PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aace Zajac (ranked 4065 p4p, 3768 weight class) and Paddy Sly (ranked 514 p4p, 481 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zajac
vs
Sly

157 cm
26
194
2 - 2 - 0

193 cm
19
185
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aace Zajac!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paddy Sly!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sly throws a body punch but Zajac moves out of range.
We've been hearing reports that Zajac has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zajac was well out of range. Poor timing from Sly.
Sly tries to clinch but Zajac is having none of it.
Zajac feinted with a counter takedown.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Sly has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Zajac keeps the fight on the outside.
Sly getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Zajac walks into a jab.
Zajac displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sly throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zajac slips a jab from Sly.
Sly tries to clinch up.
Zajac keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sly lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sly scores with a nice head shot.
Zajac's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sly connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zajac scrambles back to his feet.
Zajac dodges the punch combination from Sly.
Sly throws an overhand right that lands on Zajac's shoulder, as Zajac tries to avoid the shot.
Sly thuds a left hand into Zajac's body.
Sly tries to clinch but Zajac is having none of it.
Sly is looking to clinch but Zajac is avoiding it.
Sly fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zajac avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A left and a right from Sly both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Aace Zajac has been cut.
Sly tries to clinch but Zajac moves out of range.
Zajac appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Zajac slips a jab from Sly.
Zajac steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sly.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sly closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sly misses with a jab to the body

and Zajac counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Zajac throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zajac is thwarting Sly's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zajac slips a nice elbow through Sly's hands, connecting with Sly's forehead.
Zajac seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sly does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sly wants to control but Zajac is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zajac missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zajac is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Zajac thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sly's head.
Sly trying to get back to full guard but Zajac takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Zajac working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zajac controlling the position easily from mount.
Zajac cracks Sly with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Zajac landing strikes, looking to finish!
Zajac trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sly is bucking up trying to escape but Zajac cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zajac landing strikes from the mount.

Sly is rocked!
Zajac with a couple of short strikes.
Sly is still in real trouble! Can Zajac finish him?
Zajac connects with a bit shot that sees Sly covering up! More strikes from Zajac and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Zajac is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aace Zajac!
In his post fight interview, Aace Zajac started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.