PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Zlatkov (ranked 8451 p4p, 745 weight class) and Mark Hitman (ranked 25945 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Zlatkov
vs
Hitman

185 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Heavy handed

Annihilation Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Daniel Zlatkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Hitman!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hitman throws a lazy right hand but Zlatkov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zlatkov is looking to counter the offense by Hitman and move into the clinch.

Zlatkov clinches.

Hitman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zlatkov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hitman backs up against the cage.
Hitman shoots in and drives through. Zlatkov sprawls well.
Zlatkov is looking for a counter combo.
Hitman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zlatkov.
Hitman fails with the takedown
and Zlatkov counters with a three punch combo that has Hitman backing up. Hitman nods at Zlatkov to acknowledge the strikes.
Hitman looks winded!
Zlatkov dodges the punch combination from Hitman.
Zlatkov appears to be looking for a big counter.
Zlatkov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hitman.
As Hitman backs away, Zlatkov returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Daniel Zlatkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Hitman.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zlatkov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hitman tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Zlatkov is in Hitman's guard.
Hitman is wriggling around but Zlatkov manages to pass to half guard.

Zlatkov stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Zlatkov lands with a slapping head kick.
Hitman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Zlatkov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hitman is trying to defend but Zlatkov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zlatkov is keen to just control but Hitman is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hitman is trying to stand up here but Zlatkov is controlling him well.

Zlatkov escapes and gets back to his feet.
Zlatkov avoids a kick to the body.
Zlatkov scores with a kick to the body.
Zlatkov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Zlatkov forces Hitman back against the cage and clinches.
Hitman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zlatkov walks away with a smile on his face. Hitman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hitman tries for a takedown but Zlatkov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Zlatkov.

Zlatkov shoots in and bounces Hitman off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Zlatkov stands and steps away. Hitman gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Hitman tries for a takedown but Zlatkov circles away easily
and Zlatkov counters with a one-two to the body.

Zlatkov gets a clinch.
Zlatkov is struggling to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hitman ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hitman no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Zlatkov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hitman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zlatkov manages to get himself to full guard.

Hitman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hitman would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Zlatkov dominated that round.
That's time! Zlatkov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A head kick misses from Hitman.
Zlatkov is looking to counter the offense by Hitman and move into the clinch.
Zlatkov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hitman can do to turn this around?
Zlatkov lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Hitman tries to keep at a distance but Zlatkov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hitman is looking to control Zlatkov's arms but Zlatkov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hitman has his back to the cage.

Zlatkov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Daniel Zlatkov is winning the standup battle so far.

Zlatkov clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hitman taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hitman looking for a takedown.
Hitman is breathing heavily.
Zlatkov stalling against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitman taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Hitman jumps guard.

Zlatkov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Hitman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hitman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Zlatkov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hitman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zlatkov keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zlatkov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hitman wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've been informed that Hitman has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Hitman postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hitman working the ground and pound but Zlatkov is defending the strikes.
Hitman fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Zlatkov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hitman.
A lull in the action here as Hitman stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Hitman 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.
Hitman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zlatkov keeps working.

Hitman decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hitman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hitman throws a wild body kick that Zlatkov sees coming a mile off.
Zlatkov stuffs the takedown attempt from Hitman. Hitman gets slowly back to his feet.
Zlatkov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Daniel Zlatkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Hitman.
Zlatkov scores with a kick to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hitman has a takedown stuffed.
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 Daniel Zlatkov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hitman gets caught napping as Zlatkov dives in and scores a takedown. Hitman manages to retain guard.
Zlatkov trying to move into half guard but instead Hitman has managed to sweep!

Zlatkov looking for a sweep. Not yet Zlatkov, not yet.
Zlatkov seems keen to control Hitman's posture.
Hitman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hitman wants to stand and escape but instead Zlatkov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zlatkov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitman looking for a sweep. Not yet Hitman, not yet.

Zlatkov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Hitman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Hitman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hitman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hitman sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zlatkov controls Hitman momentarily but Hitman frees himself.
Hitman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hitman stays in close to Zlatkov's body and controls the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hitman throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zlatkov sprawls well. Zlatkov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hitman gets slowly back to his feet.

Hitman clinches up with Zlatkov and pushes him back against the cage.
Hitman misses with a body punch.
Hitman tries to land knees in the clinch but Zlatkov avoids the damage to the body.

That's four 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.
Hitman goes for a takedown attempt but Zlatkov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Zlatkov throws a one two combo.
Hitman dives in and grabs Zlatkov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zlatkov pushes down on Hitman's head and hops out.
Daniel Zlatkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Hitman.
Zlatkov throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Hitman throws a low kick but Zlatkov avoids it.
Daniel Zlatkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hitman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zlatkov feinted with a counter takedown.
Mark Hitman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Daniel Zlatkov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Zlatkov has closed the distance and engaged Hitman in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Daniel Zlatkov.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zlatkov, 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Zlatkov!
During a confident post fight interview, Daniel Zlatkov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.