is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Frank has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Alexander Zolnikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zolnikov wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joos Frank showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Frank, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joos Frank!