PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Eli Zabitz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Lite (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lite has chosen Lights out as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zabitz
vs
Lite

225 cm
24
130 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
140 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

MADE IN GERMANY

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Eli Zabitz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Lite!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lite throws a body punch but Zabitz moves out of range.
Lite tries to clinch but Zabitz moves out of range.
Lite shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zabitz defends it nicely.
Zabitz turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zabitz lands with a good body shot.
Lite misses with an uppercut.
Lite moves in looking to clinch but Zabitz pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabitz blocks a head kick by Lite.
Zabitz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zabitz slips a straight right by Lite.
Zabitz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lite.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lite.
Lite checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Lite drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zabitz wants to control but Lite postures up.

Lite is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zabitz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lite trying to control the action but Zabitz is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zabitz wants to control but Lite postures up.
Zabitz trying his best to control but Lite has mounted him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lite avoids the attempt from Zabitz to control.
Lite tries to control but Zabitz wriggling away.
Lite thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark Lite will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lite drops Zabitz with a beautiful combination! Zabitz stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Lite is looking for the KO!

Zabitz is rocked!

It looks like Eli Zabitz has been cut.
Lite pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Oh Zabitz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mark Lite seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lite shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zabitz pinned against the cage. Zabitz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zabitz seems to have got his legs back now.
Lite tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lite bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Zabitz's head.
Lite throws a leg kick
and Zabitz counters with a leg kick.
Zabitz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lite throws out the jab.
Zabitz swinging wildly here.

Lite scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zabitz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lite.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lite wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zabitz keeps working.
Lite thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zabitz's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lite is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zabitz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Zabitz wants to get back to full guard but Lite has passed into side control.
Zabitz working to try and regain half guard.
Zabitz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zabitz tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zabitz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Poor strikes thrown by Lite there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Lite looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Lite showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Eli Zabitz's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lite darts in trying to clinch
and Zabitz counters with an inside leg kick.
A head kick by Lite misses
and Zabitz counters with a nice body shot.
Lite throws a left and a right that both miss
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zabitz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lite stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zabitz.
Eli Zabitz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lite loads up on a big right hand but Zabitz slips the punch.
Lite tries to clinch there but Zabitz circles away.
Lite falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zabitz counters with a nice leg kick.
Lite fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Eli Zabitz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zabitz leaves Lite with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lite takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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.
Zabitz misses with a combination

and Lite counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zabitz!
Lite throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Zabitz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lite misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lite trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zabitz wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Lite.
Zabitz takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Lite thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Mark Lite just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Eli Zabitz's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lite throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zabitz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zabitz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lite misses with a combination
and Zabitz counters with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lite throws a head kick that misses
and Zabitz counters with a low kick, right behind Lite 's knee.
Lite falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zabitz counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lite throws a shot from downtown. Zabitz moves away and avoids it.
Lite shoots in but no luck this time.
Lite takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Lite dives in and grabs Zabitz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zabitz pushes down on Lite's head and hops out.
Lite is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Left hook, right uppercut from Zabitz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zabitz lands with a good body shot.
Zabitz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lite tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zabitz swivels and escapes.
Eli Zabitz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Lite.
Zabitz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Zabitz.
Lite takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Eli Zabitz is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zabitz cracks Lite with a right hand to the side of the head.
Lite misses with a body punch
and Zabitz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Zabitz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zabitz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lite moves in looking to clinch but Zabitz pushes him off.
Zabitz looks to land a combination but Lite avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lite wants to clinch but Zabitz slips to the side
and Zabitz counters with a one-two to the body.
Zabitz tries to land a leg kick but Lite saw it coming and moves away.
Lite closes the distance but Zabitz moves to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lite throws a jab when Zabitz was well out of range.
Lite looks to clinch
and Zabitz counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Zabitz had his way with Mark Lite in that round.
The cut man is working on Eli Zabitz's cut.
That's time! Zabitz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Zabitz moves away from the strike by Lite.
Zabitz scores with a leg kick.
Zabitz throws a leg kick but Lite checks it.
Lite throws a head kick that misses
and Zabitz counters with a three punch combo that has Lite backing up. Lite nods at Zabitz to acknowledge the strikes.
Lite throws a head kick that misses
and Zabitz counters with a series of strikes. Lite will be more careful next time no doubt.
Zabitz attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lite shoots in looking for a takedown. Zabitz tries to sprawl out of it but Lite keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zabitz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lite is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Zabitz tries to land a leg kick but Lite saw it coming and moves away.
Lite throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zabitz counters with a series of strikes. Lite will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lite misses the body punch
and Zabitz counters with a left to the body.

That's two 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.

Lite gets a takedown into half guard.
Zabitz tries to roll over but Lite keeps him under control.
Zabitz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lite wants to control but Zabitz is keeping him busy.
Lite thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lite wants to take a breather but Zabitz is having none of it.

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.
Zabitz tries to roll over but Lite keeps him under control.
Lite throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zabitz is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eli Zabitz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lite has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Eli Zabitz!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Eli Zabitz!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Eli Zabitz!

Eli Zabitz wins by unanimous decision!
Eli Zabitz retains his bantamweight title!