PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Peter Zezel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Zezel
vs
Manhoef

180 cm
24
192 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
200 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Win Nutritional
Syndicate Drugs

Knock Out Artistry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Peter Zezel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Melvin Manhoef!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manhoef lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Manhoef on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A good leg kick by Zezel.
Zezel doesn't manage to clinch there - Manhoef circles away.
Zezel throws a chopping leg kick but Manhoef manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Good leg kick by Zezel there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Manhoef ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Zezel throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice defenses there by Zezel.
Zezel ducks under a wild hook from Manhoef.
Zezel swings for the body but Manhoef moves out of range.
Manhoef throws a leg kick
and Zezel counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Manhoef avoids the head kick by Zezel.
Zezel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zezel connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Manhoef circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Manhoef misses with a body shot.
Manhoef misses with a wild body shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Zezel.
Manhoef lands a nice shot to the body.
Zezel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Manhoef.
Zezel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Zezel.
Zezel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zezel tries to clinch but Manhoef is having none of it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Manhoef checks a leg kick.
Zezel throws a leg kick
and Manhoef makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Manhoef throws an overhand right that lands on Zezel's shoulder, as Zezel tries to avoid the shot.
Manhoef throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zezel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Manhoef throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Zezel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Manhoef bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zezel's head backwards.
Manhoef lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zezel throws a front kick that sends Manhoef stumbling back into the cage.
Zezel throws a chopping leg kick but Manhoef manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Manhoef fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zezel manages to avoid it.
Manhoef throws a leg kick that is checked
and Zezel counters with a head kick.
Manhoef thows a leg kick but Zezel checks it
and Zezel counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zezel wants to clinch up but Manhoef keeps it at a distance.
Manhoef throws a leg kick
and Zezel counters with a nice low kick that buckles Manhoef's knee momentarily.
Manhoef looks gassed!
Manhoef on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Zezel scores with a push kick.
Zezel moves in looking to clinch but Manhoef pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zezel throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Zezel. Manhoef shrugs it off though.
Zezel lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zezel scores with a kick to the midsection.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Zezel - that will leave a mark!
Zezel thows a body kick. Manhoef tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick from Zezel lands but Manhoef takes it in his stride.
Zezel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manhoef swats away the attempt to clinch by Zezel.
Manhoef misses with a wild combination.
Manhoef moves out of range of the leg kick from Zezel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zezel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zezel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zezel looks to land a body kick but Manhoef moved away.
Zezel is looking to chop away at Manhoef's legs.
Zezel looks to land a body kick but Manhoef moved away.
Zezel is looking to score with low kicks.
Manhoef just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice body kick from Zezel.
Zezel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manhoef is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Zezel rather than just go for the knockout.
Zezel tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Manhoef counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Zezel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zezel tries to clinch but Manhoef moves away
and Manhoef counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zezel.
Zezel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Manhoef can pounce on him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Zezel dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Manhoef pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Manhoef on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zezel. Zezel obviously looking to wear him down.
Zezel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zezel misses with a kick to the body.
Zezel tries to clinch up.
Peter Zezel is winning the standup battle so far.
Zezel closes the distance but Manhoef moves to the side
and Manhoef makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zezel scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zezel wants to slow Manhoef down by chopping away at his legs.
Manhoef throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zezel counters with a head kick. That will keep Manhoef thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Zezel is looking to slow Manhoef down with leg kicks.
Zezel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Manhoef's sensitive parts.
Manhoef misses with a series of wild punches.
Manhoef has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Zezel.
Manhoef is breathing heavily.
A head kick from Zezel lands but Manhoef takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zezel slips under a jab from Manhoef.
Manhoef swats away the attempt to clinch by Zezel.
Zezel misses with a low kick as Manhoef jumps back.
Manhoef thows a body shot but no joy.

