PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boa Link (ranked 23152 p4p, 750 weight class) and Alen Zalac (ranked 21145 p4p, 785 weight class). Link comes into the arena with Peak Times by Switch blaring out of the sound system. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Link
vs
Zalac

200 cm
28
205 lbs
5 - 10 - 0

185 cm
27
210 lbs
4 - 14 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 5 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Boa Link!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alen Zalac!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zalac tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Link swivels and escapes.

Zalac shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Link manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Zalac scores with a body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Zalac. Those never looked like landing.
Zalac throws a leg kick
and Link counters with a solid body kick.
Link lands with a kick to the ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Link throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Zalac's head.
Link turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A good leg kick by Link.
Zalac takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Link throws a nice head kick!
Zalac works over Link's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Boa Link has been cut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Link.
Zalac stuns Link with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Link gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Link scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Link.
Link fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zalac has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Link gets caught flat footed, as Zalac shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Link preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Link will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Link has his foot on Zalac's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zalac works his way back into a safe position though.
Zalac trying to control but Link is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zalac connects with a couple of short punches.

Link kicks Zalac off and gets to his feet.
Link scores with a push kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zalac misses with a left hand

and Link counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Link seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zalac does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Link is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zalac doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Link.

Link 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalac is trying to stand.

Link decides to stand up.
Link misses with a kick to the body
and Zalac cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Zalac shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zalac showed some decent athleticism there.
Zalac lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Link looks like he's trying to stand up.
Zalac prevents Link from improving his position.
Link is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zalac scores with a couple of nice shots.
Zalac lands strikes from half guard.
Zalac scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Link taking some punishment here, with Zalac in his half guard.
Link on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Link manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Zalac keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Zalac has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Link misses with a punch to the body.
Link throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Zalac wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Link breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zalac misses with a double jab

and Link holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Link tries a body shot but Zalac blocks it.
Zalac tries to break free but Link pushes him back against the cage.

Link turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Link manages to end up in side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Link in side control lands a decent elbow.
Zalac prevents Link from moving into mount.
Link is working hard here to advance position.
Link wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zalac keeps working.
Zalac prevents Link from improving position.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Link controls the position.

Link is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zalac is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boa Link dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Boa Link's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Link moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Zalac lands the left hand.
Zalac misses with a hook. Link ducked under it nicely.
Link thinks about countering with a body kick.
Link misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zalac lands with a shot to the body.
Zalac paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Link tries to close the distance and clinch but Zalac swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zalac! But no joy.
Link is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zalac can do to turn this around?

Link gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Link.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hand to the body from Link.
Link tries to break free but Zalac pushes him back against the cage.

Link breaks the clinch.
Link throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalac throws a right and a left that both miss.
Link gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Zalac counter with a right hand.
Link defending well as Zalac loads up on a big left hand.
Zalac moves out of range as Link throws a body kick.
Link lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Zalac manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Link on his heels. He'll look to pass Link's guard now, I'm sure.

Link pushes Zalac off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zalac jabs Link right on the nose. Link blinks but takes it well.
A lazy left from Link finds it's target.
Zalac misses with an uppercut.
A combination from Zalac does no damage.
Link gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zalac.
Link wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Link tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Link fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zalac misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zalac!
Link fails with the takedown
and Zalac counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boa Link. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zalac jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Zalac bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Link's head.
Link closes the distance and clinches up with Zalac, looking for a takedown. Link pushes Zalac against the cage but Zalac circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zalac lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Link checks a low kick from Zalac.
Link shoots for a double leg takedown but Zalac sprawls well. He's pushed Link's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zalac closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Zalac drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Link has gone for a leg lock! Zalac slips out almost immediately though and dives into Link's guard.

Link wants to stand but Zalac is controlling the position.
Link looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Link wants to stand but Zalac is controlling the position.
Zalac must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Link has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zalac off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Zalac cracks Link with a right hand to the side of the head.
Zalac throws a series of strikes that have Link backpedaling.

Zalac closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zalac lands in his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Link working for a triangle but Zalac defends it easily.
Link has momentary wrist control but Zalac slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalac makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zalac scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zalac content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zalac keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Link's head.
Zalac postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Link pushes Zalac off and scrambles back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Link is defended easily by Zalac.
Link throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Link takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alen Zalac showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Boa Link's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zalac throws the kick towards the body but Link avoids it.
Zalac lands with a nice body punch.
Link throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Zalac throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Link counters with a solid body kick.
Zalac goes for a double leg but Link avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Link continues to drive forward.
Link appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Link moves away from the strike by Zalac.
Boa Link is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zalac throws the left hand but Link avoids the punch easily.
Good leg kick by Link there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Zalac scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Link doesn't seem bothered though.
Zalac swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zalac loads up on a big right hand but Link slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zalac looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Link moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Link throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zalac's waist but Zalac gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Link off to one side.
Link is looking to slow Zalac down with leg kicks.
Link throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Link.
A solid body kick from Link.
Zalac looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zalac thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice sprawl there from Zalac as Link shoots in.

Zalac gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zalac's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Link looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Link creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zalac's defenses.
Link tries to score a body lock takedown but Zalac shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boa Link. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zalac is pressed up against the cage. Link has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zalac down to the mat. Zalac avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Zalac jabs at Link's body.
Link shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zalac as he jumps to the side.
Zalac drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Link defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalac pivots, looking for a leg kick but Link is out of range and Zalac settles back down.
Zalac tests Link's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Link shoots in but no luck this time.
Link shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Link tries to move into range but Zalac moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Link turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Zalac shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Zalac is trying to control the action in half guard but Link is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zalac lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zalac scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Link regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zalac slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zalac working over Link with some ground and pound. Link looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zalac working the head and body with strikes.
Zalac looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Link with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Zalac really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Link. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zalac prevents Link from standing back up.

Link has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Zalac is on him like a limpet, forcing Link back against the cage.
Link tries to break free but Zalac pushes him back against the cage.
Link lands an elbow inside that Zalac shrugs off.
Zalac blocks a body shot from Link.
Zalac can't break the clinch.
Link prevents Zalac from breaking the clinch.
Link keeps control of Zalac as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Link doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Link tries to break free but Zalac pushes him back against the cage.
Link gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Link has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Link tries to throw a body punch but Zalac avoids it by throwing Link back against the cage.
Link tries a body shot but Zalac blocks it.
Zalac avoids the elbow strike from Link, against the cage.
Link tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zalac's elbow.
Link misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zalac is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Link works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nice elbow from Link.

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 Boa Link.
I think Link has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alen Zalac!