PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zdravko Saric (ranked 818 p4p, 96 weight class) and Buster Napoleon (ranked 623 p4p, 74 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Saric
vs
Napoleon

195 cm
26
275 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

195 cm
28
265 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Dauntless

Dauntless
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zdravko Saric!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Buster Napoleon!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Napoleon throws a hook but Saric avoids it easily.
Saric appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Napoleon checks a leg kick.
Napoleon is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Saric.

It looks like Buster Napoleon has been cut.
We've been informed that Napoleon has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Saric lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Saric misses with a low kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Napoleon digs a good body shot into Saric's ribs.
Napoleon moves away from the strike by Saric.

Saric cracks Napoleon with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Saric has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Napoleon to stand back up!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Saric feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Napoleon sprawling to the canvas! Napoleon rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Saric finish him?!

Napoleon is rocked!

That has opened up Buster Napoleon's cut even more.
Saric misses the jab.
Napoleon is still on wobbly legs! Can Saric finish him?
A nice combination there by Napoleon.
Saric lands a jab to Napoleon's midsection.
Napoleon seems to have recovered his senses.
A head kick misses from Napoleon.
Napoleon moves out of range of the strikes.
A swing and a miss from Napoleon.
Saric fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Saric misses with a low kick.
A big right from Napoleon misses.
Napoleon scores with a punch to the head.
Saric displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Napoleon throws out the jab.
Saric looks to score with a jab to the body but Napoleon is just out of range.
Saric lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saric misses with a looping right.
Saric uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Napoleon.
Saric lands a nice shot to the body.
Saric misses with a left hand
letting Napoleon counter with a right hand.
Saric tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Napoleon was well out of range. Poor timing from Saric.
Napoleon misses with a body shot.
Saric throws out a leg kick but Napoleon moves out of range and Saric only half commits.
Napoleon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Napoleon only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Napoleon avoids the body shot from Saric.
Napoleon misses with a body shot.
Saric misses with a wild body shot.
Napoleon throws out a counter right but Saric avoids it with no problem.
Napoleon checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Napoleon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saric.
Napoleon is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Saric with a body shot.
Saric is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Napoleon.
Napoleon throws a wild body kick that Saric sees coming a mile off.
Napoleon just misses with a punch to the body.
Saric turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Napoleon misses with an uppercut.
Decent striking displayed by Napoleon there.
Napoleon ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Napoleon throws out a counter right but Saric avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Napoleon avoids the body shot from Saric.
Saric dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Saric throws a leg kick but Napoleon moved away.
Napoleon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saric.
Nice defenses there by Napoleon.
We've been told by Saric's head coaches at Bare knuckle Fighters that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Saric connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Napoleon momentarily.
Napoleon lands a body shot.
Saric lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nice defenses there by Saric.
Saric fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Napoleon has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Napoleon rushes Saric and presses him up against the cage.
Napoleon misses with a short punch on the inside.
Napoleon lands a nice shot to the body.
Saric is looking to break free of the clinch but Napoleon has double underhooks.
Napoleon is pushing Saric up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Napoleon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saric tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Napoleon was well out of range. Poor timing from Saric.
Jab by Saric.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Saric lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Napoleon has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Napoleon and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Saric throws a lazy uppercut
and Napoleon counters with a series of strikes. Saric will be more careful next time no doubt.
Saric thows a leg kick but Napoleon checks it

and Napoleon counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Napoleon is working for a kimura but Saric is defending it quite comfortably.
Saric has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Napoleon is working away from the top position though.
Napoleon throwing shots but Saric is blocking nicely.
Saric keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Napoleon has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Saric trying to hold on to Napoleon's head to control him but Napoleon postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Napoleon wants to work for an arm triangle but Saric is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Napoleon throwing shots but Saric is blocking nicely.
Napoleon sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Saric defending well though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Napoleon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Saric's head.
Saric keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Napoleon not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Napoleon sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Saric defending well though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Napoleon not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Napoleon throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zdravko Saric dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Buster Napoleon's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Saric tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Saric throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Napoleon wants to counter with a clinch but Saric pushes him away.
Napoleon takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Saric avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saric is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Napoleon can do to turn this around?
Napoleon avoids the body shot from Saric.
Napoleon is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Saric lands with a good body shot.
Napoleon slips a straight right by Saric.
Napoleon cracks Saric with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Saric looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saric misses with the combination.
Saric staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Napoleon looks to land a combination. Saric sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Saric loads up on a big right hand but Napoleon slips the punch.
Napoleon changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saric takes a swing at Napoleon's ribcage but misses.
Napoleon lands with a straight right. Saric didn't see that one coming.
Saric throws a jab but it's blocked by Napoleon.
Saric just misses with a punch to the body.
Napoleon throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Saric on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Napoleon shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saric but Saric pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Saric throws a series of strikes that have Napoleon backpedaling.
Saric throws out a loose jab but Napoleon uses good head movement to avoid it.
A punch combination from Saric misses.
Napoleon looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saric is fending him off so far but Napoleon persists. Nope, Saric circles away and we're back to standing.
Napoleon gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Saric.
Saric tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Napoleon was well out of range. Poor timing from Saric.
Napoleon lands with an overhand left.
Napoleon throws a hook but Saric avoids it easily.
Saric throws a jab but it's blocked by Napoleon.
Zdravko Saric seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saric throws a hook to the side of Napoleon's head but Napoleon sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Saric rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Saric takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saric throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saric throws a shot from downtown. Napoleon moves away and avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saric lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Napoleon circles away quickly and effectively.
Napoleon stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Saric just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Napoleon.
Saric lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Napoleon fails with a takedown attempt.
Zdravko Saric has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buster Napoleon.
Napoleon steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Saric.
Napoleon lands with a nice combination. Saric backs away looking to recover.
Napoleon shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zdravko Saric is winning the standup battle so far.
Saric throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Napoleon with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Saric swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Napoleon takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Saric swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saric misses with a looping left.
Napoleon is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Napoleon scores with a jab to the jaw.
Napoleon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Napoleon lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A swing and a miss from Napoleon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saric throws out a powerful jab.
Saric misses with a shot to the body
and Napoleon counters with a straight right hand.
Saric misses with a low kick.
Saric scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Napoleon scores with a body shot.
Saric with a hook.
Saric lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Napoleon circles away quickly and effectively.
Saric ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Napoleon moves away.
Napoleon looks for the body kick but Saric saw that one coming.
A jab from Saric misses.
Saric misses with a left hand
and Saric takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Napoleon scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zdravko Saric is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saric throws a hook to the side of Napoleon's head but Napoleon sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saric lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

