PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Zest (ranked 4150 p4p, 4085 weight class) and Cenchrus Ekinato (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.

Zest
vs
Ekinato

191 cm
25
211
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
215
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Zest!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cenchrus Ekinato!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ekinato gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ekinato pushes Zest back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Ekinato.
Ekinato lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zest.
Zest has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ekinato is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Zest tries to pull guard but Ekinato won't allow it.
Ekinato misses with some punches.
Ekinato misses with some punches.
Ekinato misses with the head strike.
Ekinato lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zest backwards.
Ekinato controlling the action here for a moment.
Ekinato makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekinato throws a head punch that misses.
Ekinato lands a body shot.
Ekinato working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ekinato tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekinato.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekinato throws a punch but it's blocked by Zest.
Zest blocking some punches.
Ekinato swings wildly with an uppercut but Zest uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Ekinato.
Ekinato tries to throw a body punch but Zest avoids it by throwing Ekinato back against the cage.
Ekinato gets underhooks to prevent Zest's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Zest. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekinato.
Ekinato presses Zest against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekinato.
Ekinato softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right from Ekinato.
Ekinato throws a head punch that misses.
Ekinato lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zest prevents a body shot from Ekinato.
Ekinato tries to work over Zest's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zest jumps guard but Ekinato stands there with Zest around his waist. Zest gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekinato tries a body shot but Zest blocks it.
Ekinato cracks Zest with a nice body shot.
Zest blocking some punches.
Ekinato misses with some punches.
Ekinato throws a head punch that misses.

Zest drags the fight down to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ekinato looking to sit in guard and control but Zest gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ekinato wants to sweep but no luck.
Zest works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ekinato tries to get to full guard but Zest has control of the leg.
Zest slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zest passes to full mount!
Ekinato really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zest. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ekinato tries to reverse the position but Zest maintains control.
Zest lands a big shot there that rocks Ekinato but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Ekinato can't escape the position.

Zest jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Ekinato manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Zest passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Ekinato!
Ekinato working to try and regain half guard.
Zest controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekinato wants to hold on but Zest pushes him away.
Zest content just to control the position here.
Ekinato tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zest sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ekinato wants to control but Zest is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cenchrus Ekinato dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ekinato moves into the clinch.
Ekinato fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ekinato misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekinato.
Ekinato misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zest blocks a body shot from Ekinato.
Ekinato has Zest pressed against the cage.
Ekinato tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ekinato prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ekinato lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekinato misses with some punches.
Ekinato lands a right hand.
Ekinato working aggressively here.
Zest tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekinato throws a head punch that misses.
Ekinato lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Zest blocks an uppercut.
Ekinato lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zest is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ekinato lands a nice shot to the body.
Ekinato leaning against his opponent.
Ekinato doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ekinato doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ekinato misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zest looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ekinato misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ekinato misses with some punches.
Ekinato lands a body shot.
Ekinato throws a punch but it's blocked by Zest.
Zest blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekinato doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ekinato fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ekinato working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zest.
Ekinato tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zest's elbow.
Zest is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ekinato pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Zest. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ekinato misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ekinato swings wildly with an uppercut but Zest uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zest tries to break the clinch but Ekinato is controlling the position.
Ekinato tries to throw a body punch but Zest avoids it by throwing Ekinato back against the cage.
Ekinato misses with some punches.
Ekinato misses with some punches.
Cenchrus Ekinato seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zest has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ekinato avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zest tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ekinato just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zest prevents a body shot from Ekinato.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zest prevents a body shot from Ekinato.
Ekinato pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ekinato swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ekinato lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ekinato lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zest backwards.
Zest has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ekinato after a bit of a struggle.
Ekinato misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekinato.
Ekinato has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ekinato misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekinato.
Zest is trying to break the clinch but Ekinato is controlling him.
A short left from Ekinato.
Zest blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Ekinato fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekinato lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ekinato throws a punch but it's blocked by Zest.
Ekinato tries to throw a body punch but Zest avoids it by throwing Ekinato back against the cage.
Ekinato working aggressively here.
Ekinato misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Ekinato.
Ekinato misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ekinato tries a body shot but Zest blocks it.
Ekinato fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ekinato cracks Zest with a nice body shot.
Zest is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ekinato to keep the fight standing.
Zest's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ekinato misses with a punch to the body.
Ekinato works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Zest pulls guard effortlessly.
Zest has Ekinato pulled in close to control his posture.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cenchrus Ekinato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ekinato clinches with his opponent.
Ekinato lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zest backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekinato.
Ekinato misses with some punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Ekinato.
Ekinato misses with a punch to the body.
Ekinato softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Ekinato as the two fighters clinch.
Ekinato lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zest backwards.
Ekinato tries to throw a body punch but Zest avoids it by throwing Ekinato back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zest.
Ekinato misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ekinato gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zest.
Ekinato scores with a shot to the side of Zest's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zest tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ekinato just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zest is looking to break free of the clinch but Ekinato has double underhooks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ekinato.
Zest blocking some punches.
Ekinato lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ekinato misses with a punch on the inside.
Ekinato lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zest tries to break free but Ekinato pushes him back against the cage.
Ekinato lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zest or not.
Ekinato's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Ekinato blocks a body shot from Zest.
Zest blocking some punches.
Ekinato tries a body shot but Zest blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekinato goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ekinato misses with the head strike.
Ekinato misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zest is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ekinato gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Zest. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ekinato misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Ekinato fails to land.
Ekinato prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ekinato tries to work over Zest's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ekinato presses Zest against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Zest taking a breather.
Ekinato throws a punch but it's blocked by Zest.
Ekinato working aggressively here.
Zest blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Ekinato.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekinato stalling in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Ekinato.
Ekinato lands with a short shot to the head.
Zest changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ekinato fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Ekinato drives through and clinches with Zest against the cage.
Zest fails to pull guard.
Zest is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ekinato is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ekinato lands a nice shot to the body.
A short right from Ekinato on the inside.

Zest drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ekinato looking to pass the guard.
Anthony Zest overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Zest has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Ekinato should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Zest has tightened it up now! Ekinato should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Anthony Zest!