PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zilch Filch (ranked 1551 p4p, 1249 weight class) and Ezekiel Ithamar (ranked 178 p4p, 149 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Filch
vs
Ithamar

174 cm
33
154
21 - 16 - 1

176 cm
33
145
27 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

5 Round Science NY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 1, fighting out of New York, Zilch Filch!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ezekiel Ithamar!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Filch misses.
Ithamar shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Filch as he avoids it easily.
Filch scores with a jab to the head.
A jab lands there for Filch.
Filch digs a good body shot into Ithamar's ribs.
Ithamar shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Filch defends it nicely.
Filch throws a hook but Ithamar blocks it.
A low kick from Ithamar misses
and Filch counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Filch clinches up with Ithamar and pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ithamar.
Filch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ithamar blocking some punches.
Filch scores with a hook to the body.
Filch struggles to land a body shot inside as Ithamar controls his hands.
Ithamar wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Filch has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Filch lands a hook to the side of the head.
Filch lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Filch misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Filch.
Filch working aggressively here.
Ithamar is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zilch Filch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ezekiel Ithamar.
Filch tries to work over Ithamar's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ithamar drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Filch gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A head punch on the inside from Filch fails to land.
Filch lands a hook that snaps the head of Ithamar backwards.
Filch has a couple of punches blocked by Ithamar.
Ithamar blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filch tries to throw a body punch but Ithamar avoids it by throwing Filch back against the cage.
Filch lands a hook to the side of the head.
Filch lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ithamar backwards.
Filch lands a shoulder strike.
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!
Ithamar blocking some punches.
Filch goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Filch misses with a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Filch.
Filch prevents the takedown attempt.
Filch lands a body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Filch creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ithamar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Filch misses with some punches.
A right handed body shot lands from Filch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Filch pulls guard.
Filch lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Filch postures up and lands a big shot to Ithamar's brow.

Ithamar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Filch is aware though and is defending well.
Filch is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Filch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Filch throwing strikes but missing.
Filch lands a couple of elbows.
Filch has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Filch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Filch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ithamar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Filch defends well.

Ithamar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Filch defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ithamar is looking for a triangle but Filch pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filch postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Filch is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Filch working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Filch postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Filch landing some decent shots from guard.
Filch with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Filch with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Filch working some strikes from top position.

Ithamar is rocked!

Filch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Filch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ithamar is still in real trouble! Can Filch finish him?
Filch is working Ithamar over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Ithamar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Filch defends well.
Filch working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ithamar's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zilch Filch dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Filch throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ithamar.
Ithamar tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ithamar seems to have recovered his senses.
No joy there for Ithamar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ithamar lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ithamar shoots in for a takedown but Filch shows good takedown defense.
Filch appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Ezekiel Ithamar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ithamar looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ithamar misses with a takedown attempt - Filch sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Filch closes the distance and clinches.
Filch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ithamar blocks it with crossed arms.

Filch successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Filch wants to sweep but no luck.
Ithamar is working Filch over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Filch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ithamar.
Filch will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ithamar pushes down on Filch's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Filch gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ithamar.
Filch manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ithamar manages to get himself to full guard.

Filch content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Filch lands a couple of elbows.

Filch got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ithamar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Filch has managed to get both his arms back between Ithamar's legs - danger averted.
Filch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Filch with a nice head shot there.
Filch pushes down on Ithamar's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Filch scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Filch working the head and body with strikes.
Ithamar tries to get to full guard but Filch has control of the leg.

Ithamar looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ithamar actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filch scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ithamar wants to get back to full guard.
Filch working the head and body with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Filch lands a nice short elbow.
Filch looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ithamar with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Ithamar is rocked!
Filch working Ithamar over with strikes.
Ithamar is still in real trouble! Can Filch finish him?
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Filch connects with a nice short shot to Ithamar's temple.

Ithamar is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Filch pulls his head out easily.
Ithamar on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ithamar is looking to escape.

Ithamar actively working from the bottom here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Filch connects with a nice short shot to Ithamar's temple.
Ithamar is breathing heavily.
Filch scores with a big shot! Ithamar's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Ithamar! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zilch Filch!
Zilch Filch retains his featherweight title!
Zilch Filch seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.