PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Eli Zabitz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bull Bantum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Zabitz
vs
Bantum

225 cm
24
130 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

160 cm
25
145 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Eli Zabitz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Bull Bantum!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zabitz throws a front kick aimed at Bantum's knee but Bantum avoids it well.
Bantum thows a body shot but no joy.
Bantum moves out of range of the leg kick from Zabitz.
Bantum tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Zabitz will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Bantum does it's job there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bantum looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bantum wants to clinch up but Zabitz keeps it at a distance.
Bantum misses with a wild body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Zabitz as Bantum shoots in.
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.
Bantum misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bull Bantum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bantum tries to clinch up.

That's two 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 swinging wildly here.
Bantum fails to land the takedown.
Eli Zabitz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bull Bantum.
A telegraphed right hand from Bantum misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bantum tries to clinch but Zabitz is having none of it.
Zabitz blocks a jab.
Bantum looks to score with a jab to the body but Zabitz is just out of range.
Zabitz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Bantum is looking to clinch but Zabitz is avoiding it.
Eli Zabitz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

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.
Bantum moves out of range of the leg kick from Zabitz.
A low kick from Bantum misses
letting Zabitz counter with a right hand.

Zabitz gets caught flat footed, as Bantum shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bantum accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zabitz keeping moving, preventing Bantum from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bantum in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bull Bantum will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zabitz slaps away a takedown attempt from Bantum, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zabitz misses with a leg kick

and Bantum counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bantum stalling.
Bantum prevents Zabitz from improving his position.

Bantum is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zabitz wants to improve his position but Bantum is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabitz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bantum throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Bantum is working for a kimura but Zabitz is defending it quite comfortably.
Zabitz is looking to improve his position.

That's two 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bantum misses with a combination
and Zabitz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zabitz lands an overhand right.
Bantum lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bantum misses with a wild body shot.
Zabitz catches Bantum with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Zabitz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zabitz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bantum.
Bantum looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zabitz is fending him off so far but Bantum persists. Nope, Zabitz circles away and we're back to standing.

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.
Bantum throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zabitz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Eli Zabitz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bantum throws a lazy head kick
and Zabitz counters with an outside leg kick.
Zabitz defending well as Bantum loads up on a big left hand.
Bantum shoots in for a takedown but Zabitz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Eli Zabitz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bull Bantum.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zabitz moves away from the strike by Bantum.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bull Bantum will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A low kick from Zabitz is predictable there

and Bantum decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zabitz's guard.
Bantum in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zabitz is pulling down on Bantum's head to control his posture.
Bantum postures up.
Bantum has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bantum wants to control from the top but Zabitz keeps moving.

Bantum stands and steps away. Zabitz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bantum shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zabitz as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bantum throws a hook to the side of Zabitz's head but Zabitz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jab, jab by Zabitz - just one landing.
Zabitz is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bantum closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bantum swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bantum misses with a double jab
and Zabitz counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Bantum changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zabitz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Zabitz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bantum tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bantum is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zabitz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zabitz sneaks back into half guard.
Zabitz wants to get back to full guard.
Zabitz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bantum on the ground.
Bantum seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zabitz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
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.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Bantum stands up out of the half guard.
Some wild striking there from Zabitz.
Zabitz blocks a jab.
Bantum shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bull Bantum comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bantum winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight for Bull Bantum!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Bull Bantum!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Bull Bantum!

Bull Bantum wins by unanimous decision!