PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Parks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Zavala (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.

Parks
vs
Zavala

187 cm
22
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Demonic Fight Gear $5 Dragon

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Parks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Zavala!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Columbo Gatti and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zavala looks for a takedown but Parks sprawls well.
Parks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zavala paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Parks moves in looking to clinch but Zavala pushes him off.
Parks tries to clinch but Zavala moves out of range.
Zavala tries to clinch there but Parks circles away.
Parks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zavala.
Zavala swats away the attempt to clinch by Parks.
Zavala lands with a nice combination. Parks backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Matt Parks has been cut.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zavala!
Zavala shoots for a double leg takedown but Parks sprawls well. He's pushed Zavala's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Parks tries to close the distance and clinch but Zavala swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zavala fails with a takedown attempt.
Matt Parks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Zavala.
Parks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zavala closes the distance and clinches up with Parks, looking for a takedown. Zavala pushes Parks against the cage but Parks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zavala looks gassed!
Parks shoots in looking for a takedown. Zavala tries to sprawl out of it but Parks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zavala manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Parks darts in trying to clinch

and Zavala decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Parks's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parks is pulling down on Zavala's head. It's preventing any offense from Zavala, at least for the moment.

Parks looking for a guillotine here but Zavala defends easily.
Zavala wants to stand but Parks is controlling his posture from full guard.

Parks kicks Zavala off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Parks clinches but Zavala breaks the clinch
and Zavala counters with a one-two to the body.

Parks has closed the distance and engaged Zavala in a clinch.
Parks taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Parks lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Parks creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zavala's defenses.

It looks like Anthony Zavala has been cut.
Parks lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Parks landing knees to the head.
Zavala takes a knee right on the jaw!
Parks lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Parks lands a nice knee to the body.
Parks using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Parks prevents a body shot from Zavala.
Parks scores with a knee to the head.
Zavala wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Parks jumps into guard, dragging Zavala to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Parks controlling the position.
Zavala wants to stand but Parks is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parks wants to stand but Zavala is controlling the position.

Zavala gets to his feet - Parks follows without any prompting.
Zavala moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Parks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Anthony Zavala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Parks tries to clinch up but Zavala circles away and keeps his distance.
Zavala throws a right and a left that Parks avoids nicely.
Parks fails with an attempt to clinch.

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.
Zavala looks to land a combination but Parks avoids it well.

Parks rushes Zavala and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zavala fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Parks lands a knee to the body.
Zavala tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Parks avoids the elbow strike from Zavala, against the cage.
Parks with a knee to the head.
Zavala trying to control the position but instead, Parks has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zavala into the cage.
Zavala misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Parks dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Parks is trying to maintain a safe position but Zavala gets an underhook and turns Parks into the cage.
Parks with a knee to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zavala is trying to break the clinch but Parks has him pressed against the cage.
Parks crunches a lovely knee into Zavala's ribcage.

Zavala's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zavala tries to clinch

and Parks holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Parks unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zavala lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Parks creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zavala's defenses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Zavala dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Parks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zavala throws a series of punches but Parks moves out of range.
Zavala moves in looking to clinch but Parks pushes him off.
Zavala falls off balance throwing a combination

and Parks moves into the clinch.
Parks blocks a body shot from Zavala.
Zavala wants to break the clinch but can't.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zavala.
Parks unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zavala lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Parks lands an elbow inside that Zavala shrugs off.
Parks leaning his opponent against the cage.
Parks lands a nice knee to the body.
Parks with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Parks landing knees to the head.
Zavala misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zavala is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Zavala gets underhooks to prevent Parks's takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Parks.
Parks using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zavala has had enough of the clinch but Parks keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zavala throws a punch but it's blocked by Parks.
Parks landing knees to the body.
Parks landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Parks blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Parks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zavala fails to pull guard.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Parks scores with a knee to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Zavala is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zavala wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zavala tries to work over Parks's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Parks is trying to stall.
Parks landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zavala misses with the head strike.
Parks has Zavala pushed against the cage.
Parks lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Zavala stalling in the clinch but Parks improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Parks effectively controlling the action here.
Zavala is trying to maintain a safe position but Parks gets an underhook and turns Zavala into the cage.
Zavala working aggressively here.
Zavala can't break the clinch.
Parks with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Zavala breaks the clinch.
Parks looks to clinch

