PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Zamarano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barry Obomba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barry Obomba will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Zamarano
vs
Obomba

170 cm
24
151 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
21
153 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

[MMABR] Killer Bee Supplements

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ivan Zamarano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Barry Obomba!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obomba shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zamarano but Zamarano pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zamarano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zamarano with a poor takedown

and Obomba counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Zamarano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Obomba.
Obomba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Obomba preventing the sweep.
Obomba wants to control from the top but Zamarano keeps moving.

Obomba drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Zamarano dives on top into guard.
Zamarano postures up in Obomba's guard and throws a big left but Obomba blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obomba keeping moving, preventing Zamarano from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zamarano is working Obomba over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Obomba working a defensive guard here.
Zamarano throws a big right hand that misses.
Zamarano looking to sit in guard and control but Obomba gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Obomba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Obomba postures up in Zamarano's guard and throws a big left but Zamarano blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Obomba lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Obomba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Obomba thows a big elbow that misses.
Obomba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Obomba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zamarano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zamarano fails with the takedown
and Obomba counters with a stiff right hand.

Obomba closes the distance and pushes Zamarano back into the cage.
Obomba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zamarano just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obomba is working for takedown but Zamarano is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ivan Zamarano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Obomba.

Obomba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Obomba with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zamarano counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zamarano is looking to work some ground and pound but Obomba has wrist control.
Zamarano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Obomba works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zamarano working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zamarano has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Obomba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zamarano wants to control from the top but Obomba keeps moving.
Zamarano working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Obomba's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zamarano missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zamarano is pushing down on Obomba's leg trying to pass to half guard. Obomba is fighting to maintain full guard but Zamarano has managed to sneak the leg through.
Zamarano is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Obomba manages to get to full guard.
Zamarano looking to sit in guard and control but Obomba gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Obomba throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Barry Obomba will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Obomba misses with a takedown

and Zamarano counters with a nice double leg into side control. Obomba won't be happy with that.
Zamarano throwing strikes but Obomba manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Obomba is trying to ground and pound but Zamarano uses the momentary lack of control by Obomba to regain half guard.

Obomba is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zamarano keeping hold of Obomba's head, controlling as best he can.
Zamarano regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Obomba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obomba working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Obomba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zamarano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zamarano keeping moving, preventing Obomba from controlling successfully.
Obomba throws and elbow that misses. Zamarano uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Obomba's guard. Nice move by Zamarano!

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.

Obomba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zamarano defends well.
Zamarano is working Obomba over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Zamarano throws and elbow that misses. Obomba uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zamarano's guard. Nice move by Obomba!
Zamarano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Obomba's guard.
Obomba keeping moving, preventing Zamarano from controlling successfully.
Zamarano trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Obomba pushes Zamarano off and scrambles back to his feet.
Zamarano shoots and misses

and Obomba counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Obomba with a flurry of punches that miss.
Obomba trying to control but Zamarano is working from the bottom.
Obomba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Obomba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Obomba with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obomba throwing strikes from guard but Zamarano blocks nicely.
Obomba throws a strike but Zamarano rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Obomba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zamarano is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zamarano drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zamarano makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ivan Zamarano will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zamarano with a lazy takedown attempt

and Obomba counters with a single leg into guard. Zamarano didn't expect that.
Obomba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zamarano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zamarano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Obomba.
Obomba thows a big elbow that misses.
Obomba is looking to work some ground and pound but Zamarano has wrist control.
Obomba postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Obomba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zamarano avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obomba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Obomba closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zamarano to the mat! Zamarano manages to get full guard.
Zamarano avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Obomba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Obomba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zamarano wants to sweep here but Obomba controlling him for the moment.
Obomba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barry Obomba has got the better of the ground game so far.
Obomba is looking to work some ground and pound but Zamarano has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zamarano keeping full guard, as Obomba tries to pass.
Obomba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Obomba trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Zamarano manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Obomba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zamarano working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zamarano trying to control the position from guard on top but Obomba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zamarano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zamarano stopping the sweep attempt from Obomba.
Zamarano thows a big elbow that misses.
Zamarano thows a big elbow that misses.
Zamarano working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Obomba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zamarano's guard.

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.
Zamarano wants to get back to his feet but Obomba is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Obomba throws a strike but Zamarano rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zamarano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Obomba keeping moving, preventing Zamarano from controlling successfully.
Obomba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zamarano is one step ahead there.
Zamarano postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barry Obomba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Obomba has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barry Obomba!