Zezel instigates a clinch.
Zezel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Manhoef avoids it.
Zezel trying to land knees to the body.
Zezel displaying some good clinch control by pressing Manhoef up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Manhoef is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zezel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manhoef.
Manhoef tries to work over Zezel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zezel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manhoef.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Knees to the body from Zezel.
Manhoef is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Manhoef is looking to break free of the clinch but Zezel has double underhooks.
Zezel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zezel tries to land a knee to the head but Manhoef blocks with his arms.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zezel obliges.
Zezel misses with a knee to the head.
Zezel lands a nice knee to the body.
Manhoef managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.
Zezel lands a good knee to the midsection. Manhoef won't want to take too many of those.
Zezel leaning against his opponent.
Manhoef blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The referee calls for Zezel to work.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zezel as Manhoef tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.
Manhoef's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Manhoef working hard to break the clinch.
Manhoef working hard to break the clinch.
Zezel trying to land knees to the body.
Manhoef wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zezel has him pressed against the cage.
Zezel throws an elbow that misses.
Manhoef is looking to break free of the clinch but Zezel has double underhooks.
Manhoef can't break the clinch.
Zezel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Zezel tries to land knees in the clinch but Manhoef avoids the damage to the body.
Manhoef being controlled against the cage.
Zezel trying to land knees to the body.
Manhoef has had enough of the clinch but Zezel keeps him there for the moment.

That's four 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.
Zezel landing knees to the head.

Manhoef breaks the clinch.
Zezel scoring well with a low kick there.
Manhoef takes a kick to the side of the head.
Manhoef swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zezel cracks the inside of Manhoef's front leg.
Zezel moves in looking to clinch but Manhoef pushes him off.
Melvin Manhoef is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zezel thows a leg kick but Manhoef checks it
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zezel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Manhoef. That did some damage!
Zezel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manhoef swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zezel closes the distance and clinches.
Manhoef managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.
Manhoef struggles to land a body shot inside as Zezel controls his hands.
Manhoef wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Zezel dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Manhoef throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zezel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zezel throws a head kick that Manhoef semi-blocks.
Manhoef takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Manhoef throws the kick towards the body but Zezel avoids it.

Zezel drives through and clinches with Manhoef against the cage.
Zezel is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Zezel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Manhoef is defending well for now.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Zezel takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Manhoef looking to stall.
Manhoef takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zezel obliges.
Zezel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A right hook to the body lands for Manhoef.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zezel displaying some good clinch control by pressing Manhoef up against the cage.
Manhoef tries to break free but Zezel pushes him back against the cage.
Manhoef is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zezel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zezel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Manhoef avoids it.
Zezel is trying to stall.
Manhoef being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Peter Zezel.
Manhoef misses the jab.
Zezel is looking to clinch but Manhoef is avoiding it.
Zezel closes the distance looking to clinch
and Manhoef counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two 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.
Manhoef misses with a straight left.
Manhoef lands with an uppercut that bounces Zezel off the cage and back into rage.
Manhoef misses with a hook to the body
and Zezel counters with an outside leg kick.
Manhoef throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zezel explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Manhoef throws a body punch but Zezel moves out of range.
Manhoef throws a combination that misses

and Zezel counters by clinching up.
Zezel misses with a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zezel.

Manhoef breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zezel tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zezel takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Manhoef connects with a body shot.
Manhoef showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zezel.
Zezel is looking to clinch but Manhoef is avoiding it.
A good leg kick by Zezel.
Manhoef circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zezel tries a head kick but it misses.
Zezel looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zezel throws a head kick but Manhoef moves out of range.
Manhoef avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zezel throws a leg kick
and Manhoef counters with a nice body shot.
Manhoef checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Manhoef misses.
Zezel ducks under a wild hook from Manhoef.
Zezel is looking to clinch.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Zezel. Manhoef shrugs it off though.
Zezel tries to move into range but Manhoef moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Peter Zezel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zezel throws a head kick that Manhoef semi-blocks.
Manhoef on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Zezel attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Zezel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zezel throws a leg kick but Manhoef moved away.
Manhoef misses with the combination.
A big right from Manhoef misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Zezel clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A low kick from Manhoef is predictable there
and Zezel makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Manhoef connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Manhoef checks a leg kick.
Zezel misses with an attempted mid kick.
Manhoef throws a lazy body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zezel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zezel feints and then cracks Manhoef's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Manhoef down.
Manhoef connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Zezel forces Manhoef back against the cage and clinches.
Zezel misses with a knee strike.
Zezel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manhoef.
Zezel is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Zezel is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Manhoef is trying to force a seperation but Zezel has the dominant position.
Manhoef is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zezel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manhoef.
Zezel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Manhoef can do to turn this around?
Manhoef takes an elbow to the forehead.
Manhoef is looking to break free of the clinch but Zezel has double underhooks.
Zezel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Manhoef is defending well for now.
Manhoef slowing the pace effectively.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zezel.
Zezel with a knee to the head.
Zezel leaning his opponent against the cage.
Manhoef tries to break free but Zezel pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zezel trying to control the position but instead, Manhoef has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zezel into the cage.
Zezel missing with knees to the body.
Manhoef managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.
Manhoef avoiding damage as Zezel throws knees to the body.
Zezel trying to land knees to the body.
Manhoef takes a knee to the side of the body.

