PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Chaves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Zabijaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zabijaka has chosen Toony - Los (Feat. Pih & Fabuła) as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Chaves
vs
Zabijaka

190 cm
19
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
19
240 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Chaves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johny Zabijaka!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zabijaka moves in looking to clinch but Chaves pushes him off.

Zabijaka shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Chaves manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Chaves is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Zabijaka gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Zabijaka feints and as Chaves raises his hands in defense, Zabijaka changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Chaves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zabijaka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zabijaka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zabijaka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chaves trying to keep a closed guard but Zabijaka is proving a slippery customer.

Zabijaka gets to his feet. Chaves looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Zabijaka scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Chaves is refusing to be controlled, as Zabijaka sits in half guard.
Chaves wants to control but Zabijaka is keeping busy.
Chaves is trying to get back to full guard.
Zabijaka wants to control but Chaves is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chaves is pressing down on Zabijaka's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chaves is trying to control the position but Zabijaka postures up.
Chaves controlling the position.
Zabijaka trying to stand up but can't free himself from Chaves's guard.
Chaves is breathing heavily.

Chaves has his foot on Zabijaka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zabijaka works his way back into a safe position though.
Chaves keeping moving, preventing Zabijaka from controlling successfully.
Zabijaka postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zabijaka wants to stand but Chaves is controlling his posture from full guard.

Zabijaka drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zabijaka jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zabijaka trying to control but Chaves is working from the bottom.

Zabijaka got a little sloppy there for a moment and Chaves has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zabijaka has managed to get both his arms back between Chaves's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chaves trying to keep a closed guard but Zabijaka is proving a slippery customer.
Chaves is really struggling to control Zabijaka but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Zabijaka wants to control from the top but Chaves keeps moving.
Zabijaka thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zabijaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Chaves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chaves is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Fernando Chaves will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zabijaka fails with an attempt to clinch.

Zabijaka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Zabijaka looking to control but Chaves is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chaves really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Zabijaka tries to control but Chaves wriggling away.
Chaves is working to get back to half guard.
Zabijaka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Chaves. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabijaka wants to control the pace but Chaves is squirming around nicely.
Chaves gets back to half guard.
Chaves trying to control but Zabijaka postures up.
Chaves tries to roll over but Zabijaka keeps him under control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chaves won't allow Zabijaka to pass to mount.
Zabijaka not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Chaves is trying to maintain the position but Zabijaka is very close to passing his half guard.
Zabijaka wants to stand up but Chaves is controlling the position.

Chaves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zabijaka pulls his head out easily.
Zabijaka is pressing down on Chaves's thigh, looking to free his foot. Chaves is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zabijaka scores with a nice body kick.
Zabijaka throws a series of punches but Chaves avoids them all with ease.
Chaves fails with the takedown

and Zabijaka counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Chaves's guard now.

Chaves had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zabijaka defends it easily.
Zabijaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Chaves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johny Zabijaka has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chaves controls Zabijaka momentarily but Zabijaka frees himself.
Zabijaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Chaves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zabijaka stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Chaves shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zabijaka counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Zabijaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Chaves gets caught flat footed, as Zabijaka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Chaves is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zabijaka is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zabijaka wants to pass the guard but Chaves is keeping the position.

Chaves working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zabijaka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zabijaka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Chaves looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabijaka controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zabijaka trying to control but Chaves is working from the bottom.
Chaves is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zabijaka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chaves is keeping the position for now.
Zabijaka trying to control but Chaves is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Chaves tries for a takedown but Zabijaka circles away easily

and Zabijaka counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Chaves's guard now.
Zabijaka tries to stand but Chaves is controlling from the bottom.

Chaves looking for a guillotine here but Zabijaka defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zabijaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Chaves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zabijaka tries to free his leg and advance position but Chaves is retaining full guard.

Chaves is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zabijaka defends well.
Zabijaka wants to control from the top but Chaves keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chaves keeping full guard, as Zabijaka tries to pass.

Chaves is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zabijaka tries to free his leg and advance position but Chaves is retaining full guard.

Chaves escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zabijaka gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Chaves is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Johny Zabijaka.
Well Zabijaka 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Fernando Chaves!