PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henrik Zetterberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalyan Kumar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kalyan Kumar has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Zetterberg
vs
Kumar

193 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Henrik Zetterberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kalyan Kumar!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Dean Styles and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kumar throws a jab when Zetterberg was well out of range.
Kumar lands a glancing blow to the side of Zetterberg's head.
Zetterberg showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kumar.
Zetterberg displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Zetterberg throws a sloppy head kick and Kumar moves out of range easily.
Kalyan Kumar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kumar looks to land a combination but Zetterberg avoids it well.

Zetterberg clinches up against the cage.
Zetterberg has Kumar pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kumar manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kumar wants to break free but Zetterberg has control.
Kumar wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kumar can't break the clinch.
Kumar is trying to break the clinch but Zetterberg has him pressed against the cage.
Kumar tries to break the clinch but Zetterberg is controlling the position.
Zetterberg prevents Kumar from breaking the clinch.
Kumar tries to break the clinch but Zetterberg is controlling the position.
Kumar lands a nice uppercut.
Kumar lands a hook that snaps the head of Zetterberg backwards.

Kumar manages to break the clinch.

Zetterberg drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kumar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Kumar working for a triangle but Zetterberg defends it easily.
Kumar pulls Zetterberg in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumar looking for a sweep. Not yet Kumar, not yet.
Kumar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zetterberg working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kumar trying to control the position.
Kumar looks gassed!
Kumar pulls Zetterberg in close to prevent any damage.
Kumar trying to control the position.
Zetterberg preventing the sweep.
Zetterberg has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kumar keeping moving, preventing Zetterberg from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zetterberg wants to stand but Kumar is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kumar keeping full guard, as Zetterberg tries to pass.

Kumar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kumar throws a combination that misses

and Zetterberg counters with a single leg into guard. Kumar didn't expect that.
Zetterberg slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kumar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zetterberg is one step ahead there.
Kumar has his hands on Zetterberg's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kumar is on top in guard.
Zetterberg can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kumar controls the pace.
Kumar trying to control the position from guard on top but Zetterberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kumar stands and throws Zetterberg's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kumar content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zetterberg prevents Kumar from improving position.
A lull in the action here as Kumar stalls from top position.
Kumar moves into full mount!
Kumar takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Kumar is working for a guillotine from mount but Zetterberg frees his head quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Henrik Zetterberg will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zetterberg looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Zetterberg shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kumar trying to control but Zetterberg postures up.
Zetterberg is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kumar tries to get to full guard but Zetterberg has control of the leg.

Kumar has one foot on Zetterberg's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Zetterberg shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zetterberg showed some decent athleticism there.
Kumar is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zetterberg thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kumar to regain full guard.
Kumar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zetterberg manages to get himself to full guard.
Kumar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kumar won't allow Zetterberg to sweep him here.
Zetterberg bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kumar's guard.

Kumar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zetterberg can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zetterberg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kumar bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zetterberg's guard.
Zetterberg is trying to control the position but Kumar postures up.
Kumar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zetterberg is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kumar controlling from the top position.
Kumar pushes down on Zetterberg's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kumar trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kumar moves into full mount! Zetterberg won't be happy about that!
Zetterberg is trying desperately to improve position.
Kumar looking to control and managing it successfully.

Kumar jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Zetterberg manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Kumar has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Zetterberg!
Kumar tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Kumar 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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kalyan Kumar just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kumar throws a poor cross that misses

and Zetterberg counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kumar wants to get back to full guard.
Zetterberg is keen to just control but Kumar is a slippery customer.
Kumar is pressing down on Zetterberg's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zetterberg preventing the sweep.
Zetterberg with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kumar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zetterberg is one step ahead there.
Zetterberg tries to stand but Kumar is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Henrik Zetterberg will probably get the nod.
That's time! Zetterberg's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kumar misses with a lunging right hand

and Zetterberg counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Zetterberg drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kumar pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kumar lands with a shot to the body.

Zetterberg darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kumar slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kumar pulls Zetterberg in close to prevent any damage.

Kumar is looking for a triangle but Zetterberg pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kumar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zetterberg manages to get himself to full guard.
Zetterberg looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumar slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Zetterberg manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Zetterberg trying to control but Kumar is having none of it.
Kumar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kumar might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Zetterberg kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Zetterberg working for a guillotine from mount but Kumar is in no mood to give up.

Zetterberg swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kumar is now in Zetterberg's guard. A big mistake from Zetterberg there, giving up the dominant position!
Kalyan Kumar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kumar would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kumar trying to control but Zetterberg is working from the bottom.
Kumar is stalling in the full guard.
Kumar passes Zetterberg's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kumar has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Zetterberg defend it? Kumar steps over the head and cranks it - Zetterberg is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Kumar!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:07 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kalyan Kumar!