PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zig Ziggler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alistair Struve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alistair Struve will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ziggler
vs
Struve

180 cm
20
285 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

225 cm
21
275 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zig Ziggler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alistair Struve!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Struve closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ziggler circles away.
Struve looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ziggler slips a jab from Struve.
Ziggler displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Struve throws out the jab.
Struve swings for the body but Ziggler moves out of range.
Ziggler tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Struve paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ziggler tries to clinch up.
Struve swats away the attempt to clinch by Ziggler.
Ziggler tries to clinch up but Struve circles away and keeps his distance.
Ziggler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Struve.
Struve circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ziggler is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ziggler moves into the clinch successfully.

Ziggler gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Struve wants to improve his position but Ziggler is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve gets back to full guard.

Struve looking for a guillotine here but Ziggler defends easily.

Struve looking for a guillotine here but Ziggler defends easily.
Struve being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Struve has his foot on Ziggler's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ziggler works his way back into a safe position though.

Struve has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ziggler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ziggler won't allow Struve to sweep him here.
Ziggler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ziggler avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Struve has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ziggler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ziggler is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Struve looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ziggler slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziggler trying to control but Struve is working from the bottom.

Struve is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ziggler is aware though and is defending well.

Struve is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ziggler defends well.
Struve looks gassed!
Ziggler trying to control the position from guard on top but Struve is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Struve looking for a sweep. Not yet Struve, not yet.
Ziggler controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zig Ziggler dominated that round.
That's time! Ziggler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ziggler uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Struve.
Struve throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Struve thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zig Ziggler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Struve fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ziggler avoids it really well and circles away.
Struve tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ziggler was well out of range. Poor timing from Struve.
Ziggler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Struve was well out of range. Poor timing from Ziggler.
Alistair Struve seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Struve fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ziggler is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Struve's half guard.

Struve looking for submissions off his back.
Struve is breathing heavily.
Ziggler is taking a breather. Struve 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve wants to sweep but Ziggler has passed to side control!
Struve tries to bench press Ziggler off him but Ziggler keeps the position.
Ziggler lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Struve down.
Struve tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ziggler just content to control the position.
Ziggler seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Struve for as long as he can get away with.
Struve manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Struve is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Struve looking for subs from the bottom but Ziggler mounts him!
Struve tries to lock up and control but Ziggler gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziggler looking to control and managing it successfully.
Struve sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Struve throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Ziggler manages to pass to side control.
Ziggler scoring with punches and elbows.
Ziggler taking a breather here.
Struve tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ziggler wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struve taking punishment in the form of punches.
Struve looks to move to half guard but instead Ziggler has passed into mount! Damn!
Struve is squirming around, avoiding Ziggler's attempts to control the action.
Struve wants to hold on but Ziggler pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Struve tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Struve tries to lock up and control but Ziggler gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zig Ziggler dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ziggler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ziggler avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Struve swats away the attempt to clinch by Ziggler.
Struve throws a jab but it's blocked by Ziggler.
Ziggler moves out of range of the strikes.

Ziggler has managed to clinch.
A hook to the body from Ziggler.

Struve pulls guard successfully.

Struve escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ziggler gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Ziggler avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziggler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Struve takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Struve looking for a guillotine here but Ziggler defends easily.

Struve has his foot on Ziggler's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ziggler works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Struve throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Struve trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ziggler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Struve's head.

Struve working for a triangle but Ziggler defends it easily.
Ziggler has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ziggler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ziggler preventing the sweep.
Ziggler might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ziggler avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Struve throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zig Ziggler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ziggler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four 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.

Struve looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Struve being controlled here, momentarily.

Struve is looking for a triangle but Ziggler pushes his legs off easily.
Alistair Struve has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ziggler controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zig Ziggler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ziggler has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zig Ziggler!