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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ardbeg Islay (ranked 219 p4p, 445 weight class) and Alexander Zass (ranked 30 p4p, 58 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!
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| 186 cm
23
200
12 - 2 - 0 |
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184 cm
23
190
10 - 2 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ardbeg Islay!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Zass!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zass uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Islay.
Zass let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Islay fails with a takedown attempt.
Zass walks into a stiff left hand from Islay.
Nice defenses there by Zass.
Islay looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left lands for Islay.
Zass pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Islay avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Islay scores with a punch to the head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Zass as Islay shoots in.
Ardbeg Islay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zass with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Islay misses with a straight left.
A little jabbing left from Zass on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Islay swings for the body but Zass moves out of range.
Islay shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zass counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ardbeg Islay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Islay has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Zass finds it's way round the side to connect with Islay's head.
Islay slips a jab from Zass.
Zass takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Islay tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Islay changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zass looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zass looks to move to half guard but instead Islay has passed into mount! Damn!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zass looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Zass keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Islay dominating with strikes here.
Islay looking to control but Zass is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Islay sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Zass tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Islay lands a big elbow.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Islay lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Zass hang on?
Islay sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Islay lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Islay pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Zass wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Islay.
Zass gets back to half guard.
Islay thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Islay in particular looking to stall.
Islay wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zass keeps working.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Islay prevents Zass from improving his position.
Islay lands strikes from half guard.
Zass wants to improve his position but Islay is controlling well.
Islay looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Islay has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zass is looking to improve his position.
Islay stops Zass from getting back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ardbeg Islay dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Zass scores with a nice right hand.
Islay drives through with a takedown into Zass's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Zass looking for a sweep. Not yet Zass, not yet.
Islay throwing strikes but missing.
Islay is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Islay trying to control but Zass is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Islay seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zass wants to get back to his feet but Islay is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Islay throwing strikes but missing.
Islay pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zass is keeping the position for now.
Islay makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Islay wants to pass the guard but Zass is keeping the position.
Islay is looking to work some ground and pound but Zass has wrist control.
Islay postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Islay sitting in guard, not really doing much.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zass seems keen to control Islay's posture.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Islay dives in for a single leg takedown but Zass sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zass can't find room to land a body shot as Islay controls the action.
Zass is pressed up against the cage. Islay has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zass down to the mat. Zass avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Alexander Zass seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Islay drives through and clinches with Zass against the cage.
Islay pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zass. Islay does a little dance to reset his feet.
Islay scores with a jab. Zass acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Zass tries to land a front kick but Islay steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Zass misses with an uppercut. Islay saw that one coming.
An attempted straight right counter from Islay misses the target.
Zass keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ardbeg Islay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Islay throws a combination that misses
and Zass makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Islay ducks right into an uppercut from Zass.
Zass scores with a body shot.
Zass throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Islay tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zass manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zass fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Islay manages to avoid it.
Zass slips a jab from Islay.
Islay uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zass.
Zass lands a body shot.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Islay with a poor takedown
and Zass counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Alexander Zass is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Islay shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zass but Zass pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zass stuffs the takedown attempt from Islay. Islay gets slowly back to his feet.
Zass throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Islay sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Islay cracks Zass with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Zass throws a body shot but no joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Islay fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zass uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Islay.
A big right from Islay misses.
Zass looks like he wants to counter punch here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Alexander Zass will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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.
Islay ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zass moves away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zass! But no joy.
Islay throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Islay tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zass defends well and Islay ends up having to push Zass into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Zass lands a left hand that snaps the head of Islay backwards.
Zass lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Islay escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Islay tries for a takedown but Zass sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zass throws a shot from downtown. Islay moves away and avoids it.
Zass misses with a hook.
Islay connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Islay connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Islay misses with a hook. Zass ducked under it nicely.
Islay backing away here, and Zass unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Islay connects with a nice looking jab.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Islay misses.
Islay with a poor takedown
and Islay takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ardbeg Islay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zass keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zass! But no joy.
Zass misses with a wild body shot.
Zass misses with a hook.
A jab from Islay does it's job there.
Islay throws an overhand right that lands on Zass's shoulder, as Zass tries to avoid the shot.
Islay stuns Zass with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Islay shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zass as he jumps to the side.
Zass now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Islay throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zass looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Zass uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Islay.
Zass displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Islay.
Islay takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Decent striking displayed by Zass there.
