PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abu Al Zarqawi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fran Ortego (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fran Ortego struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Al Zarqawi
vs
Ortego

180 cm
24
195 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abu Al Zarqawi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fran Ortego!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortego avoids the body shot from Al Zarqawi.
Ortego tries to clinch there but Al Zarqawi circles away.
Ortego is looking to clinch but Al Zarqawi is avoiding it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ortego.
Ortego tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Al Zarqawi keeps the fight on the outside.
Ortego shoots in but Al Zarqawi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Al Zarqawi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Zarqawi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ortego wants to clinch up but Al Zarqawi keeps it at a distance.
Ortego tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fran Ortego seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ortego is looking to clinch but Al Zarqawi is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortego is looking to clinch.
Al Zarqawi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ortego fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ortego fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Abu Al Zarqawi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fran Ortego.
Ortego shoots in for a takedown but Al Zarqawi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ortego tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Al Zarqawi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Al Zarqawi slaps away a takedown attempt from Ortego, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ortego misses with a body shot.
Al Zarqawi takes a swing at Ortego's ribcage but misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ortego looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Al Zarqawi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two 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.
Al Zarqawi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ortego tries to close the distance and clinch up but Al Zarqawi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ortego looks to throw the jab but Al Zarqawi is out of range.

Ortego instigates a clinch.
Al Zarqawi misses with an elbow strike.
Ortego gets underhooks to prevent Al Zarqawi's takedown attempt.

Ortego breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ortego moves in looking to clinch but Al Zarqawi pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ortego looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ortego tries to close the distance and clinch but Al Zarqawi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Al Zarqawi checks a leg kick nicely.
Al Zarqawi throws a lazy right hand but Ortego sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Zarqawi shoots in and gets a takedown into Ortego's guard.
Al Zarqawi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Al Zarqawi 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.

Al Zarqawi has gone for a leg lock! Ortego slips out almost immediately though and dives into Al Zarqawi's guard.
Al Zarqawi trying to control the position.
Al Zarqawi trying to strike off his back.

Al Zarqawi has his foot on Ortego's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ortego works his way back into a safe position though.
Al Zarqawi has his hands on Ortego's head, controlling the position.
Al Zarqawi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi is trying to keep Ortego in close.
Al Zarqawi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Al Zarqawi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ortego stopping the sweep attempt from Al Zarqawi.
Al Zarqawi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ortego trying to control but Al Zarqawi is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Al Zarqawi swats away the attempt to clinch by Ortego.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abu Al Zarqawi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Al Zarqawi avoids the head kick by Ortego.
Ortego with a lazy takedown attempt

and Al Zarqawi counters with a takedown into side control.

Al Zarqawi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ortego is not content to let Al Zarqawi control the position.
Al Zarqawi creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ortego sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Al Zarqawi remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Al Zarqawi lands a nice forearm strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortego managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Al Zarqawi.
Sloppy strikes there by Al Zarqawi.
Al Zarqawi in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Al Zarqawi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Al Zarqawi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ortego is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Ortego tries to bench press Al Zarqawi off him but Al Zarqawi keeps the position.
Al Zarqawi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Check out the look on Al Zarqawi's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Al Zarqawi lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Ortego manages to work his way to half guard, despite Al Zarqawi's best efforts.
Ortego is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortego pushes Al Zarqawi off looking to stand but Al Zarqawi dives back in and keeps control.

Al Zarqawi wants to work for an arm triangle but Ortego is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ortego trying to hold on to Al Zarqawi's head to control him but Al Zarqawi postures up.
Al Zarqawi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ortego trying to control here.
Al Zarqawi content to control rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Al Zarqawi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ortego has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Al Zarqawi is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi is keen to just control but Ortego is a slippery customer.
Al Zarqawi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Al Zarqawi is pressing down on Ortego's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ortego is holding on for now.

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

Al Zarqawi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Al Zarqawi is keen to just control but Ortego is a slippery customer.

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.
Al Zarqawi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ortego keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ortego tries to roll over but Al Zarqawi keeps him under control.

Al Zarqawi is looking for a kimura but Ortego is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Al Zarqawi to get the leverage.
Ortego wants to control but Al Zarqawi is keeping busy.
Ortego wants to control but Al Zarqawi passes into side.
Ortego seems a little lost for a moment, as Al Zarqawi dominates the positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abu Al Zarqawi dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ortego ducks under a wild hook from Al Zarqawi.
Al Zarqawi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Al Zarqawi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ortego won't be happy with that.
Al Zarqawi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ortego keeps working.
Al Zarqawi working the head and body with strikes.
Al Zarqawi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ortego is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Al Zarqawi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Al Zarqawi has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Ortego!
Ortego takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Al Zarqawi lands a big shot there that rocks Ortego but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
BOOM! Al Zarqawi connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Al Zarqawi with the ground and pound from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Zarqawi putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Ortego is squirming around, avoiding Al Zarqawi's attempts to control the action.
Al Zarqawi controlling the position easily from mount.
Ortego is looking to get to half guard.
Al Zarqawi putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Al Zarqawi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Al Zarqawi is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Al Zarqawi extends the arm and Ortego is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Abu Al Zarqawi!