PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Volg Zangief (ranked 4205 p4p, 204 weight class) and DeJuan Carneiro (ranked 3985 p4p, 200 weight class). Zangief comes to the cage accompanied by The wolf's hunt by-WOLFSLAIR. Carneiro is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Cormega - Dead Man Walking. Alexander Volg Zangief is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Volg Zangief
vs
Carneiro

169 cm
20
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
19
139 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Forge Clothing Co.
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alexander Volg Zangief!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, DeJuan Carneiro!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Hugh Johnson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Zangief.
Carneiro moves out of range of the strikes.
Zangief fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Carneiro manages to avoid it.
Zangief has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Alexander Volg Zangief seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carneiro displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zangief throws out the jab.
Carneiro steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Zangief.
Zangief just misses with a punch to the body.

Carneiro shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zangief striking off his back but it's not causing Carneiro any problems.
Carneiro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zangief is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carneiro pushes down on Zangief's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zangief trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carneiro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zangief keeps working.
Zangief trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carneiro wants to free his trapped foot but Zangief is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Carneiro is trying to control the action in half guard but Zangief is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zangief punching from the bottom.
Zangief knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Carneiro on the ground.
Zangief trying to hold on to Carneiro's head to control him but Carneiro postures up.
Zangief is looking to improve his position.
Zangief won't allow Carneiro to pass to mount.
Carneiro keeps trying to improve his position.
Zangief misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zangief throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Carneiro not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Carneiro in particular looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zangief connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Carneiro's hands.
Carneiro takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Zangief uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Zangief misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zangief lands with an uppercut that bounces Carneiro off the cage and back into range.
Carneiro tries to move into range but Zangief moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Zangief cracks Carneiro with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Carneiro closes the distance and pushes Zangief back into the cage.
Zangief softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carneiro throws a head punch that misses.
Carneiro throws a head punch that misses.
Carneiro lands with a right to the head.

Zangief gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Carneiro is concentrating on defense, preventing Zangief from advancing position.
Carneiro manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zangief throws a big right hand that misses.
Carneiro is controlling Zangief's posture.
Zangief loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zangief throwing strikes but missing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Carneiro is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carneiro's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Carneiro stopping the sweep attempt from Zangief.
Carneiro wants to control from the top but Zangief keeps moving.
Carneiro postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Carneiro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zangief keeping moving, preventing Carneiro from controlling successfully.
Carneiro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zangief keeping moving, preventing Carneiro from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Volg Zangief dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zangief is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Carneiro.
Carneiro throws out a counter right but Zangief avoids it with no problem.

Carneiro moves into the clinch.

Zangief turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
You can see the frustration on Carneiro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Carneiro holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Carneiro regains half guard.
Carneiro holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Carneiro trying to control but Zangief postures up.
Carneiro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zangief.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zangief missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Carneiro makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Carneiro.
Carneiro controlling the position.
Carneiro tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zangief throws a big right hand that misses.
Carneiro looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Let's hope that Carneiro 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Carneiro is on top in guard.

Carneiro engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Zangief is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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.

Zangief throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Carneiro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zangief works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Carneiro passes Zangief's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zangief missing with punches from the bottom.
Carneiro prevents Zangief from improving his position.
Carneiro content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Carneiro works his way into side control.
DeJuan Carneiro has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carneiro lands a few punches from side control.
Carneiro working the ground and pound.
Zangief is looking to regain half guard here but Carneiro keeps moving and retains side control.
Carneiro tries to move to mount but Zangief blocks the move with his legs.
Carneiro trying to control the position but Zangief is working away.
Carneiro misses with the ground and pound.
Carneiro is chipping away with strikes.
Zangief gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Carneiro seems content to control.

Carneiro is working for a submission of some sort.
Carneiro trying to control from half guard but Zangief is working away.
Carneiro working Zangief over with strikes.
Carneiro lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Carneiro works his way into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zangief prevents Carneiro from improving position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DeJuan Carneiro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zangief just misses with a punch to the body.
Carneiro moves out of range as Zangief strikes.
Carneiro moves out of range as Zangief strikes.
Carneiro drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Zangief defends it well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carneiro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zangief was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Zangief misses with a straight right.
Zangief misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Carneiro.
Zangief throws an off balance right hand
and Carneiro counters with a nice body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carneiro clinches up with Zangief and pushes him back against the cage.
Carneiro lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Zangief is trying to trip Carneiro. He has hold of a leg but Carneiro is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Zangief persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Carneiro wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zangief in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zangief with a flurry of punches that miss.
Carneiro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zangief in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zangief accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Carneiro holds on and takes a little breather.
Zangief wants to control from the top but Carneiro keeps moving.
Zangief preventing the sweep.
Carneiro is controlling Zangief's posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Carneiro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carneiro content to control rather than advance.
Carneiro prevents Zangief from improving his position.
Carneiro controlling the pace.

Zangief is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carneiro pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carneiro trying to control from half guard but Zangief is working away.
Carneiro frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Carneiro controlling the position easily from mount.
Zangief is in all sorts of trouble here.
The referee warns Zangief that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Carneiro sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Carneiro cracks Zangief with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zangief tries to hold on but Carneiro postures up.
Carneiro punishing his opponent with strikes.
Zangief throwing hammer fists to the chest of Carneiro. What's that going to do exactly?
Carneiro lands a heavy elbow.
Carneiro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zangief is looking to escape.
Carneiro with the ground and pound from mount.

Zangief is rocked!
Carneiro trying to control but Zangief is having none of it.
Carneiro scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Zangief?
Oh Zangief is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carneiro lands a couple of good shots and Zangief has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Carneiro has good solid back control here.
Zangief wants to escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
DeJuan Carneiro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carneiro 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... DeJuan Carneiro!
DeJuan Carneiro seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
In defeat, Alexander Volg Zangief stepped up to the mic, saying 'Lucky BS I vant rematch...'.