PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ahmad Zarkesh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sherman Paul III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Zarkesh
vs
Paul III

170 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

197 cm
18
198 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ahmad Zarkesh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sherman Paul III!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Franklyn Lucas and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zarkesh closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Zarkesh not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Paul III moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Zarkesh knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Paul III on the ground.
Paul III doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Paul III throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Paul III trying to strike off his back.
Paul III trying to strike off his back.
Paul III will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Paul III trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Zarkesh really is a fat lump.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Paul III changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zarkesh tries to avoid it but Paul III manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zarkesh to the ground. Zarkesh escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zarkesh shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Paul III counters with a shoot takedown. Zarkesh fights it but they end up in guard.
Paul III postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Paul III postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zarkesh is trying to control the position from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zarkesh is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarkesh wants to pass the guard but Paul III is keeping the position.
Paul III throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Paul III looking for a sweep. Not yet Paul III, not yet.
Zarkesh content to stall in guard here.
Zarkesh wants to control from the top but Paul III keeps moving.
Paul III looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zarkesh is one step ahead there.
Paul III has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zarkesh stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Paul III swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zarkesh might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Zarkesh scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zarkesh is breathing heavily.
Paul III manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zarkesh flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Paul III missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zarkesh is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Paul III thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zarkesh's head.
Zarkesh keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Paul III trying to mount his opponent but Zarkesh defends it.
Zarkesh is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Paul III gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zarkesh counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul III will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Paul III throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Paul III trying to strike off his back.
Paul III doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Paul III trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zarkesh pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paul III is keeping the position for now.
Paul III trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Paul III throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zarkesh misses with a takedown attempt - Paul III sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Paul III misses with a head kick.

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

Zarkesh shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Zarkesh blocks the strikes from Paul III.
Paul III gets back to full guard.
Zarkesh thows a big elbow that misses.
Paul III keeping moving, preventing Zarkesh from controlling successfully.
Paul III striking off his back but it's not causing Zarkesh any problems.
Zarkesh trying to control but Paul III is working from the bottom.
Paul III throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Zarkesh 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.

Zarkesh defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Paul III.

Zarkesh shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Paul III tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Zarkesh blocks the strikes from Paul III.
Zarkesh scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Zarkesh not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ahmad Zarkesh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Paul III punching from the bottom.
Zarkesh working the head and body with strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Still in half guard, Zarkesh seems content to control.
Zarkesh seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paul III does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zarkesh shoots in looking for a takedown. Paul III tries to sprawl out of it but Zarkesh keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Paul III manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul III changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zarkesh tries to avoid it but Paul III manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zarkesh to the ground. Zarkesh escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Paul III wants to clinch but Zarkesh slips to the side

so Zarkesh counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Paul III is on top in guard.
Zarkesh avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Paul III won't allow Zarkesh to get back to his feet.
Paul III throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zarkesh on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zarkesh tries to get out of the position.
Paul III stops Zarkesh from standing up.

Zarkesh is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Paul III won't allow Zarkesh to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul III postures up in Zarkesh's guard and throws a big left but Zarkesh blocks it.
Zarkesh trying to keep a closed guard but Paul III is proving a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Paul III stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Paul III wants it to stay on the feet.
Paul III fails with the takedown.
Ahmad Zarkesh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sherman Paul III.
Zarkesh will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Zarkesh throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Paul III was covering up waiting for the punch and Zarkesh finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zarkesh landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul III lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zarkesh!
Zarkesh working to try and regain half guard.
Zarkesh is working hard here to advance position.
Paul III landing punches.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Paul III postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zarkesh looks a forlorn figure.
Paul III lands a nice shot to the head.
Paul III throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zarkesh is looking to get to half guard.
Paul III postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zarkesh looks a forlorn figure.
Paul III lands a big shot there that rocks Zarkesh but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Zarkesh wants to get back to his feet.
Paul III lands a nice shot to the head.
Zarkesh keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Paul III.
Paul III breaks from Zarkesh's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Zarkesh working to try and regain half guard.
Zarkesh regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Zarkesh dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Paul III tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Zarkesh counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zarkesh.
Zarkesh changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Paul III fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Paul III falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zarkesh counters with a shoot takedown. Paul III fights it but they end up in guard.
Paul III throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Zarkesh preventing the sweep.
Paul III throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paul III trying to strike off his back.
Zarkesh keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Paul III's head.
Zarkesh landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarkesh looking to pass the guard.
Paul III trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Zarkesh gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Paul III gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Paul III missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zarkesh wants to get back to full guard.
Zarkesh blocking the ground and pound attempt from Paul III.
Zarkesh is looking to control Paul III's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zarkesh avoid being mounted?

Zarkesh looking for submissions off his back.
Paul III not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarkesh tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Paul III throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

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

Zarkesh scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zarkesh is trying to control. Paul III wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Paul III scores with a few weak punches.
Zarkesh not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Paul III tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Paul III flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Paul III punching from the bottom.
Paul III throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zarkesh fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Paul III avoids it really well and circles away.
Zarkesh tries for a takedown but Paul III circles away easily

and Paul III counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zarkesh's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ahmad Zarkesh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paul III working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Paul III working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Paul III is looking to work some ground and pound but Zarkesh has wrist control.
Paul III is looking to work some ground and pound but Zarkesh has wrist control.
Paul III content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Paul III working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Paul III throwing strikes but missing.
Zarkesh looking for a sweep. Not yet Zarkesh, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Zarkesh shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Paul III is trying to defend but Zarkesh finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sherman Paul III has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paul III missing with punches from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul III flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Zarkesh lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Paul III misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Paul III looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zarkesh blocks the strikes from Paul III.
Zarkesh seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ahmad Zarkesh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zarkesh stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ahmad Zarkesh.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zarkesh, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahmad Zarkesh!