PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ajamu Mokoena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Zing (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mokoena
vs
Zing

187 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ajamu Mokoena!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gabriel Zing!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mokoena lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Gabriel Zing has been cut.
Zing moves forwards but Mokoena connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Mokoena dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mokoena stuffs the takedown attempt from Zing. Zing gets slowly back to his feet.
Mokoena misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zing takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Mokoena scores with a jab to the body.
Zing tries for a takedown but Mokoena sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mokoena looks to land a combination but Zing avoids it well.

Zing closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mokoena to the mat! Mokoena manages to get full guard.
Mokoena looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zing is one step ahead there.
Zing thows a big elbow that misses.
Zing preventing the sweep.
Zing working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mokoena tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zing must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zing trying to control the position from guard on top but Mokoena is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zing postures up in Mokoena's guard and throws a big left but Mokoena blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zing moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Mokoena closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mokoena lands in his opponent's guard.
Zing wants to stand and escape but Mokoena is having none of it.
Zing looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mokoena accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zing wants to sweep but no luck.
Mokoena pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zing is keeping the position for now.
Zing lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mokoena!
Mokoena is breathing heavily.
Mokoena is trying to escape the mount.
Zing with the ground and pound from mount.
Zing tries to control but Mokoena wriggling away.
Zing looking to finish Mokoena with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mokoena!
Mokoena really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zing landing strikes, looking to finish!
Zing dominating with strikes here.
Zing scoring with strikes but Mokoena is staying in there.
Zing breaks from Mokoena's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Zing landing punches.
Zing scoring with strikes but Mokoena is staying in there.
Zing scores with a couple of good head shots there.
A nice elbow there by Zing.
Zing landing punches.
Zing trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mokoena takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mokoena really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zing landing strikes from the mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zing working Mokoena over with strikes here.
Mokoena taking shots to the head.
Zing landing strikes from the mount.
Zing lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Zing raining down shots from the mount!
Zing scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Mokoena is wriggling around trying to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee warns Mokoena that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Zing working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Mokoena is rocked!
Zing landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Zing dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Zing's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zing looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Oh Mokoena is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zing seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Mokoena actively working from the bottom here.
Mokoena seems to have got his legs back now.
Zing lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zing lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Zing lands strikes from half guard.
Zing is keen to just control but Mokoena is a slippery customer.
Zing takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mokoena taking some punishment here, with Zing in his half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mokoena wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mokoena taking some punishment here, with Zing in his half guard.
Zing looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zing landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zing working over Mokoena with some ground and pound. Mokoena looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mokoena has hold of Zing's hands but Zing slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Mokoena on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zing working Mokoena over with strikes.
Mokoena has hold of Zing's hands but Zing slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Zing looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zing scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zing lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zing winds up and cracks Mokoena with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Zing working Mokoena over with strikes.
Zing is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mokoena has hold of Zing's hands but Zing slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Mokoena on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zing working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zing working Mokoena over with strikes.
Zing drops an elbow to the side of Mokoena's head.
Gabriel Zing has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mokoena is not content to let Zing control the position.
Zing sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Mokoena wants to get back to full guard.
Zing is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zing lands with a punch from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zing connects with a nice short shot to Mokoena's temple.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zing connects with a nice short shot to Mokoena's temple.
Zing landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Mokoena taking some punishment here, with Zing in his half guard.
Mokoena taking some punishment here, with Zing in his half guard.
Zing working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zing lands strikes from half guard.
Zing scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Zing takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Zing scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Zing is pressing down on Mokoena's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mokoena is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zing working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nice strikes from Zing there.
Zing takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zing lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mokoena manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zing working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zing scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mokoena is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zing passes Mokoena's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zing looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mokoena with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Zing showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Zing's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zing drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mokoena is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zing connects with a decent elbow.
Mokoena gets back to half guard.
Zing scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mokoena makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mokoena.
Zing lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zing distracts Mokoena with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Zing avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zing works over Mokoena with some ground and pound from guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zing distracts Mokoena with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zing's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mokoena keeping moving, preventing Zing from controlling successfully.
Mokoena is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zing connects with a couple of short punches.
Mokoena has momentary wrist control but Zing slips an elbow through the middle.
Zing preventing the sweep.
Zing trying to control but Mokoena is working from the bottom.
Zing is working Mokoena over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mokoena tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zing scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zing wants to control from the top but Mokoena keeps moving.
Zing lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zing stopping the sweep attempt from Mokoena.
Zing lands a couple of elbows.
Zing passes Mokoena's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zing slips a nice elbow through Mokoena's hands, connecting with Mokoena's forehead.
Zing is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Zing scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zing lands with a punch from half guard.
Zing working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zing wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mokoena keeps working.
Zing looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mokoena with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nice strikes from Zing there.
Zing is nestled in close to Mokoena, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Zing is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zing working Mokoena over with strikes.
Mokoena is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Zing jumps into side control!
Zing working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Check out the look on Zing's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mokoena taking a bit of punishment here - Zing scoring with strikes.
Mokoena is looking to regain half guard here but Zing keeps moving and retains side control.
Zing working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ajamu Mokoena has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zing looks up at the clock and then as Mokoena takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Zing smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Mokoena tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zing wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Zing is working Mokoena over with some ground and pound from side control.
Zing is putting a hurting on Mokoena here, landing some big shots from side control.
Zing works to advance to full mount. Mokoena defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Zing raining down shots from the mount!
Zing working the ground and pound effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Zing comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zing 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 26:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 26:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Zing!