PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Zec (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Maier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zec
vs
Maier

180 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vladimir Zec!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Maier!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maier has closed the distance and engaged Zec in a clinch.
Zec looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Maier avoiding damage.
Zec tries to break free but Maier pushes him back against the cage.
Zec working hard to break the clinch.

Maier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maier fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zec throws a big counter combination but Maier scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Maier tries to clinch there but Zec circles away.
Zec tried to counter with a leg kick but Maier avoided it.
Maier moves in looking to clinch but Zec pushes him off.
Zec seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Maier clinches up against the cage.

Maier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maier throws a sloppy head kick and Zec moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maier tries to bum rush Zec with a series of wild strikes but Zec uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Maier fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zec, pushing him back against the cage.
Zec has had enough of the clinch but Maier keeps him there for the moment.
Maier is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Maier prevents Zec from breaking the clinch.
Maier changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zec fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Zec's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Zec duly obliges.

Maier closes the distance and clinches.
Zec is trying to push Maier away but Maier has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maier breaks the clinch.
Daniel Maier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zec jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Maier has Zec up against the cage in a clinch.
Maier looking for a takedown.
Vladimir Zec has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Maier.
Zec looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Maier jumps guard but Zec turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Maier jumps into guard, dragging Zec to the mat.

Maier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zec gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zec decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Maier, up you get!
Maier tries to clinch up.
Maier shoots in for a takedown but Zec shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zec appears to be looking for a big counter.
Zec lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Zec.
Zec avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maier misses with a head kick.
It appears Zec was looking to counter with a kick there.
Zec lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maier with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zec counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zec throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maier.

Maier gets a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Maier.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zec wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maier has him pressed against the cage.

Maier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maier fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maier wants to clinch up but Zec keeps it at a distance.
Maier tries to clinch up.
Maier has a takedown stuffed.
A little feinted left hand from Zec on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
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 Zec will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zec scores with a three punch combo!
Zec leaves Maier with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zec pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Maier back to the cage. Zec follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maier misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Maier gets a clinch.
Maier jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zec walks away with a smile on his face. Maier gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maier lands a high kick!
Maier wants to clinch up but Zec keeps it at a distance.
Good shot there by Zec.
Zec scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Vladimir Zec is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Maier closes the distance and clinches.

Maier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zec closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Maier clinches.
Maier is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Zec is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maier breaks the clinch.
Maier swings for the body but Zec moves out of range.
It looked like Zec wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Vladimir Zec is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maier dives in for a single leg takedown but Zec sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Vladimir Zec has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Maier.
Zec throws a shot to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maier closes the distance but Zec moves to the side
letting Zec counter with a right hand.
Maier wants to clinch
and Zec counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maier throws a sloppy head kick and Zec moves out of range easily.
Maier throws a combination that misses
and Zec counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Maier moves to clinch but Zec breaks away
and Zec counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maier misses with a takedown attempt
and Zec counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Maier pushes Zec up against the cage in a clinch.
Maier misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zec wants to get back to striking at distance but Maier won't allow it.
Zec avoiding damage as Maier throws knees to the body.
Zec wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maier has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zec prevents the takedown attempt.
Zec wants to get back to striking at distance but Maier won't allow it.
Maier tries to land knees in the clinch but Zec avoids the damage to the body.
Zec wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maier has him pressed against the cage.
Zec wants to break free but Maier has control.
Come on Maier - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Maier drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zec pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vladimir Zec is winning the standup battle so far.
Maier moves to clinch but Zec breaks away
and Zec cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Zec dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Maier moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Maier moves into the clinch.
Maier swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A frustrated look appears on Zec's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Maier drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zec gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Maier wants a takedown but no success here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zec working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zec's efforts to push away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Maier's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maier avoids a punch combination nicely.

Maier closes the distance and clinches.
Maier wants to take the fight to the mat but Zec manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Vladimir Zec has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Maier.
Maier fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Maier is trying to maintain a safe position but Zec gets an underhook and turns Maier into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zec has had enough of the clinch but Maier keeps him there for the moment.
Maier stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A frustrated look appears on Zec's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Maier is trying to maintain a safe position but Zec gets an underhook and turns Maier into the cage.
Maier scores with a shot to the side of Zec's head.
Maier is stalling here.
Maier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zec's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maier misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maier drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zec as Maier tries to tie him up.
A frustrated look appears on Zec's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maier tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Maier tries to pull guard but Zec won't allow it.
Daniel Maier seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Maier tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zec smiles and moves away.
Maier changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zec tries to avoid it but Maier manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zec to the ground. Zec escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zec scores with a jab to the body.
Maier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zec paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice jab there from Zec.
Maier checks a low kick from Zec.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maier closes the distance looking to clinch
and Zec counters with a three punch combo that has Maier backing up. Maier nods at Zec to acknowledge the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vladimir Zec.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zec, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Zec!