PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sal Zork (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Purcell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zork comes to the cage accompanied by Rise Against - Behind Closed Doors. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zork
vs
Purcell

180 cm
23
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Fenrir Fightgear

Hellbent, Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sal Zork!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenny Purcell!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Purcell is looking to clinch but Zork is avoiding it.
Zork shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Purcell pinned against the cage. Purcell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zork has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Purcell wants to clinch up but Zork keeps it at a distance.
Zork shoots for a takedown but Purcell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Zork moves into range and clinches up with Purcell.

Zork breaks from the clinch.
Zork shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Purcell as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sal Zork. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zork looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Purcell throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Sal Zork has been cut.
Purcell throws a body punch but Zork moves out of range.
Zork dodges the punch combination from Purcell.

Zork shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zork showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Purcell is looking to improve his position.
Purcell is looking to control Zork's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Purcell avoid being mounted?
Purcell wants to get back to full guard.
Zork keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Purcell moves into full guard.
Purcell working a defensive guard but Zork passes into half guard.
Zork wants to free his trapped foot but Purcell is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Zork is thwarting Purcell's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zork wants to stand up but Purcell is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Purcell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zork is working away from the top position though.
Purcell might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Zork kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Zork trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Purcell swinging wilding here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zork checks a leg kick nicely.
Purcell wants to clinch but Zork slips to the side

and Zork counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Purcell's guard now.
Zork tries to stand but Purcell is controlling from the bottom.
Purcell lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zork!
Purcell trying to control but Zork is having none of it.
Zork tries to reverse the position but Purcell maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zork is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zork regains half guard.
Purcell stalling.
Purcell is looking to stall here but Zork recovers full guard.
Zork wants to improve his position but instead Purcell has moved into half guard.
Zork is refusing to be controlled, as Purcell sits in half guard.
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 Sal Zork will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sal Zork's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zork connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Purcell connects with a body shot.
Zork fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zork missing with a left hand there. Purcell was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zork tries to score a power double leg takedown but Purcell sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zork somewhat.
Zork fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sal Zork. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zork circles away from the clinch attempt

and Zork counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Zork throws a strike but Purcell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Purcell wants to stand and escape but instead Zork has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Purcell wants to stand but Zork is controlling the position.
Zork trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Purcell wants to get back to his feet but Zork is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Purcell is breathing heavily.
Zork works over Purcell with some ground and pound from guard.
Purcell is trying to control the position but Zork postures up.
Zork slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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.

Zork gets to his feet - Purcell follows without any prompting.
Kenny Purcell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zork fails to land the takedown.
Purcell throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Zork counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Purcell manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A slapping leg kick lands for Zork.
Zork tries to clinch but Purcell moves away
and Purcell counters with a nice body shot.
Purcell showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zork.
Zork shoots in for a takedown but Purcell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Purcell misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kenny Purcell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zork tries to close the distance and clinch up but Purcell swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zork fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Purcell sprawls well initially but Zork persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zork lands a nice short elbow.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Purcell can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zork content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are battling for position here. Purcell manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Purcell wants to stand up but Zork is controlling him.
Zork trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zork trying to control but Purcell is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Purcell is working an open guard so Zork takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Zork shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zork seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Zork trying to control but Purcell is working from the bottom.
Purcell working a defensive guard but Zork passes into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Purcell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zork stalling.
Purcell is refusing to be controlled, as Zork sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sal Zork dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sal Zork's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Zork lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Zork tries to clinch but Purcell is having none of it.
Purcell misses with a combination
and Zork counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Purcell throws a combination. Zork tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Zork shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Purcell counters with a one-two to the body.
Zork shoots for a double leg takedown but Purcell sprawls well. He's pushed Zork's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Zork shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zork showed some decent athleticism there.
Purcell trying to control but Zork postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zork escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zork drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Purcell keeping moving, preventing Zork from controlling successfully.
Purcell looking for a sweep. Not yet Purcell, not yet.

Zork drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Purcell manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zork has Purcell in his guard.
Purcell trying to control but Zork is working from the bottom.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zork throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Purcell sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Zork is looking for a triangle but Purcell pushes his legs off easily.
Zork is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zork looking for a sweep. Not yet Zork, not yet.
Purcell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zork. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zork being controlled here, momentarily.

Zork working for a triangle but Purcell defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Purcell tries to free his leg and advance position but Zork is retaining full guard.
Zork managing to control the position.
Purcell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Purcellis looking to pass into half guard but Zork pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Zork is in guard.
Zork controls from within his opponent's guard.
Zork trying to control but Purcell is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zork postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kenny Purcell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zork works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Purcell is trying to stand.
Sal Zork overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Zork seems to be looking for submissions.
Purcell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zork is working away from the top position though.
Zork is taking a breather. Purcell says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sal Zork is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Purcell throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sal Zork showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zork, 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sal Zork!