PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between alexandre zanelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grizzly Egan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

zanelli
vs
Egan

180 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, alexandre zanelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Grizzly Egan!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Yves DeLean and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Egan closes the distance and pushes zanelli back into the cage.
zanelli drops down looking for an ankle pick but Egan pulls his leg out and moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Egan.

zanelli has closed the distance and engaged Egan in a clinch.

Egan tightens his grip and picks zanelli up, before dumping him to the ground. zanelli manages to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
zanelli looking to hit a scissor sweep but Egan is one step ahead there.
zanelli controls Egan momentarily but Egan frees himself.
zanelli keeping full guard, as Egan tries to pass.
Egan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
zanelli looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Egan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Egan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Egan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Egan shoots in for a takedown but zanelli shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Egan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from zanelli.
zanelli closes the distance looking to clinch

so Egan counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Egan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Egan controls from within his opponent's guard.
zanelli wants to get back to his feet but Egan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Egan is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! zanelli is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! zanelli has escaped and now he's on top!

zanelli stands and steps away. Egan gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
zanelli scores with a three punch combo!

Egan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in zanelli's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Egan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Egan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
zanelli looking for a sweep. Not yet zanelli, not yet.
Egan trying to control but zanelli is working from the bottom.
Egan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
zanelli wants to get back to his feet but Egan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
zanelli is breathing heavily.
Egan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Egan wants to control from the top but zanelli keeps moving.
zanelli wants to get back to his feet but Egan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Egan looking to pass the guard.
Egan prevents zanelli from getting back to his feet.

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.
zanelli avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Egan is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Egan trying to control the position from guard on top but zanelli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Egan shoots in but zanelli avoids the takedown attempt easily.
alexandre zanelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grizzly Egan.
Egan shoots in looking for a takedown. zanelli tries to sprawl out of it but Egan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. zanelli manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Egan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grizzly Egan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Egan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Egan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Egan is pushing down on zanelli's leg trying to pass to half guard. zanelli is fighting to maintain full guard but Egan has managed to sneak the leg through.

Egan stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows zanelli to get to his feet.
zanelli stuffs the takedown.
alexandre zanelli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

zanelli shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. zanelli showed some decent athleticism there.
Egan wants to improve his position but zanelli is controlling well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
zanelli tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Egan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Egan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Egan pushes zanelli off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Egan lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Egan.
Egan scores with a head kick.

Egan feints and as zanelli raises his hands in defense, Egan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Egan postures up in zanelli's guard and throws a big left but zanelli blocks it.

Egan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Egan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
zanelli is looking to stand up but Egan isn't so interested in that idea.
Grizzly Egan has got the better of the ground game so far.

Egan gets to his feet. zanelli looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from zanelli both land. Nice combination.

Egan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Egan moves into full mount!
zanelli is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Egan working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Egan is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but zanelli is surviving well by controlling Egan's body position as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Egan goes for an armbar but he's not got it… zanelli turns into him and now he's in Egan's guard.
zanelli tries to stand but Egan is controlling from the bottom.
zanelli looking to sit in guard and control but Egan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Egan postures up and lands a big shot to zanelli's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Egan works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Egan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Egan is working for a kimura but zanelli is defending it quite comfortably.
zanelli wants to control the action here but instead Egan manages to pass to full mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Egan breaks from zanelli's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Egan cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grizzly Egan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

zanelli gets caught flat footed, as Egan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
zanelli controls Egan momentarily but Egan frees himself.
Egan passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Egan passes to full mount! That's big trouble for zanelli!
Egan landing punches.
zanelli is looking to improve his position but Egan isn't that keen on the idea.
Egan with the ground and pound from mount.
Egan punishing his opponent with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Egan is working for a guillotine from mount but zanelli frees his head quite easily.
Egan lands a nice shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Egan stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Egan clinches.

Egan jumps into guard, dragging zanelli to the mat.

zanelli decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Egan, up you get!

Egan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in zanelli's guard.

Egan gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Egan with a lazy takedown attempt

and zanelli counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Egan!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Egan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
zanelli is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Egan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Egan has one foot on zanelli's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Egan swings and misses with a shot to the body

and zanelli counters with a takedown into side control.
Egan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Egan is looking to work his way out of this bad position but zanelli is controlling him well.
Egan is looking for a sweep.

zanelli stands up.
Egan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and zanelli counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Egan's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Egan wants to stand and escape but zanelli is having none of it.
Egan lands a decent shot there.

Egan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. zanelli gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Egan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but zanelli can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
alexandre zanelli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
zanelli wants to stand but Egan is controlling his posture from full guard.
zanelli postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Egan has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think zanelli should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Egan has tightened it up now! zanelli should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Grizzly Egan!