Manhoef breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Manhoef keeps the fight on the outside.
Zezel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Manhoef.
Zezel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zezel lands a nice looking body kick.
A head kick from Zezel lands but Manhoef takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zezel throws a leg kick
and Manhoef counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zezel's knee momentarily.
Zezel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Zezel tries a low kick but Manhoef avoids it.
Zezel pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Zezel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Manhoef swings for the body but Zezel moves out of range.
Zezel tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Manhoef counters with a low kick, right behind Zezel 's knee.
Manhoef circles away from the clinch attempt.
Manhoef scores with a body shot.
Zezel is looking to slow Manhoef down with leg kicks.
Zezel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Zezel moves into range and clinches up with Manhoef.
A left hand lands to the body for Manhoef.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zezel tries to land knees in the clinch but Manhoef avoids the damage to the body.
Manhoef wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zezel has Manhoef pressed against the cage, preventing Manhoef from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Manhoef blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zezel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zezel landing knees to the body.
Zezel leaning against his opponent.
Manhoef pushes Zezel back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Zezel missing with knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Manhoef's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Zezel taking a breather.
Zezel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Manhoef avoids it.
Manhoef avoiding damage as Zezel throws knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zezel.
Zezel has Manhoef pushed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Zezel had his way with Melvin Manhoef in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Zezel takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A slow jab from Manhoef misses its intended target.
Manhoef chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Manhoef throws a hook but Zezel blocks it.
Manhoef thows a leg kick but Zezel checks it

and Zezel counters by moving into the clinch.
Manhoef manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Zezel tries to land knees in the clinch but Manhoef avoids the damage to the body.
Manhoef managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.
Peter Zezel has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Manhoef blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Manhoef struggles to land a body shot inside as Zezel controls his hands.
Zezel lands a nice knee to the body.
Zezel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Manhoef's efforts to push away.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Zezel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zezel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Manhoef avoids it.
Zezel avoiding damage.
Zezel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Manhoef is defending well for now.
Zezel has Manhoef pressed against the cage, preventing Manhoef from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Manhoef manages to break the clinch.
Zezel tries a head kick but it misses.
Zezel throws a lazy body kick
and Manhoef cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Manhoef pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zezel is out of range and Manhoef settles back down.
Manhoef misses with a wild body shot.
Manhoef comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A good leg kick by Zezel.
Melvin Manhoef has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A left and a right from Manhoef both land. Nice combination.
Manhoef has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Zezel.
Zezel lands with an uppercut that bounces Manhoef off the cage and back into rage.
Zezel throws a leg kick which misses Manhoef's front leg but catches the back leg as Manhoef tries to avoid it.
Manhoef checks a leg kick.
Zezel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Manhoef throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zezel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zezel, right into the meat.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Zezel.
Nice body kick there by Zezel.
Zezel lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zezel thumps Manhoef with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Zezel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zezel tries to clinch
and Manhoef connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Manhoef avoids a kick to the body.
Manhoef takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Manhoef takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zezel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Manhoef.
Zezel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Manhoef misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zezel.
Manhoef tries to land a leg kick but Zezel saw it coming and moves away.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Manhoef crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Zezel - the referee stops the clock and Manhoef gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Zezel. Manhoef manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Manhoef chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zezel can pounce on him.
Manhoef gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Zezel counters with a nice low kick that buckles Manhoef's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zezel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zezel.
Zezel tries to land a front kick but Manhoef steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Manhoef gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Zezel connects with a high kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zezel.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zezel throws a head kick that misses.
Manhoef thows a leg kick but Zezel checks it
and Zezel counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Zezel has Manhoef up against the cage in a clinch.
Zezel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manhoef has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zezel with a knee to the head.
Peter Zezel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zezel lands a knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Zezel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zezel 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 50:45
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 50:45
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Zezel!
Peter Zezel retains his middleweight title!