PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cirilo Galiei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darijan Zajec (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cirilo Galiei has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Galiei
vs
Zajec

183 cm
31
136 lbs
4 - 18 - 1

170 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cirilo Galiei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darijan Zajec!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Galiei moves to clinch but Zajec breaks away

and Zajec counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Galiei misses with a body punch.
Galiei is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Zajec tries to pull guard but Galiei won't allow it.

Zajec breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Galiei looks to clinch

and Zajec counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zajec.
Zajec slows down the pace here.
Zajec blocks a body shot from Galiei.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zajec turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Zajec manages to end up in side control.

Zajec has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Galiei tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Zajec counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Zajec jumps guard but Galiei stands there with Zajec around his waist. Zajec gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cirilo Galiei has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darijan Zajec.
Galiei tries to pull guard but Zajec won't allow it.
Galiei really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Zajec ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Zajec no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Galiei knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zajec on the ground.
Zajec is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zajec trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Zajec looking to hit a scissor sweep but Galiei is one step ahead there.

Galiei avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zajec is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Galiei presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zajec jumps guard.

Zajec uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Galiei gets tackled into the cage by Zajec. Zajec maintains the clinch.
Zajec tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zajec fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zajec tries for a takedown. No joy.
Zajec tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Galiei just stands there and leans against the cage.

Zajec breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zajec drives through and clinches with Galiei against the cage.

Zajec jumps into guard, dragging Galiei to the mat.
Zajec is pulling down on Galiei's head. It's preventing any offense from Galiei, at least for the moment.
Zajec wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zajec is still trying to improve position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zajec pushes Galiei off and scrambles back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Galiei is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darijan Zajec dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Galiei is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Galiei tries to close the distance and clinch but Zajec swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Galiei moves to clinch but Zajec breaks away

and Zajec holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Zajec is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Zajec breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Galiei tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Zajec counters by moving into the clinch.
Zajec prevents a body shot from Galiei.

Zajec's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Zajec instigates a clinch.
Zajec missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zajec breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Galiei tries to clinch up

and Zajec holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Galiei can't find room to land a body shot as Zajec controls the action.

Zajec breaks the clinch.
Galiei tries to close the distance and clinch but Zajec swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Galiei gets tackled into the cage by Zajec. Zajec maintains the clinch.

Zajec lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Zajec trying to mount his opponent but Galiei defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zajec thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Galiei's head.
Zajec thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Galiei's head.
Zajec not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Zajec is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zajec stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Zajec forces Galiei back against the cage and clinches.
Zajec jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Galiei walks away with a smile on his face. Zajec gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice takedown defense from Zajec. No joy for Galiei on that attempt.

Zajec clinches up against the cage.

Zajec's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zajec clinches up against the cage.
Zajec tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Galiei just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cirilo Galiei has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darijan Zajec.

Zajec manages to break the clinch.
Zajec misses with a straight left.
Galiei closes the distance looking to clinch

and Zajec counters by moving into the clinch.
Zajec is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zajec is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zajec is breathing heavily.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zajec - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darijan Zajec showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Zajec has closed the distance and engaged Galiei in a clinch.
Galiei tries to pull guard but Zajec holds him up against the cage and eventually Galiei drops back down to his feet.
Zajec leaning against his opponent.
Galiei struggles to land a body shot inside as Zajec controls his hands.
Zajec trying to land knees to the body.

Zajec breaks the clinch.
Zajec looks to score with a jab to the body but Galiei is just out of range.
Zajec circles away from the clinch attempt

and Zajec counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zajec tries to pull guard but Galiei forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Galiei misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Galiei can't find room to land a body shot as Zajec controls the action.
Galiei tries to stall but Zajec uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Zajec jumps guard and drags Galiei to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Zajec has his foot on Galiei's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Galiei works his way back into a safe position though.
Zajec trying to keep a closed guard but Galiei is proving a slippery customer.
Zajec has a closed guard, preventing Galiei from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zajec looking to control.

Zajec is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Galiei presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Galiei doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zajec tries to land knees in the clinch but Galiei avoids the damage to the body.
Zajec blocks a body shot from Galiei.
Zajec is trying to pull guard but Galiei has him pressed against the cage.
Zajec tries to pull guard but Galiei forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cirilo Galiei has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darijan Zajec.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zajec tries for a takedown but Galiei manages to get underhooks.
Zajec takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Zajec pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Galiei fails with the takedown.
Zajec tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Galiei was well out of range. Poor timing from Zajec.
Galiei wants to clinch up but Zajec keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Galiei looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zajec throws a quick inside leg kick.
Galiei tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zajec swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Galiei is looking to clinch but Zajec is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Galiei closes the distance looking to clinch

and Zajec counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Zajec is trying to control. Galiei wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Zajec decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice sprawl there from Galiei as Zajec shoots in.
Galiei tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zajec swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Galiei wants to clinch up but Zajec keeps it at a distance.
Zajec circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cirilo Galiei has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darijan Zajec is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Zajec gets a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darijan Zajec comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zajec winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darijan Zajec!