PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ziskie (ranked 2028 p4p, 3820 weight class) and Tugsbayar Enkhtulga (ranked 280 p4p, 478 weight class). Tugsbayar Enkhtulga will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ziskie
vs
Enkhtulga

187 cm
30
186
19 - 12 - 1

180 cm
29
185
5 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Urban Fighter
KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Mike Ziskie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tugsbayar Enkhtulga!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Steven Brown and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ziskie clinches.
Ziskie swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ziskie.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ziskie.
Enkhtulga looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Enkhtulga wants to break free but Ziskie has control.
Ziskie throws a punch but it's blocked by Enkhtulga.
Enkhtulga throws a punch but it's blocked by Ziskie.

Enkhtulga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Enkhtulga lands a glancing blow to the side of Ziskie's head.
Ziskie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ziskie throws a big shot that misses.
Some wild striking there from Enkhtulga.
Enkhtulga uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ziskie.

Enkhtulga tries to keep at a distance but Ziskie has taken the fight into the clinch.
Enkhtulga tries a body shot but Ziskie blocks it.
Enkhtulga blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Enkhtulga is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ziskie is defending well for now.
Enkhtulga looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ziskie avoiding damage as Enkhtulga throws knees to the body.
Enkhtulga wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ziskie has Enkhtulga pressed against the cage, preventing Enkhtulga from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Enkhtulga blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Enkhtulga throws an elbow but it misses.

Enkhtulga breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've been hearing reports that Ziskie has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Ziskie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Enkhtulga.
Enkhtulga slips a straight right by Ziskie.
Enkhtulga shoots in for a takedown but Ziskie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mike Ziskie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Enkhtulga is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ziskie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ziskie throws a body shot but no joy.
Enkhtulga throws the kick towards the body but Ziskie avoids it.
Ziskie connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ziskie drops his hands momentarily and Enkhtulga takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Enkhtulga swings for the body but Ziskie moves out of range.
A jab from Ziskie does it's job there.
Enkhtulga avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Enkhtulga uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ziskie.
Enkhtulga closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ziskie circles away.
Mike Ziskie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tugsbayar Enkhtulga.

