PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alen Zalac (ranked 4249 p4p, 436 weight class) and Franz Fritz (ranked 5061 p4p, 472 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zalac
vs
Fritz

185 cm
25
211 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alen Zalac!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Franz Fritz!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zalac lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Fritz 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 Fritz off to one side.
Zalac is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fritz takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Zalac throws a right hand that Fritz ducks under and follows up with a left that Fritz also avoids with ease.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fritz.
Nice uppercut lands for Zalac. That snapped Fritz's head back.
Zalac connects with a jab.
Some bone on bone action there as Fritz checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zalac throws a head kick that misses.
Zalac wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zalac lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fritz circles away quickly and effectively.
Zalac with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zalac misses with a low kick as Fritz jumps back.

Zalac moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalac is trying to break the clinch but Fritz has him pressed against the cage.
Fritz tries to pull guard but Zalac holds him up against the cage and eventually Fritz drops back down to his feet.
Alen Zalac has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franz Fritz.
Zalac wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fritz has him pressed against the cage.

Fritz jumps guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zalac accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zalac stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fritz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zalac postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zalac throwing strikes from guard but Fritz blocks nicely.
Zalac throws a big right hand that misses.
Zalac looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalac trying to control the position from guard on top but Fritz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zalac throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fritz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zalac has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zalac postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Fritz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zalac is aware though and is defending well.
Zalac trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zalac postures up in Fritz's guard and throws a big left but Fritz blocks it.
Zalac in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zalac trying to control but Fritz is working from the bottom.
Zalac advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fritz trying to control here.
Fritz scores with a few weak punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zalac not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Fritz kicks Zalac off and gets back to his feet.
Zalac swinging wildly here.

Fritz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Zalac tries to kick Fritz off but Fritz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Zalac knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fritz on the ground.

Fritz gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
No joy there for Fritz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zalac's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Zalac duly obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zalac lands the left hand.
Zalac throws out a leg kick but Fritz moves out of range and Zalac only half commits.
A leg kick checked by Zalac.

Fritz throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zalac was covering up waiting for the punch and Fritz finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zalac keeping moving, preventing Fritz from controlling successfully.
Zalac bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fritz's guard.

Zalac with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fritz trying to keep a closed guard but Zalac is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alen Zalac dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zalac lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Fritz doesn't manage to clinch there - Zalac circles away.
Zalac uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Fritz has time to react.
Alen Zalac is winning the standup battle so far.
Zalac lands a jab to the head.
Zalac tries to close the distance and clinch but Fritz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fritz is looking for the big counter here.
Zalac lands an overhand right.
Fritz tries to clinch up.
Fritz shoots in looking for a takedown. Zalac tries to sprawl out of it but Fritz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zalac manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zalac doesn't manage to clinch there - Fritz circles away.
Zalac throws a half hearted mid kick.
Fritz is looking for the big counter here.
Zalac is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fritz can do to turn this around?
Zalac throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fritz's waist but Fritz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zalac off to one side.
Decent striking displayed by Zalac there.
Fritz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zalac throwing a counter right hand but Fritz manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalac connects with a jab.

Fritz closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zalac's guard.
Zalac is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Fritz dives into side control.
Fritz is breathing heavily.

Fritz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zalac is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Fritz cracks Zalac with a big right hand but Zalac just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Zalac is trying to control Fritz's posture but Fritz avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fritz has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Zalac scores with a jab. Fritz acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Zalac lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Fritz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zalac wants to clinch up but Fritz keeps it at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Fritz tries to keep at a distance but Zalac has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zalac drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fritz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zalac lands a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zalac misses with a double jab

and Fritz counters by moving into the clinch.

Fritz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fritz takes one on the button.
Zalac scores with a punch to the head.
Zalac looks to land a combination. Fritz sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Fritz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fritz looks to land a combination but Zalac avoids it well.
Fritz throws a right and a left that both miss.

Zalac closes the distance and clinches.
Fritz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zalac to keep the fight standing.
Alen Zalac has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franz Fritz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fritz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zalac avoiding damage.
Fritz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zalac walks away with a smile on his face. Fritz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zalac tests Fritz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zalac lands a right hook to the body.
Fritz needs to keep his hands up - Zalac had a free shot at his head there.

Zalac clinches with his opponent.

Zalac pulls guard.
Fritz forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alen Zalac dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Zalac.
Zalac smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zalac with a hook.
Zalac bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Fritz's head backwards.
Zalac scores with a jab. Fritz acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Zalac gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fritz is trying to pull guard but Zalac has him pressed against the cage.
Fritz looking for a takedown.

Zalac pulls guard successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fritz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Zalac wants to get back to his feet but Fritz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fritz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Fritz has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Zalac cracks a nice hook into Fritz's ribs.
Nice shot by Zalac.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fritz.
Alen Zalac has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franz Fritz.
Fritz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Fritz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zalac gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalac not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Fritz stands up and waves to Zalac to follow him.

Zalac closes the distance and clinches.

Zalac breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fritz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fritz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Fritz closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fritz lands in his opponent's guard.
Franz Fritz has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zalac scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Zalac shoots in for a takedown but Fritz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A cross from Zalac lands.
Fritz avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Zalac is looking to score with low kicks.
Fritz darts in looking for a takedown but Zalac gets double underhooks and turns Fritz into the cage.
Zalac throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Alen Zalac seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zalac slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Zalac lands a jab-cross combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zalac cracks Fritz with a good jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zalac takes the fight into the clinch.
Fritz is trying to pull guard but Zalac has him pressed against the cage.
Fritz wants a takedown but no success here.
Zalac is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Fritz tries to score a body lock takedown but Zalac shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Zalac fails to pull guard.

Zalac has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fritz uses from the top position.
Fritz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Franz Fritz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alen Zalac is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Fritz postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zalac is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Fritz, into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alen Zalac showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zalac, 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

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