PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Dean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sjaak Topolnjak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Dean had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Sjaak Topolnjak has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dean
vs
Topolnjak

178 cm
18
181 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
179 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Dean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sjaak Topolnjak!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dean chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Topolnjak can pounce on him.

Dean shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Dean not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dean misses with a head shot. Topolnjak uses the momentum to regain guard.
Dean throws a big elbow that misses.
Dean postures up in Topolnjak's guard and throws a big left but Topolnjak blocks it.
Dean content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Topolnjak has his foot on Dean's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dean works his way back into a safe position though.
Topolnjak preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Topolnjak keeping moving, preventing Dean from controlling successfully.
Dean postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dean knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Topolnjak on the ground.
Topolnjak trying to keep a closed guard but Dean is proving a slippery customer.
Dean wants to control from the top but Topolnjak keeps moving.
Topolnjak is trying to keep Dean in close.
Dean has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dean trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Topolnjak is trying to control the position but Dean postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dean stopping the sweep attempt from Topolnjak.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sjaak Topolnjak was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Topolnjak misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dean shoots in for a double leg but Topolnjak sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Topolnjak darts in and clinches Dean up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Topolnjak as the two fighters clinch.
Topolnjak is looking to break free of the clinch but Dean has double underhooks.
Dean wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dean has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Topolnjak has had enough of the clinch but Dean keeps him there for the moment.
Topolnjak can't break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dean stalling against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Topolnjak manages to break the clinch.
Dean is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Topolnjak.

It looks like James Dean has been cut.
Dean is breathing heavily.
Dean throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Topolnjak's waist but Topolnjak gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dean off to one side.
Topolnjak digs a good body shot into Dean's ribs.
Topolnjak tests Dean's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Dean is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Are you kidding me?! Topolnjak ducked down and unloaded an uppercut from hell that sent Dean clean off his feet! Someone make me a GIF - that's knockout of the night for sure!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Sjaak Topolnjak!