Islay throws the left hand but Zass avoids the punch easily.
Islay misses with a looping right.
A jab from Islay misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Islay throws a hook to the side of Zass's head but Zass sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
No luck for Islay with that takedown attempt.
Zass avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Islay throws a poor cross that misses
and Zass connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Islay fails with a takedown attempt.
Zass scores with the left hand. Islay knows he should have avoided that one.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Islay fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zass throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Islay swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Islay will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Islay misses with a takedown attempt - Zass sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Islay changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zass tries to avoid it but Islay manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zass to the ground. Zass escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Islay misses with a takedown attempt - Zass sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A swing and a miss from Zass.
Zass misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Islay misses the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Alexander Zass really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Zass throws a leg kick that misses.
Islay ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zass looks to land a right hand but Islay moved out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zass. Islay does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zass ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Islay shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zass defends it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Zass on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zass tries to land a front kick but Islay steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Zass scores with a body shot.
Zass takes a swing at Islay's ribcage but misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Islay shoots in for a takedown but Zass shows good takedown defense.
Zass swings for the body but Islay moves out of range.
Islay swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zass throws a hook but Islay blocks it.
An attempted straight right counter from Islay misses the target.
Zass misses the shot to the body.
Islay will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A little jabbing left from Zass on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ardbeg Islay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zass gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Islay.
Islay blocks the body kick.
Islay showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zass.
Islay throws a jab when Zass was well out of range.
Zass let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zass clobbers Islay with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Zass throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zass misses with a looping left.
Zass takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Zass waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Islay.
Zass walks into a straight right hand from Islay.
Zass connects with the punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zass lands with a cross.
Islay takes one to the chin there.
A lazy left from Zass finds it's target.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Islay shoots for a takedown but Zass saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice body punch from Zass.
Zass is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Zass throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Islay fails with a takedown attempt.
Islay walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zass scores with a decent looking hook.
Islay lands a really nice looking cross but Zass seems unphased.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zass connects with a good right hand that stumbles Islay. Islay circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nice straight punches there by Zass. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zass.
Islay tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zass defends well and Islay ends up having to push Zass into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Islay gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Zass regains guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zass working a defensive guard here.
Zass preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Islay loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zass keeping full guard, as Islay tries to pass.
Zass wants to stand but Islay is controlling the position.
Islay stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zass swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Alexander Zass dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
Zass swats away the attempt to clinch by Islay.
Ardbeg Islay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexander Zass is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zass lands with a kick to the ribs.
Zass's corner calls for a 1-2. Zass obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Islay misses with a jab to the body
letting Zass counter with a right hand.
Islay has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zass slips a straight right by Islay.
Zass replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Islay blocks it well.
Nice body punch from Zass.
Islay moves forwards but Zass connects with a nice, crisp jab.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Islay darts in looking for a takedown but Zass gets double underhooks and turns Islay into the cage.
Zass is pressed up against the cage. Islay has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zass down to the mat. Zass avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ardbeg Islay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zass fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Islay.
Zass throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Islay sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zass fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Islay manages to avoid it.
Zass throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Islay slips under a jab from Zass.
Islay needs to keep his hands up - Zass had a free shot at his head there.
A decent looking cross lands there for Islay.
Zass blocks a jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Islay.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zass slaps away a takedown attempt from Islay, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zass throws out a counter right but Islay avoids it with no problem.
Islay keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Zass has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Islay shoots and misses
letting Zass counter with a right hand.
Zass connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Islay gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zass counters with a nice body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Islay has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Islay there as he acknowledges the shot.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Islay.
It seemed like Zass was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Zass ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Islay moves away.
Zass throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Islay appears to be looking for a big counter.
Nice takedown defense from Zass. No joy for Islay on that attempt.
Islay closes the distance and clinches up with Zass, looking for a takedown. Islay pushes Zass against the cage but Zass circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zass now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Zass throws a body shot but no joy.
Islay ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zass moves away.
Zass scores with the left hand. Islay knows he should have avoided that one.
Zass looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Islay displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zass throws out the jab.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Islay takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zass wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Good exchange - Zass coming out on top.
Islay shoots in and bounces Zass off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Islay looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Islay accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Islay chips away with some ground and pound.
And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Zass comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zass 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 46:49
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 46:49
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 46:49
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Zass!
Alexander Zass is the new middleweight champion!
A victorious Alexander Zass thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
45% |
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