PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gianmarco Zaniboni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abhidi Sharma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sharma has chosen Meditation as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zaniboni
vs
Sharma

175 cm
18
149 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gianmarco Zaniboni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Abhidi Sharma!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sharma tries to clinch up.
Sharma tries to clinch there but Zaniboni circles away.
Zaniboni looks to land a combination but Sharma avoids it well.
Sharma blocks a jab.

Sharma closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sharma leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaniboni can't break the clinch.
Sharma is stalling here.
Zaniboni tries to score a body lock takedown but Sharma shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

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.
A head punch on the inside from Zaniboni fails to land.
Sharma has Zaniboni pressed against the cage.
Zaniboni holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sharma leaning against his opponent.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Abhidi Sharma.
Sharma slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zaniboni.
Sharma is looking to clinch.
Zaniboni takes a swing at Sharma's ribcage but misses.
Abhidi Sharma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zaniboni is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sharma.
Zaniboni misses with the combination.
Zaniboni throws a body punch but Sharma moves out of range.
Sharma wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zaniboni misses with a looping left.
Zaniboni changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sharma tries to avoid it but Zaniboni manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sharma to the ground. Sharma escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A big left from Zaniboni misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sharma wants to clinch.
Sharma slips under a jab from Zaniboni.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abhidi Sharma dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sharma wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sharma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jab, jab by Zaniboni - just one landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaniboni throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gianmarco Zaniboni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zaniboni throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharma avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zaniboni scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zaniboni fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sharma manages to avoid it.
Sharma is looking to clinch.
Zaniboni will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sharma staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharma slips a jab and a cross from Zaniboni.
Sharma tries to clinch but Zaniboni is having none of it.
Zaniboni lands a jab-cross combination.
Zaniboni walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sharma checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zaniboni fails to land the takedown.
Sharma dodges the punch combination from Zaniboni.
No joy there for Zaniboni, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharma tries to close the distance and clinch but Zaniboni swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No luck for Zaniboni with that takedown attempt.
Zaniboni misses with a wild body shot.
Zaniboni misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zaniboni misses the shot to the body.

That's four 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.
Sharma slips under a jab.
Sharma doesn't manage to clinch there - Zaniboni circles away.
Zaniboni scores with a body shot.
Zaniboni ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sharma moves away.
Zaniboni throws a leg kick but Sharma checks it.
Sharma moves out of range as Zaniboni strikes.
Zaniboni tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sharma sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zaniboni somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gianmarco Zaniboni. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sharma clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gianmarco Zaniboni dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sharma tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zaniboni paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gianmarco Zaniboni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zaniboni looks to land a combination but Sharma avoids it well.
Zaniboni fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sharma manages to avoid it.
Zaniboni misses with an uppercut. Sharma saw that one coming.
Zaniboni will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zaniboni misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaniboni shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sharma defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zaniboni.

Sharma gets a clinch.
Sharma pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zaniboni is trying to break the clinch but Sharma is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaniboni tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gianmarco Zaniboni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sharma leaning his opponent against the cage.
Zaniboni tries to pull guard but Sharma holds him up against the cage and eventually Zaniboni drops back down to his feet.
Come on Sharma - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Abhidi Sharma.
Zaniboni circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sharma doesn't manage to clinch there - Zaniboni circles away.
Sharma keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zaniboni looks to land a left hand but Sharma moved out of range nicely.
Sharma doesn't manage to clinch there - Zaniboni circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abhidi Sharma comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sharma has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abhidi Sharma!