PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zeburdiah Zappatista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Van Der (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zeburdiah Zappatista has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Zappatista
vs
Der

188 cm
20
198 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

188 cm
22
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zeburdiah Zappatista!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Van Der!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zappatista.
Der blocks a head kick by Zappatista.
Der gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zappatista counters with a big head kick but Der shrugs it off.
Zappatista uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Der.

Der shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Der was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Der tries to take his opponent's back but Zappatista turns with him and manages to move into guard on the top. Nice work.
Zappatista slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Der manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Der wants to control the pace but Zappatista is squirming around nicely.
Zappatista wants to hold on but Der pushes him away.
Zappatista is in all sorts of trouble here.

Der goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Zappatista turns into him and now he's in Der's guard.
Zappatista sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Der's guard.
Zappatista prevents Der from improving his position.
Zappatista trying to control from half guard but Der is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zappatista is really struggling to control Der but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Zappatista thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Der's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Der actively working from the bottom here.
Der looks gassed!
Zappatista is thwarting Der's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Der on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Zappatista there.

Zappatista looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Zappatista is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Der is just riding it out for now. Zappatista eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zappatista trying to control the action but Der is working from the bottom.

Zappatista is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Der gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Der is on top in guard.
Zappatista manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Der is squirming around, avoiding Zappatista's attempts to control the action.
Der keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zappatista is landing with some decent strikes but Der is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Zappatista goes for an armbar but Der turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Der.
Zappatista is trying to control the position but Der postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeburdiah Zappatista dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Der with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zappatista counters with a head kick.
Zappatista throws a half hearted mid kick.
Der blocks a head kick by Zappatista.
Zappatista misses with a looping left.
Zeburdiah Zappatista seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zappatista throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Der doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zappatista counters with a single leg into guard. Der didn't expect that.

Zappatista drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Der dives on top into guard.
Der preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Der showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Der trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Der looking to sit in guard and control but Zappatista gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zappatista trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Der keeping full guard, as Zappatista tries to pass.
Der not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zappatista trying to control the position from guard on top but Der is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zappatista misses the jab.

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.
Zappatista doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Der decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zappatista's guard.
Zappatista keeping moving, preventing Der from controlling successfully.

Zappatista has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Der can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Der controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Der wants to control from the top but Zappatista keeps moving.

Der has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Zappatista to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Der is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Zappatista pulls down on the head and he's put Der to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Zeburdiah Zappatista!