PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bill Zebub (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Quick Smalls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bill Zebub has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zebub
vs
Smalls

178 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
22
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bill Zebub!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Quick Smalls!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smalls stuffs the takedown attempt from Zebub. Zebub gets slowly back to his feet.
Smalls has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Zebub finds it's way round the side to connect with Smalls's head.
Smalls throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zebub tries to clinch there but Smalls circles away.

Smalls gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smalls is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zebub throwing strikes from guard but Smalls blocks nicely.
Zebub working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smalls trying to keep a closed guard but Zebub is proving a slippery customer.
Zebub with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smalls keeping full guard, as Zebub tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zebub is looking to work some ground and pound but Smalls has wrist control.
Zebub makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zebub throws a big right hand that misses.
Zebub has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zebub postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Zebub drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zebub jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zebub throws and elbow that misses. Smalls uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zebub's guard. Nice move by Smalls!
Smalls trying to control but Zebub is working from the bottom.
Smalls wanted to stand there but Zebub had control of the position.
Zebub tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zebub is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smalls content to stall in guard here.
Smalls trying to control the position from guard on top but Zebub is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zebub fails with a takedown attempt.
Zebub rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smalls moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zebub misses with a wild combination.

Smalls gets caught flat footed, as Zebub shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zebub trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zebub loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zebub throws and elbow that misses. Smalls uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zebub's guard. Nice move by Smalls!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls wants to get up but he can't break Zebub's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Smalls won't allow Zebub to sweep him here.
Smalls pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zebub is keeping the position for now.
Smalls is looking to stand up but Zebub won't let him.
Smalls is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

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

Zebub closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zebub scores with punches from side control.
Zebub in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Smalls is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zebub has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Smalls looks gassed!
Zebub in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Zebub scores with a couple of short elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zebub goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Smalls rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Zebub's guard! Nice work there by Smalls!
Zebub looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smalls is one step ahead there.
Smalls's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Zebub wants to sweep here but Smalls controlling him for the moment.
Zebub bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smalls's guard.
Zebub throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zebub prevents Smalls from getting back to his feet.
Zebub working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zebub wants to pass the guard but Smalls is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Zebub dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zebub scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smalls trying to hold on to Zebub's head to control him but Zebub postures up.

Zebub seems to be looking for submissions.
Zebub not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zebub throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zebub throwing shots but Smalls is blocking nicely.

Zebub is looking for a kimura but Smalls is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zebub to get the leverage.
Zebub thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smalls's head.

Zebub seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zebub tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zebub closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smalls to the mat! Smalls manages to get full guard.

Smalls manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Smalls as Zebub shoots in.
Zebub misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zebub will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Zebub. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smalls misses with a looping right.
Zebub slips under a jab.
Zebub moves in looking to clinch but Smalls pushes him off.
Zebub fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zebub has a takedown stuffed.
Zebub uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smalls.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zebub shoots in for a double leg but Smalls sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zebub throws a leg kick that misses.
Smalls throws a shot from downtown. Zebub moves away and avoids it.
Smalls throws an overhand right that lands on Zebub's shoulder, as Zebub tries to avoid the shot.
Smalls circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zebub shoots for a double leg takedown but Smalls sprawls well. He's pushed Zebub's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Zebub looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smalls trying to control but Zebub postures up.
Zebub throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smalls tries to get to full guard but Zebub has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zebub thows a huge punch but Smalls dodges it nicely.

Smalls kicks Zebub off and gets back to his feet.
Zebub tries to clinch but Smalls is having none of it.
Some bone on bone action there as Zebub checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Zebub wants to clinch.
Zebub closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smalls circles away.
Bill Zebub is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zebub fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smalls leaves Zebub with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zebub slaps away a takedown attempt from Smalls, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zebub shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Zebub throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zebub throwing shots but Smalls is blocking nicely.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zebub connects with a nice short shot to Smalls's temple.
Smalls keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Zebub is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Smalls doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zebub.

Zebub is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Zebub dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Smalls tries to keep at a distance but Zebub has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smalls is trying to break the clinch but Zebub is controlling him.
Zebub looking for a takedown.
Zebub tries to score a body lock takedown but Smalls shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Zebub gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zebub is working for takedown but Smalls is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Zebub. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zebub tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Zebub drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smalls pulls his leg out and moves away.

Zebub shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Smalls manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Zebub throwing strikes from guard but Smalls blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smalls tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zebub throws and elbow that misses. Smalls uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zebub's guard. Nice move by Smalls!
Smalls trying to control but Zebub is working from the bottom.

Smalls got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zebub has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smalls has managed to get both his arms back between Zebub's legs - danger averted.
Zebub looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smalls is one step ahead there.
Smalls wanted to stand there but Zebub had control of the position.

Smalls got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zebub has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smalls has managed to get both his arms back between Zebub's legs - danger averted.
Bill Zebub overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zebub throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Zebub wants to sweep but no luck.
Zebub keeping moving, preventing Smalls from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zebub tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smalls paws at him with a jab and circles away.

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.
Zebub gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Smalls counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zebub's guard now.
Smalls has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zebub is proving hard to escape from.

Zebub is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Smalls would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Smalls's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Smalls wants to stand but Zebub has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Smalls trying to control but Zebub is working from the bottom.

Zebub looking for a guillotine here but Smalls defends easily.

Zebub working for a triangle but Smalls defends it easily.
Bill Zebub is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls trying to control the position from guard on top but Zebub is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smalls gets to his feet - Zebub follows without any prompting.
Smalls tries for a takedown but Zebub sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Zebub bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Smalls tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zebub working the head and body with strikes.
Smalls on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smalls is looking to reverse the position.
Zebub wants to control but Smalls is keeping him busy.
Zebub tries to score with some ground and pound. Smalls controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
An elbow from Zebub crashes against the mat.
The strikes coming from Zebub are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Quick Smalls has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
An elbow from Zebub crashes against the mat.
Zebub is putting a hurting on Smalls here, landing some big shots from side control.
Zebub misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Zebub in side control, throwing shots but Smalls defends.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bill Zebub showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zebub, 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill Zebub!