PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zimba Zimbawa (ranked 4224 p4p, 24368 weight class) and Anthony Horn (ranked 511 p4p, 649 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Zimbawa
vs
Horn

193 cm
20
205
4 - 5 - 0

191 cm
26
210
3 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Zimba Zimbawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Horn!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice combination there by Horn.

It looks like Zimba Zimbawa has been cut.
Horn tries a head kick but it misses.
Zimbawa appears to be looking for a big counter.
Horn looks to throw a body kick
and Zimbawa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Horn looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Horn lands a nice looking kick to the body. Zimbawa takes a step back to recover.
Horn moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Zimbawa closes the distance and clinches.
Zimbawa has Horn pressed against the cage, preventing Horn from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
I was talking to Zimbawa's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Horn has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Horn working hard to break the clinch.
Horn wants to get back to striking at distance but Zimbawa won't allow it.
Horn wants to get back to striking at distance but Zimbawa won't allow it.
Zimbawa will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Horn up against the cage.
Horn is trying to force a seperation but Zimbawa has the dominant position.
Zimbawa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Horn's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Horn wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zimbawa taking a breather.

Zimbawa jumps guard.
Zimbawa is controlling Horn's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Horn wants to get up but he can't break Zimbawa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Zimbawa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Horn is one step ahead there.
Zimbawa is pulling down on Horn's head to control his posture.

Zimbawa is working an open guard so Horn takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Horn gets tackled into the cage by Zimbawa. Zimbawa maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zimbawa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Horn's efforts to push away.
Zimbawa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Horn's efforts to push away.
Horn takes a shot to the head.
Zimbawa leaning against his opponent.
Horn tries to break the clinch but Zimbawa is controlling the position.
Zimbawa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Horn's efforts to push away.
Zimbawa will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Horn up against the cage.
Horn is trying to break free.
Horn is trying to break free.
Horn is looking to break free of the clinch but Zimbawa has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horn wants to break the clinch but can't.
Horn working hard to break the clinch.

Zimbawa pulls guard.
Horn trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zimbawa's guard.
Horn must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zimbawa is pulling down on Horn's head to control his posture.

Horn stands up from Zimbawa's guard - Horn perhaps looking for a knockout.
Zimbawa connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zimbawa blocks a head kick by Horn.
Horn lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Horn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Zimbawa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Horn is trying to maintain the position but Zimbawa is very close to passing his half guard.
Still in half guard, Zimbawa seems content to control.
Horn is looking to escape.
Zimbawa perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Zimbawa passes to side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horn tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zimbawa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Zimbawa passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Horn!
Zimbawa controlling the position easily from mount.

Zimbawa looking for a guillotine from mount but Horn is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zimba Zimbawa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zimba Zimbawa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A lazy body kick from Horn

so Zimbawa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Horn is trying to keep Zimbawa in close.
Zimbawa sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zimbawa's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Further stalling from Zimbawa.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Zimbawa is stinking the place up with his stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zimbawa won't allow Horn to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horn looking for a sweep. Not yet Horn, not yet.
Zimbawa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
No joy there for Horn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zimbawa misses with the combination.
A countering left hand to the body from Horn misses.
Horn throws a lazy head kick

and Zimbawa counters by clinching up.
A frustrated look appears on Horn's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Horn is looking to break free of the clinch but Zimbawa has double underhooks.
Horn tries to break the clinch but Zimbawa is controlling the position.
Zimbawa has Horn pressed against the cage, preventing Horn from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zimbawa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Zimbawa prevents Horn from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Zimbawa decides to pull guard.
Zimbawa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Zimbawa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zimba Zimbawa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Horn trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zimbawa's guard.
Horn stopping the sweep attempt from Zimbawa.
Zimbawa pulls Horn in close to prevent any damage.
Horn wants to stand and escape but instead Zimbawa has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zimbawa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Horn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zimbawa controlling from the top position.
Zimbawa won't allow Horn to get back to his feet.
Horn is trying to control the position but Zimbawa postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zimbawa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zimbawa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Horn wants to stand up but Zimbawa is controlling him.

Horn pushes Zimbawa off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Horn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horn throws a combination that misses

so Zimbawa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Horn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zimbawa stops Horn from standing up.
Zimbawa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zimbawa has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zimba Zimbawa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Zimba Zimbawa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Horn gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zimbawa to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Zimbawa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Zimbawa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zimbawa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Horn wants to stand but Zimbawa is controlling the position.
Zimbawa sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horn wants to stand and escape but Zimbawa is having none of it.
Zimbawa stays in close to Horn's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Zimbawa.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horn lands with a kick to the temple. Zimbawa shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Horn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Horn scores with a head kick. Zimbawa tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Zimbawa is rocked!
Anthony Horn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Horn lands a two punch combo.
Oh Zimbawa is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zimbawa blocks a head kick by Horn.
Zimbawa moves out of range as Horn throws a body kick.
Horn lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Horn lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Anthony Horn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Horn throws a sloppy head kick and Zimbawa moves out of range easily.
Horn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Some wild striking there from Horn.
Zimbawa feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Zimbawa seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Horn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horn lands with a nice body punch.
Zimbawa blocks a leg kick.

Zimbawa closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Horn did well to prevent Zimbawa getting side control.
Zimbawa controlling the action here.
Zimbawa continues to hold on tight.

Zimbawa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Horn is just riding it out for now. Zimbawa eventually gives up the hold.
Zimbawa wants to free his trapped foot but Horn is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Zimbawa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zimbawa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Zimbawa works his foot free and advances to mount.
Zimbawa takes Horn's back.
Zimbawa is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Zimba Zimbawa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horn rolls, trying to escape but Zimbawa keeps control of the position.
Zimbawa is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Horn trying to get back to his feet but Zimbawa is in full control for now.

Zimbawa is looking for the choke from the back position but Horn is controlling his hands well.

Zimbawa is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but Horn won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Zimbawa off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Zimba Zimbawa!