PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandar Kajmakoski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zina Panico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kajmakoski
vs
Panico

168 cm
18
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aleksandar Kajmakoski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zina Panico!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kajmakoski avoids a punch combination nicely.
Panico shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Kajmakoski as Panico shoots in.
Kajmakoski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Panico throws a head kick that misses.
Panico shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kajmakoski as he avoids it easily.
Aleksandar Kajmakoski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zina Panico.
Kajmakoski throws a left and a right that both miss
and Panico counters with a straight right hand.
Kajmakoski shoots in for a takedown but Panico shows good takedown defense.
Kajmakoski closes the distance but Panico moves to the side
and Panico connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kajmakoski scores with a decent looking hook.
Panico fails to land the takedown.
A jab lands there for Kajmakoski.
Panico falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kajmakoski counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends Panico down! Kajmakoski is looking to finish but Panico is intelligently defending himself.

Panico is rocked!
Kajmakoski is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kajmakoski prevents Panico from getting back to his feet.
Panico is still in real trouble! Can Kajmakoski finish him?
Kajmakoski controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Panico seems to have recovered his senses.
Kajmakoski trying to control the position from guard on top but Panico is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panico trying to keep a closed guard but Kajmakoski is proving a slippery customer.
Kajmakoski wants to control from the top but Panico keeps moving.
Panico pulls Kajmakoski in close to prevent any damage.
Panico not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kajmakoski tries to free his leg and advance position but Panico is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kajmakoski avoids the head kick by Panico.
Kajmakoski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Panico counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kajmakoski won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kajmakoski is not content to let Panico control the position.
Panico prevents Kajmakoski from escaping the position.
Kajmakoski looks to move to half guard but instead Panico has passed into mount! Damn!

Panico has control of Kajmakoski's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Kajmakoski regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Panico fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kajmakoski tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panico lands a big shot there that rocks Kajmakoski but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Panico working the ground and pound effectively.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Panico trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Panico has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kajmakoski is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Panico has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kajmakoski's face.
Kajmakoski tries to buck Panico off but he can't manage it.
Kajmakoski is looking to improve his position but Panico isn't that keen on the idea.
Kajmakoski tries to lock up and control but Panico gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Panico can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kajmakoski is looking to escape.
Panico prevents Kajmakoski from getting the reversal.
Panico trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kajmakoski is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Panico trying to control but he's not successful this time.
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 Aleksandar Kajmakoski will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kajmakoski takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Panico closes the distance and clinches.
Kajmakoski has had enough of the clinch but Panico keeps him there for the moment.
Kajmakoski swings wildly with an uppercut but Panico uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kajmakoski is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Panico tries to score a body lock takedown but Kajmakoski shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Panico is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kajmakoski pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Panico escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Panico clinches with his opponent.
Panico gets through Kajmakoski's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Panico pulls guard successfully.
Panico striking off his back but it's not causing Kajmakoski any problems.
Panico pulls Kajmakoski in to control the position.
Panico is looking to stand up but Kajmakoski isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Panico wriggles free and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kajmakoski takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kajmakoski changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Panico gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Panico drags the fight down to the ground.
Panico trying to keep a closed guard but Kajmakoski is proving a slippery customer.
Panico wants to sweep but no luck.
Panico wants to stand and escape but Kajmakoski is having none of it.

Panico has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kajmakoski off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The fight stays on the outside here - Panico looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Panico moves out of range of the body kick from Kajmakoski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panico throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kajmakoski moves in looking to clinch but Panico pushes him off.
Kajmakoski throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Panico moves into the clinch.

Panico breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kajmakoski shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Panico is looking to improve his position.

Kajmakoski gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Kajmakoski takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Kajmakoski tries to keep at a distance but Panico has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kajmakoski is working for takedown but Panico is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Panico pulls guard effortlessly.
Panico avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Panico is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Panico is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kajmakoski is trying to stand.
Panico wants to control but Kajmakoski is keeping him busy.
Kajmakoski is looking for a sweep. Panico is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kajmakoski is working hard here to advance position.
Kajmakoski has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Panico is working away from the top position though.
Kajmakoski looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kajmakoski tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Panico manages to move to mount!
Panico fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Panico trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kajmakoski is trying to escape the mount.
Kajmakoski wants to hold on but Panico pushes him away.
Panico content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zina Panico showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kajmakoski is looking to clinch but Panico is avoiding it.
Kajmakoski stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Panico.
Kajmakoski connects with a solid leg kick.
Panico fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Panico shoots for a takedown but Kajmakoski saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Kajmakoski feints and as Panico raises his hands in defense, Kajmakoski changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Panico manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kajmakoski really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kajmakoski is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kajmakoski is wriggling around trying to escape.
Panico working Kajmakoski over with strikes here.
Kajmakoski wants to try and get back to his feet.
Panico landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Panico cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Panico takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Panico trying to control but Kajmakoski is having none of it.
Kajmakoski wants to control but Panico is having none of it.
Panico controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kajmakoski tries to hold on but Panico postures up.
Panico prevents Kajmakoski from getting the reversal.
Zina Panico has got the better of the ground game so far.
Panico can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kajmakoski is looking to escape.

Panico looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Kajmakoski wants to hold on but Panico pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kajmakoski is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Kajmakoski tries to lock up and control but Panico gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kajmakoski is in all sorts of trouble here.
Panico cracks Kajmakoski with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kajmakoski is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Kajmakoski working to try and regain half guard.
Kajmakoski wants to control but Panico is having none of it.
Kajmakoski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Panico looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kajmakoski is wriggling around trying to escape.
Panico controlling from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kajmakoski is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

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 Aleksandar Kajmakoski.
I think Kajmakoski has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!