PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lyjoto Maskida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sal Zork (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maskida comes to the cage accompanied by Bullet For My Valentine - Tears Don't Fall. The crowd seem to be enjoying Zork's choice of entrance music: Rise Against - Behind Closed Doors. Lyjoto Maskida had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Maskida
vs
Zork

178 cm
21
160 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

180 cm
23
160 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Attraction Clothing

Fenrir Fightgear

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lyjoto Maskida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sal Zork!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zork tries to close the distance and clinch but Maskida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maskida missing with a left hand there. Zork was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lyjoto Maskida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maskida lands a nice shot that snaps Zork's head back.
Maskida throws a hook but Zork avoids it easily.

Zork changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Maskida looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Zork is working Maskida over with some ground and pound from side control.

Zork decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Maskida throws out a loose jab but Zork uses good head movement to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Maskida misses the target.
Jab, jab by Maskida - just one landing.
Maskida digs a good body shot into Zork's ribs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maskida ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zork looks gassed!
Maskida throws a jab but it's blocked by Zork.
Maskida throws the left hand but Zork avoids the punch easily.
Maskida loads up on a big right hand but Zork slips the punch.
Zork uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maskida.
Maskida looks to land a combination but Zork avoids it well.
Maskida misses with a looping left.
Zork uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maskida.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zork fails with an attempt to clinch.

Zork has closed the distance and engaged Maskida in a clinch.
Maskida tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zork just stands there and leans against the cage.

Zork pulls guard effortlessly.

Maskida has gone for a leg lock! Zork slips out almost immediately though and dives into Maskida's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maskida looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Zork is stalling in the full guard.
Zork wants to get up but he can't break Maskida's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Zork lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Maskida can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zork controls the pace.
Zork trying to control but Maskida is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zork decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Maskida, up you get!
Zork throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fighters circling - Maskida throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zork showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maskida.
Maskida falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zork counters with a straight right hand.
Zork bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Zork clinches up with Maskida and pushes him back against the cage.

Zork pulls Maskida into guard.
Zork pulls Maskida in close to prevent any damage.

Zork has his feet on Maskida's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maskida is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zork.
Maskida throws a looping overhand right but Zork ducks down to avoid it.
Zork slips a jab from Maskida.

Zork moves into the clinch.

Maskida is fighting off a takedown attempt but Zork is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Maskida to the mat. Maskida regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Maskida can't keep his opponent in guard - Zork advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zork is taking a breather. Maskida 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.
It looks like Zork is going to stand back up.

Maskida actively working from the bottom here.
Zork not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maskida makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Maskida.

Zork stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A swing and a miss from Maskida.

Zork forces Maskida back against the cage and clinches.
Maskida tries to pull guard but Zork won't allow it.

Zork turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Zork manages to end up in side control.
Maskida tries to improve position but can't.

Zork decides to stand back up. Zork steps back and let's Maskida get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maskida connects with a right hand. Zork shakes it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big right from Maskida misses.

Zork moves into range and clinches up with Maskida.
Maskida tries to pull guard but Zork won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyjoto Maskida. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Maskida is fighting off a takedown attempt but Zork is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Maskida to the mat. Maskida regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maskida throws a lazy right hand but Zork sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Zork decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Maskida gets full guard.

Maskida is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zork defends well.

Maskida is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zork is aware though and is defending well.
Zork pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maskida is keeping the position for now.

Zork stands and steps away. Maskida gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zork stalling in the clinch.

Zork breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zork slips a jab from Maskida.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zork throws a series of punches but Maskida moves out of range.

Zork moves into the clinch.
Maskida tries to pull guard but Zork won't allow it.
A short right from Zork on the inside.

Zork breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zork clobbers Maskida with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Zork has taken the fight to the clinch.
Maskida jumps guard but Zork stands there with Maskida around his waist. Maskida gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Zork's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zork shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maskida sprawls well. Maskida wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zork gets slowly back to his feet.
Maskida comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Maskida jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zork scores with a push kick.
Sal Zork is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Maskida jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zork walks away with a smile on his face. Maskida gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyjoto Maskida. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zork lands a nice looking body shot.
Maskida lands a nice hook to Zork's body. Zork takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Zork darts in and clinches Maskida up against the cage.
Maskida jumps guard but Zork stands there with Maskida around his waist. Maskida gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Maskida jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zork walks away with a smile on his face. Maskida gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Maskida is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Zork closes the distance and pushes Maskida back into the cage.

Zork manages to pull guard.
Zork keeping full guard, as Maskida tries to pass.
Sal Zork has got the better of the ground game so far.

Zork uses the cage to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maskida bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Maskida misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Zork counters by clinching up.
Zork content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zork throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Zork pulls Maskida into guard.
Zork keeping moving, preventing Maskida from controlling successfully.
Maskida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zork is keeping the position for now.
Zork keeping moving, preventing Maskida from controlling successfully.

Zork has his feet on Maskida's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Zork throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Maskida throws out a loose jab but Zork uses good head movement to avoid it.

Zork takes the fight into the clinch.
Maskida tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zork pulls guard.
Zork has Maskida pulled in close to control his posture.
Maskida won't allow Zork to get back to his feet.
Zork is pulling down on Maskida's head. It's preventing any offense from Maskida, at least for the moment.
Zork wants to stand but Maskida is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zork keeping moving, preventing Maskida from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maskida postures up.
Zork wants to sweep here but Maskida controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sal Zork showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Maskida throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Zork counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Zork has picked Maskida up - he's going for a ride! Zork dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Maskida looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zork wants to stand but Maskida has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Maskida actively working from the bottom here.

Zork decides to return to a standing position.
Zork avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zork lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Maskida gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zork to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Zork must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zork wants to control from the top but Maskida keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zork wants to stand but Maskida is controlling his posture from full guard.
Zork sitting in guard here, content to control.

Maskida escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zork gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zork with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

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

Zork stands and steps away. Maskida gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Maskida scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Maskida gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Maskida keeping moving, preventing Zork from controlling successfully.

Maskida working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zork doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zork manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Maskida is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zork stands up over Maskida, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Zork is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Zork thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maskida keeping moving, preventing Zork from controlling successfully.

Maskida is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zork is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Maskida is looking for a triangle but Zork pushes his legs off easily.
Maskida manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Maskida moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Zork has worked his arm free - good work by Zork!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zork dodges the ground and pound from Maskida.
Zork is looking to regain half guard here but Maskida keeps moving and retains side control.
Zork wants to control but Maskida postures up.
Zork tries to strike but it doesn't land.

Maskida is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zork is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zork is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sal Zork comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zork winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

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