PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bambooo Man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolas Zerka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zerka is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by mc circulaire. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Man
vs
Zerka

200 cm
20
215 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

191 cm
20
205 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bambooo Man!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nicolas Zerka!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Man shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zerka pinned against the cage. Zerka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Zerka lands a high kick to the side of Man's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Zerka dives into guard, looking to finish.

It looks like Bambooo Man has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Man seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zerka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zerka looking to pass the guard.
Man on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Man tries to get out of the position.
Zerka trying to control but Man is working from the bottom.
Man managing to control the position.
Zerka stopping the sweep attempt from Man.
Man keeping moving, preventing Zerka from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zerka throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zerka circles away.
Zerka works over Man's head and body with a nice combination.

Man closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zerka to the mat! Zerka manages to get full guard.
Man knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zerka on the ground.

Zerka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Man gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Man pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zerka is keeping the position for now.

Zerka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Man defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man throws and elbow that misses. Zerka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Man's guard. Nice move by Zerka!
Man managing to control the position.
Zerka is looking to stand up but Man won't let him.
Man looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zerka is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zerka drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zerka jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Man manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zerka manages to get himself to full guard.
Man throws a strike but Zerka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zerka postures up.
Zerka preventing the sweep.

Zerka gets to his feet - Man follows without any prompting.

Man shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zerka is trying to defend but Man finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Man has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Man landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Man dominating with strikes here.
Man landing strikes from the mount and Zerka is in trouble!
Man punching from mount but Zerka doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Man punishing his opponent with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zerka tries to lock up and control but Man gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zerka regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Man looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nicolas Zerka will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bambooo Man's cut.
That's time! Man's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zerka misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Zerka.
Zerka throws a big shot that misses.
Zerka misses with a takedown attempt

and Man counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Man pushes down on Zerka's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Man thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zerka's head.
Man looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Man looks to land a strike but Zerka avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zerka throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Man trying to move into half guard but instead Zerka has managed to sweep!
Man looking for a sweep. Not yet Man, not yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Man keeping moving, preventing Zerka from controlling successfully.
Zerka is fighting to break Man's control of his arms but Man is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Zerka looking to pass the guard.
Zerka wants to control from the top but Man keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Man shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zerka is trying to defend but Man finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Man is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Man throws a strike but Zerka avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Man trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zerka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Man manages to get himself to full guard.
Man looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zerka is one step ahead there.
Man is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zerka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zerka wants to stand but Man is controlling his posture from full guard.
Man wants to sweep but no luck.
Zerka tries to free his leg and advance position but Man is retaining full guard.
Bambooo Man overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zerka trying to stand up but can't free himself from Man's guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zerka throws a head kick but Man moves out of range.
Zerka is breathing heavily.
Man displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Zerka moves in looking to clinch but Man pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Man shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Man is thwarting Zerka's attempts to control the position.
Zerka has hold of Man's hands but Man slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Man seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Zerka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Man.
Man missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bambooo Man dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bambooo Man's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Man bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Zerka pushes Man away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Man gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The ground and pound from Man seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Man throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Man lands a few punches from side control.
Zerka avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Man.
Man tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Man throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Zerka works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Man sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zerka defending well though.
Man is thwarting Zerka's attempts to control the position.
Zerka regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Man loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Man working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zerka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Man is looking to work some ground and pound but Zerka has wrist control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Man avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice defenses there by Man.
Zerka throws a body kick that misses.
Nicolas Zerka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Zerka.
Man throws a series of strikes that have Zerka backpedaling.
Man comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zerka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nice sprawl there from Zerka as Man shoots in.
Zerka attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Zerka misses with a hook.
Man connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zerka momentarily.

Man scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zerka on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Zerka can't do much from the bottom here.
Man throws a strike aimed at the side of Zerka's head but Zerka avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Man tries to advance to mount but Zerka denies him.
Man throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Man postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Man cracks Zerka with a big right hand but Zerka just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Man working the strikes but Zerka uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Zerka manages to get to full guard.
Man throwing strikes from guard but Zerka blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bambooo Man showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Man has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bambooo Man!