PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ales Zhandunka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hoy Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ales Zhandunka could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Hoy Nelson's chin.

Zhandunka
vs
Nelson

220 cm
35
291 lbs
21 - 15 - 0

183 cm
29
263 lbs
21 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ales Zhandunka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hoy Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Hugh Johnson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson slips a jab and a cross from Zhandunka.

Nelson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nelson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Zhandunka defending against the ground and pound.
Zhandunka wants to control but Nelson postures up.
Zhandunka is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zhandunka knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nelson on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson fails to land a wild elbow strike.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ales Zhandunka wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Zhandunka lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nelson at a distance.
Nelson shoots in looking for a takedown but Zhandunka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nelson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nelson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Zhandunka on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nelson. Nelson obviously looking to wear him down.
Nelson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson blocks a jab.
Nelson lands with a thumping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zhandunka throws a jab but it's blocked by Nelson.
Nelson tries to land a front kick but Zhandunka steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nelson avoids the body shot from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka thows a body shot but no joy.
Ales Zhandunka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zhandunka lands with a straight right. Nelson didn't see that one coming.
The fighters circling - Zhandunka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zhandunka scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson lands with a kick to the ribs.
Nelson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zhandunka.

It looks like Ales Zhandunka has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhandunka moves to clinch but Nelson breaks away
and Nelson counters with a nice kick to the body.
Zhandunka is breathing heavily.
Zhandunka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nelson lands a front kick.
Zhandunka misses with a straight left.
Zhandunka takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Zhandunka blocks a head kick by Nelson.

Nelson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zhandunka looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson just content to control the position.
Nelson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hoy Nelson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ales Zhandunka's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nelson throws a sloppy head kick and Zhandunka moves out of range easily.
Zhandunka lands a right hook to the body.
Zhandunka throws out a loose jab but Nelson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zhandunka misses with a straight left.
Nelson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Nelson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nelson trying to control from half guard but Zhandunka is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson throwing shots but Zhandunka is blocking nicely.
Nelson trying to control the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nelson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhandunka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nelson swats away the attempt to clinch by Zhandunka.
Zhandunka swings for the body but Nelson moves out of range.
Nelson walks into a jab.
Zhandunka misses the body punch

and Nelson counters with a shoot takedown. Zhandunka fights it but they end up in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Nelson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zhandunka is trying to control the position but Nelson postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ales Zhandunka has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Zhandunka looks to land a left hand but Nelson moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson instigates a clinch.
Zhandunka lands a right hand.
Nice body punch from Zhandunka - that landed with a thud.
Zhandunka misses with the head strike.
Nelson blocking some punches.
Zhandunka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zhandunka gets through Nelson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Nelson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zhandunka as Nelson tries to tie him up.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nelson obliges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nelson prevents a body shot from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nelson lands a nice knee to the body.
Nelson tries a knee to the head but Zhandunka blocks it.
Nelson landing knees to the body.
Zhandunka takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson landing knees to the head.
Nelson slows down the pace here.
Nelson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The referee calls for Nelson to work.
Zhandunka trying to control the position but instead, Nelson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zhandunka into the cage.
Zhandunka struggles to land a body shot inside as Nelson controls his hands.
Zhandunka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson landing knees to the body.
Nelson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nelson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nelson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hoy Nelson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ales Zhandunka's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nelson throws a body kick that misses.
Nelson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zhandunka throws out the jab.
Zhandunka throws a shot to the body.
Zhandunka misses with a wild body shot.
Nelson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Zhandunka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nelson.
Zhandunka misses with a hook. Nelson ducked under it nicely.
Nelson defending well as Zhandunka loads up on a big left hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zhandunka throws an overhand right that lands on Nelson's shoulder, as Nelson tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson tries to clinch there but Zhandunka circles away.
Zhandunka is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Zhandunka misses with a hook
and Nelson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zhandunka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nelson.
Nelson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zhandunka's calf.
Zhandunka blocks a head kick by Nelson.
Nelson pushes Zhandunka away with a front kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nelson bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Nelson throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Nelson shoots in and bounces Zhandunka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nelson throws a big right hand that misses.
Nelson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nelson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zhandunka keeping moving, preventing Nelson from controlling successfully.
Ales Zhandunka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hoy Nelson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zhandunka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nelson.
Zhandunka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nelson was well out of range. Poor timing from Zhandunka.
Nelson throws a sloppy head kick and Zhandunka moves out of range easily.
Nelson misses with a head kick.

Nelson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nelson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Nelson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nelson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nelson avoids the body shot from Zhandunka.
A telegraphed right hand from Zhandunka misses the target.
Zhandunka avoids the head kick by Nelson.
Hoy Nelson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhandunka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nelson takes a shot right to the bread basket.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hoy Nelson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nelson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hoy Nelson!
After the fight, Hoy Nelson was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.