PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gianfranco Zola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinya Takata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zola's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Balls to the Wall. This should be a great matchup!

Zola
vs
Takata

163 cm
27
142 lbs
21 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
143 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BUY ONE,GET TWO

SPARTAN FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTAN FIGHTWARE-GTI

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gianfranco Zola!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shinya Takata!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takata scores with a nice strike.
Shinya Takata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good work by Takata as he checks the leg kick.
Takata tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zola checks a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Takata.
Zola throws the left hand but Takata avoids the punch easily.
Takata misses with the combination.
Takata tried to score with a low kick but Zola checks it.
Zola stuns Takata with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A jab lands there for Takata.
Takata looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takata moves away.
Zola fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takata manages to avoid it.
Zola scores with a hook to the body. Takata takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Takata waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zola.
Takata thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zola moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takata throws a shot from downtown. Zola moves away and avoids it.
Takata throws a big shot that misses.
A lazy left from Zola finds it's target.
Takata throws out a leg kick but Zola moves out of range and Takata only half commits.
Takata cracks Zola with an open hand slap.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zola. Takata does a little dance to reset his feet.

Zola shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zola wants to control from the top but Takata keeps moving.
Zola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takata is keeping the position for now.
Takata pulls Zola in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zola trying to control the position from guard on top but Takata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takata looking to control.
Zola looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zola drops back looking for a leg! Takata is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Takata manages to kick Zola off! Zola jumps back into Takata's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Takata throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Takata attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Takata fails with the takedown

and Zola counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zola.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takata keeping full guard, as Zola tries to pass.
Takata is controlling Zola's posture.
Takata wants to hit a switch here but Zola passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Takata there!
Zola fails to take his opponent's back.

Zola looking for a guillotine from mount but Takata is having none of it.

Zola has control of Takata's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Takata regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four 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.
Takata is trying to escape the mount.
Takata is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Takata wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Zola.
Zola moves to the back.
Takata is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gianfranco Zola dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Takata has his takedown stuffed
and Takata takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Takata fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zola uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takata.
Zola shoots in but Takata avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Takata throws a shot from downtown. Zola moves away and avoids it.
Zola lands with a right hand.
Zola tries to score a power double leg takedown but Takata sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zola somewhat.
Zola scores with a leg kick.
Zola gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Takata throws a jab when Zola was well out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zola.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takata shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zola defends it nicely.
Zola smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Takata throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zola's corner calls for a 1-2. Zola obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Takata.
Left hook, right uppercut from Takata.
Nice defenses there by Zola.
Takata takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Zola moves out of range of the body kick from Takata.
Takata is breathing heavily.
Zola lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Takata at a distance.
Zola steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Takata.
A telegraphed right hand from Takata misses the target.

Zola gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takata is not content to let Zola control the position.

Zola is working for a submission of some sort.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takata wants to control but Zola is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zola stops Takata from getting back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Takata can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zola is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zola throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Takata because Zola loaded up on that one.
Takata is looking to get to half guard.

Zola with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Takata is desperately trying to improve his position but Zola has a good base and remains in mount.
Takata tries to hold on but Zola pushes him away.

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.

Zola goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Takata is on top in guard.
Takata working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Takata throwing strikes from guard but Zola blocks nicely.
Takata chips away with some ground and pound.
Takata wants to control from the top but Zola keeps moving.
Zola manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Takata wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Zola.
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 Gianfranco Zola will probably get the nod.
That's time! Zola's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Takata looks to throw the jab but Zola is out of range.
Takata swings for the body but Zola moves out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Takata blocks the leg kick.
Zola avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zola wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zola is looking to wear down Takata with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Zola throws a shot from downtown. Takata moves away and avoids it.
Nice uppercut lands for Zola. That snapped Takata's head back.
Good shot there by Zola.
Takata falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Zola to counter with a crisp jab.
Zola fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Takata throws an overhand right that lands on Zola's shoulder, as Zola tries to avoid the shot.
Zola lands a nice hook to Takata's body. Takata takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Takata scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takata moves out of range as Zola throws a body kick.
Takata takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Takata waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zola.
Takata with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zola to score with a decent uppercut.
Takata throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zola counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Zola.
Zola cracks Takata with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Zola scores with a jab.
Takata shoots in for a double leg but Zola sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gianfranco Zola is winning the standup battle so far.
Takata throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zola.

Zola looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zola wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takata keeps working.
Zola is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Zola is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Takata is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zola is working for a kimura but Takata is defending it quite comfortably.
Zola is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Zola is looking for a kimura but Takata is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zola to get the leverage.
Takata is looking to escape.
Takata really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zola. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Takata is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zola's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zola's back!
Even with his hooks in, Takata manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Zola covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

That's four 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.
Zola just trying to survive but Takata is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Takata lands punches and elbows.
Zola wants to escape the position.
Takata throwing sloppy strikes.
Zola trying to control the action but Takata just sinks the hooks in.
Takata gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Takata is not going to allow Zola to sit and survive in this position.
Takata lands strikes to the head.
I really don't envy Zola right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gianfranco Zola clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Takata misses with a straight left.
Zola takes a swing at Takata's ribcage but misses.
Zola misses with a hook.
Zola throws a body punch but Takata moves out of range.
Zola checks the leg kick.
Takata blocks a low kick nicely.
Takata misses the jab.
Zola fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Takata checks it well.
Takata avoids the body shot from Zola.
Takata misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zola takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Takata throws a hook but Zola blocks it.
Takata misses with a low kick as Zola jumps back.
Takata has his takedown stuffed
and Zola makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Takata is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Zola.
Zola sizes up Takata with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Zola misses with a wild body shot.
Nice defenses there by Zola.
Takata fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zola works over Takata's head and body with a nice combination.
Zola scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Takata doesn't seem bothered though.
Zola throws a low kick, looking for Takata's leg but Takata calmly moves out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Zola. That snapped Takata's head back.
Nice body punch from Zola.
Zola throws out a loose jab but Takata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zola does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Zola keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zola just misses with a punch to the body.
Zola scores with a shot to the body.
A slow jab from Takata misses its intended target.
Zola moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zola lands a glancing blow to the side of Takata's head.
Takata misses with a body shot
enabling Zola to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice shot by Zola.
Zola scores with a crisp jab that stopped Takata in his tracks.
Takata shoots in looking for a takedown. Zola tries to sprawl out of it but Takata keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zola manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gianfranco Zola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinya Takata.
Takata throws a hook but Zola blocks it.
Zola scores with a shot to the body.
Takata misses with a takedown
and Zola counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zola uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takata.
Zola wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zola bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Takata's head.
Takata throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zola counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd cheers as Zola lands an impressive looking overhand right. Takata doesn't seem phased though.
Takata thows a left - swing and a miss!

Zola is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Takata's half guard.
Takata is trying to stand.
Zola is thwarting Takata's attempts to control the position.
Zola passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zola working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Takata looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Zola! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Gianfranco Zola!
Gianfranco Zola retains his bantamweight title!