PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Veliki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Zuckibach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Veliki
vs
Zuckibach

202 cm
20
265 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
275 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Veliki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyle Zuckibach!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Alyssa Summers and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Veliki moves into range and clinches up with Zuckibach.
Zuckibach stalling in the clinch but Veliki improves position.
Zuckibach can't find room to land a body shot as Veliki controls the action.

Veliki lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Veliki is looking to take a break and control but Zuckibach is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Veliki performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Veliki throwing shots but Zuckibach is blocking nicely.
Zuckibach avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Veliki.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Veliki stops Zuckibach from getting back to his feet.
Veliki is trying to control the action in half guard but Zuckibach is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Veliki keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Veliki sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zuckibach defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Veliki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zuckibach won't allow Veliki to pass to mount.
Zuckibach trying to control here.
Veliki is trying to control the action in half guard but Zuckibach is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zuckibach wants to get back to his feet.
Zuckibach is looking to improve his position.
Veliki wants to pass the guard but Zuckibach is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Veliki sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Vladimir Veliki.

Veliki moves into the clinch.

Zuckibach gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Veliki regains guard.
Zuckibach stands up out of Veliki's guard for a moment - Veliki manages to land a nice upkick.

Veliki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zuckibach doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zuckibach manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zuckibach with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veliki is adopting a defensive guard.
Veliki looking for a sweep. Not yet Veliki, not yet.
Zuckibach prevents Veliki from getting back to his feet.
Zuckibach stopping the sweep attempt from Veliki.
Zuckibach stands up over Veliki, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zuckibach distracts Veliki with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zuckibach trying to control but Veliki is working from the bottom.
Zuckibach postures up.
Zuckibach missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zuckibach postures up and lands a big shot to Veliki's brow.
Zuckibach trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zuckibach looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Veliki controls Zuckibach momentarily but Zuckibach frees himself.
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 Vladimir Veliki will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Veliki stuffs the takedown attempt from Zuckibach. Zuckibach gets slowly back to his feet.

Veliki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Veliki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zuckibach just stands there and leans against the cage.

Veliki decides to pull guard.
Veliki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Zuckibach is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Veliki is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Veliki has escaped and now he's on top!
Veliki forces his way into half guard.

Veliki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Veliki wants to work for an arm triangle but Zuckibach is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Veliki gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Veliki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Veliki tries for a takedown. No joy.
Zuckibach drops down looking for an ankle pick but Veliki pulls his leg out and moves away.

Veliki shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zuckibach manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Veliki is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veliki's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Veliki wants to control from the top but Zuckibach keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Veliki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zuckibach swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Veliki throws and elbow that misses. Zuckibach uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Veliki's guard. Nice move by Zuckibach!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veliki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Veliki on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Veliki tries to get out of the position.
Zuckibach with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Veliki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zuckibach is one step ahead there.
Veliki wants to get back to his feet but Zuckibach is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Zuckibach thows a big elbow that misses.
Veliki working a defensive guard here.
Veliki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zuckibach manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zuckibach looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Zuckibach keeping moving, preventing Veliki from controlling successfully.
Zuckibach keeping full guard, as Veliki tries to pass.
Veliki slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Veliki dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Zuckibach misses with a takedown attempt

and Veliki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Veliki not doing much here.
Zuckibach has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Veliki is working away from the top position though.
Veliki not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Veliki is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zuckibach sees it coming and defends easily.
Veliki with the ground and pound but Zuckibach uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Veliki content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veliki trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuckibach is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Veliki chips away with some ground and pound.
Veliki wants to control from the top but Zuckibach keeps moving.
Zuckibach can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Veliki controls the pace.
Veliki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Vladimir Veliki.

Zuckibach shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Veliki is trying to defend but Zuckibach finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Zuckibach takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Zuckibach postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Veliki to stand up.

Veliki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Veliki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Veliki is just content to waste time from the top position. Zuckibach takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Veliki controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Veliki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Veliki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Veliki trying to control but Zuckibach is working from the bottom.
Veliki prevents Zuckibach from getting back to his feet.
Veliki throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Veliki trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuckibach is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zuckibach keeping full guard, as Veliki tries to pass.
Veliki advances position into side control!
Veliki throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Veliki happy to just control the position for now.
Kyle Zuckibach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vladimir Veliki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Veliki is putting a hurting on Zuckibach here, landing some big shots from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Veliki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Veliki has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Veliki!
Vladimir Veliki is the new heavyweight champion!