PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Alexiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zartan Zatarain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zatarain has chosen Linkin Park - The Catalyst as his entrance music. Alexiev is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Vlad Alexiev has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Alexiev
vs
Zatarain

180 cm
22
175 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

178 cm
19
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Very confident

Balco Boys Battle Gear
Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vlad Alexiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zartan Zatarain!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zatarain has taken the fight to the clinch.
Alexiev is breathing heavily.
Zatarain drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zatarain stalling.

Zatarain has Alexiev pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Zatarain pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Alexiev tumbling to the mat - Zatarain dives into Alexiev's guard.
Zatarain trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zatarain throws a big right hand that misses.
Zatarain content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zatarain connects with a couple of short punches.
Alexiev being controlled here, momentarily.
Zatarain wants to control from the top but Alexiev keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zatarain stands up over Alexiev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Zatarain wants to control from the top but Alexiev keeps moving.
Zatarain is in close to Alexiev's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zatarain throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Alexiev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zatarain lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zatarain controls from within his opponent's guard.
Zatarain wants to control from the top but Alexiev keeps moving.
Zatarain postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zatarain landing with the ground and pound.
Alexiev working a defensive guard here.
Zatarain 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.
Zatarain tries to free his leg and advance position but Alexiev is retaining full guard.
Zatarain must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zatarain wants to control from the top but Alexiev keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zatarain lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zatarain connects with a couple of short punches.
Zatarain lands a couple of digs.
Zatarain lands a couple of digs.
Zatarain slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Zatarain wants to pass the guard but Alexiev is keeping the position.
Zatarain controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zatarain trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zatarain is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zatarain wants to control from the top but Alexiev keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zatarain postures up and lands a big shot to Alexiev's brow.
Zatarain makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zatarain works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zatarain is looking to take a break and control but Alexiev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zatarain takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zatarain is figuring out what he wants to do next.
I looks like Zatarain might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Zatarain is nestled in close to Alexiev, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zartan Zatarain dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Alexiev needs to keep his hands up - Zatarain had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like Vlad Alexiev has been cut.

Zatarain drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zatarain passes Alexiev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zatarain is controlling the pace.
Zatarain wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alexiev keeps working.
Zatarain scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Zatarain slows the pace down in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zatarain tries to pass the half guard into mount. Alexiev knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zatarain works his way into full mount!
Zatarain landing strikes from the mount.
Zatarain tries to control but Alexiev wriggling away.
Alexiev taking shots to the head.
Zatarain with shots to the head and body - Alexiev looks very uncomfortable down there.
Zatarain lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zatarain with a couple of short strikes.
Alexiev is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Zatarain controlling his opponent.
Zatarain lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
A nice elbow there by Zatarain.
Zatarain lands a big elbow.
Zatarain fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zatarain scoring with strikes but Alexiev is staying in there.
Zatarain lands a nice shot to the head.
Alexiev is in a horrible position here. Zatarain smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexiev is in a horrible position here. Zatarain smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zatarain dominating with strikes here.
Zatarain looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Alexiev taking shots to the head.

Alexiev is rocked!
Zatarain unloading with bombs!
Oh Alexiev is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zatarain has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A big strike lands for Zatarain! That's really hurt Alexiev and he's turned his back - Zatarain keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Zatarain jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zartan Zatarain!