and Zavala counters by clinching up.
Parks keeps control of Zavala as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Parks lands an elbow just above Zavala 's eye.
Zavala wants to get back to striking at distance but Parks won't allow it.
Parks lands a nice elbow.
Parks using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zavala takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zavala pressing his opponent against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Zavala.
Parks blocks a body shot from Zavala.
Zavala throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Parks holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Parks lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Zavala.
Parks landing knees to the head.
Parks landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zavala fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zavala throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Parks blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Parks leaning his opponent against the cage.
Parks unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zavala lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Zavala misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zavala is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Parks is keeping busy.
Parks lands a damaging elbow.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zavala as Parks tries to tie him up.
Parks tries to land knees in the clinch but Zavala avoids the damage to the body.
Zavala struggles to land a body shot inside as Parks controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zavala tries to land knees in the clinch but Parks avoids the damage to the body.
Parks lands a knee to the body.
Parks landing knees to the head.
Parks lands an elbow that stopped Zavala in his tracks for a moment.
Zavala tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zavala misses with a hook from the clinch.
Parks effectively controlling the action here.
Parks has Zavala pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zavala manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Parks landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Parks blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Parks crunches a lovely knee into Zavala's ribcage.

Zavala has clasped his hands together around Parks's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
You can see the frustration on Parks's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Parks defending against the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Parks is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Parks is refusing to be controlled, as Zavala sits in half guard.
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 Matt Parks will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zavala throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A punch combination from Zavala misses.

Parks rushes Zavala and presses him up against the cage.
Parks with a knee to the head.
Parks blocking some punches.
Zavala trying to stall but Parks improves his position.
Parks with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Parks.
Parks crunches a lovely knee into Zavala's ribcage.
Parks scores with a knee to the head.
Parks lands a nice elbow.
Parks looking to stall.
Parks can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zavala misses with a hook to the ribs.
Parks stalling the fight.
Nice elbow from Parks.
Parks crunches a lovely knee into Zavala's ribcage.
Zavala fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zavala misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parks lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Parks dodges an elbow strike from Zavala.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Parks lands a knee to the head.
Parks is struggling to control the position.
A knee to the head by Parks.
Zavala is trying to break free.
Zavala takes a knee right on the jaw!
Parks using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zavala has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Parks throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zavala blocks it with crossed arms.
Parks prevents Zavala from breaking the clinch.
Zavala misses with the head strike.
Parks gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Parks lands a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Parks landing knees to the head.
Parks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Parks prevents Zavala from breaking the clinch.
Parks has Zavala pressed against the cage.
Parks scores with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Parks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Parks lands a knee to the body.
Parks is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Zavala throws a head punch that misses.
Parks unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zavala lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Zavala misses with a knee strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Parks.
Knees to the body from Parks.
Zavala tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Parks jumps into guard, dragging Zavala to the mat.
Zavala looking to sit in guard and control but Parks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zavala kicks Parks off and gets to his feet.
Zavala throws a left and a right that both miss

and Parks counters by moving into the clinch.
Parks crunches a lovely knee into Zavala's ribcage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zavala lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Zavala misses with a hook from the clinch.
Parks lands a damaging elbow.
Parks crunches a lovely knee into Zavala's ribcage.
Zavala stalling.
Zavala misses with some punches.
Zavala lands a right hand.
Parks lands an elbow inside.
Parks landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Zavala fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Parks is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Parks lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Parks unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zavala lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Zavala's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zavala throws a body kick the misses

and Parks counters by moving into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zavala tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Parks just stands there and leans against the cage.
Matt Parks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Zavala.
Zavala fails to pull guard.
Zavala stalling in the clinch but Parks improves position.
Parks crunches a lovely knee into Zavala's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zavala misses with some punches.
Zavala misses with a punch to the body.
Knees to the body from Parks.
Zavala is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Parks.
Zavala misses with a punch on the inside.
Parks scores with a knee to the head.
Zavala goes for a takedown in the clinch but Parks prevents it.
Zavala is working for takedown but Parks is calmly controlling the position for now.
Knees in the clinch landing for Parks.
Zavala misses with a body punch.
Zavala is trying to stall.
Zavala has a couple of punches blocked by Parks.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zavala swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zavala trying to stall but Parks improves his position.
Zavala has had enough of the clinch but Parks keeps him there for the moment.
Zavala doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Parks stalling.
Parks misses with a knee strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Parks showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Parks 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Parks!