The cut above Buster Napoleon's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Napoleon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saric.
Napoleon cracks Saric with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Saric uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Napoleon.
Saric lands a two punch combo.
Saric fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Napoleon missing with a left hand there. Saric was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Saric misses with an uppercut. Napoleon saw that one coming.
Napoleon checks a leg kick nicely.
A little jabbing left from Napoleon on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Saric misses with an uppercut. Napoleon saw that one coming.
Saric misses the shot to the body.
Saric lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Napoleon circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saric misses with a jab, cross combination.
Saric misses with a hook. Napoleon ducked under it nicely.
Saric on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Napoleon digs a good body shot into Saric's ribs.
Napoleon pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Saric stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Napoleon.
Saric misses with a leg kick
and Napoleon cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Napoleon feints and then cracks Saric's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Saric down.
Napoleon throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Napoleon stuns Saric with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Saric connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Napoleon's hands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Napoleon. Saric does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zdravko Saric will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Buster Napoleon's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Napoleon darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Saric takes one to the chin there.
Saric changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Napoleon misses with a hook.
Saric throwing a counter right hand but Napoleon manages to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Saric throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Napoleon feints and then cracks Saric's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Saric down.
Napoleon moves into range and connects with a jab.
Saric tried to score with a low kick but Napoleon checks it.
Saric scores with a jab. Napoleon acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Napoleon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saric.
Napoleon scores with a leg kick.
Saric scores with the left hand. Napoleon knows he should have avoided that one.
Saric dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Napoleon. That did some damage!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Napoleon scores with a nice strike.
Saric fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A clash of legs there as Napoleon blocks the low kick.
Napoleon looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saric went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Napoleon takes a swing at Saric's ribcage but misses.
Napoleon throws out a loose jab but Saric uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saric misses with an uppercut. Napoleon saw that one coming.
It seemed like Napoleon was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Napoleon moves away from the strike by Saric.
The fighters circling - Saric throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A little jabbing left from Napoleon on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Saric steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Napoleon.
Napoleon scores with a decent looking hook.
A combination from Napoleon does no damage.
Saric will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Saric scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Napoleon throws a hook but Saric blocks it.
A quick step to the side and Saric tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saric moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Saric swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saric misses with a hook. Napoleon ducked under it nicely.
Saric with a nice cross.
Napoleon on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Napoleon works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Napoleon avoids a kick to the body.
It seemed like Napoleon was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Saric slips a straight right by Napoleon.
Napoleon lands a leg kick that knocks Saric off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saric waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Napoleon.
It seemed like Napoleon was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Napoleon connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Napoleon looks to land a left hand but Saric moved out of range nicely.
Saric on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Saric misses with a low kick as Napoleon jumps back.
Saric takes one on the button.
Napoleon takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Napoleon bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sloppy strikes there by Napoleon.
Napoleon staying calm.
Napoleon throws a strike aimed at the side of Saric's head but Saric avoids it well.
Buster Napoleon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saric tries to bench press Napoleon off him but Napoleon keeps the position.

Napoleon goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Saric rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Napoleon's guard! Nice work there by Saric!

Napoleon has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Saric is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Napoleon.
Napoleon is not content to let Saric control the position.
Zdravko Saric is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Napoleon gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Napoleon gets back to full guard.
Saric stopping the sweep attempt from Napoleon.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Napoleon working for submissions but it's allowed Saric to get to half guard.
Napoleon is looking to improve his position.
Saric controlling the pace.

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 Zdravko Saric.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saric, 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zdravko Saric!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Zdravko Saric made sure he mentioned Dauntless, along with how happy he was to win his fight.
Buster Napoleon was interviewed post fight and said 'Holy shit you hit hard. I will go do some neck exercises and come back to MACAW YOU!'.