Ziskie closes the distance and clinches.
Enkhtulga tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ziskie avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Enkhtulga manages to break the clinch.
Ziskie takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Enkhtulga takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Enkhtulga bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Enkhtulga now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ziskie drives through and clinches with Enkhtulga against the cage.
Enkhtulga has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Enkhtulga wants to break free but Ziskie has control.
Enkhtulga is trying to break the clinch but Ziskie is controlling him.
Ziskie has Enkhtulga pressed against the cage, preventing Enkhtulga from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ziskie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Enkhtulga is looking to control Ziskie's arms but Ziskie gets an underhook and turns him. Now Enkhtulga has his back to the cage.
Ziskie misses with a punch on the inside.
Enkhtulga tries to break the clinch but Ziskie is controlling the position.
Enkhtulga wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ziskie throws a punch but it's blocked by Enkhtulga.
Enkhtulga wants to break the clinch but can't.
Enkhtulga throws a punch but it's blocked by Ziskie.
Ziskie misses with the head strike.
Still in the clinch, Ziskie scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ziskie misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ziskie lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ziskie lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Enkhtulga blocks an uppercut.
Ziskie misses with some punches.
Ziskie tries to work over Enkhtulga's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ziskie swings wildly with an uppercut but Enkhtulga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ziskie can't find room to land a body shot as Enkhtulga controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziskie avoiding damage as Enkhtulga throws knees to the body.
Ziskie throws a punch but it's blocked by Enkhtulga.
Ziskie working aggressively here.
Enkhtulga blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Enkhtulga tries to break the clinch but Ziskie is controlling the position.
Ziskie misses with a punch on the inside.
Ziskie misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Enkhtulga.
Enkhtulga looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ziskie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Enkhtulga blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ziskie swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ziskie misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ziskie has a couple of punches blocked by Enkhtulga.
Enkhtulga is trying to break free.
A frustrated look appears on Enkhtulga's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Enkhtulga prevents the takedown attempt.
Enkhtulga blocking some punches.
Ziskie misses with a punch on the inside.
Ziskie avoiding damage as Enkhtulga throws knees to the body.
Ziskie has a couple of punches blocked by Enkhtulga.
Enkhtulga is trying to push Ziskie away but Ziskie has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziskie misses with a punch on the inside.
Enkhtulga blocks a body shot from Ziskie.
Ziskie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Enkhtulga blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Enkhtulga.
Ziskie throws a head punch that misses.
Ziskie avoiding damage as Enkhtulga throws knees to the body.
Enkhtulga fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ziskie blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ziskie tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Enkhtulga is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ziskie throws a punch but it's blocked by Enkhtulga.
Ziskie throws a punch but it's blocked by Enkhtulga.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ziskie has a couple of punches blocked by Enkhtulga.
Enkhtulga wants to get back to striking at distance but Ziskie won't allow it.
Ziskie swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ziskie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ziskie misses with some punches.
Enkhtulga is trying to break the clinch but Ziskie has him pressed against the cage.
Enkhtulga blocking some punches.
Ziskie keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Enkhtulga's efforts to push away.
Enkhtulga tries to circle away but Ziskie has him pinned against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Ziskie dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ziskie takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Enkhtulga will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ziskie is looking to counter punch.
Enkhtulga fails to land the takedown.
A big left from Ziskie misses.
Enkhtulga let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Enkhtulga is looking to score with low kicks.
Enkhtulga moves away from the strike by Ziskie.
Enkhtulga now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Ziskie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mike Ziskie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tugsbayar Enkhtulga.
Ziskie throws a right hand that misses
and Enkhtulga counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Enkhtulga misses with a head kick.
Enkhtulga keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ziskie.
Ziskie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ziskie clinches.
Enkhtulga prevents a body shot from Ziskie.
Enkhtulga is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Enkhtulga tries to break the clinch but Ziskie is controlling the position.
Ziskie has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Ziskie misses with the head strike.
Ziskie presses Enkhtulga against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Enkhtulga can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Enkhtulga tries to circle away but Ziskie has him pinned against the cage.
Enkhtulga tries to break free but Ziskie pushes him back against the cage.
Enkhtulga blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Enkhtulga wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short right from Ziskie on the inside.
Enkhtulga wants to break free but Ziskie has control.
Enkhtulga working aggressively here.
Ziskie has a couple of punches blocked by Enkhtulga.
Ziskie swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ziskie blocks a body shot from Enkhtulga.
Enkhtulga blocks an uppercut.
Ziskie lands a right hand that snaps the head of Enkhtulga backwards.
Enkhtulga blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Enkhtulga tries to circle away but Ziskie has him pinned against the cage.
Enkhtulga wants to break free but Ziskie has control.
Ziskie scores with a shot to the side of Enkhtulga's head.
A short left from Ziskie.
A head punch on the inside from Ziskie fails to land.
A frustrated look appears on Enkhtulga's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ziskie swings wildly with an uppercut but Enkhtulga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ziskie misses with a short punch on the inside.
Enkhtulga is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziskie working aggressively here.
Enkhtulga blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ziskie throws a punch but it's blocked by Enkhtulga.
A head punch on the inside from Ziskie fails to land.
Ziskie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Enkhtulga is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ziskie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ziskie can't find room to land a body shot as Enkhtulga controls the action.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ziskie misses with some punches.
Enkhtulga wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ziskie has him pressed against the cage.
Enkhtulga tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Enkhtulga blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Enkhtulga wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Enkhtulga looking to slow down the pace here.

Ziskie works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Enkhtulga is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Ziskie dives into side control.

Ziskie is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Enkhtulga looks calm but he's in trouble here. Ziskie gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Enkhtulga is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Ziskie lets go of the hold and Enkhtulga can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mike Ziskie!
Mike Ziskie seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.