PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zenon Garbaty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and King Rubini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zenon Garbaty has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Garbaty
vs
Rubini

170 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
148 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zenon Garbaty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, King Rubini!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Radbod Blank and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A bone on bone clash there as Garbaty blocks the leg kick.

Garbaty feints and as Rubini raises his hands in defense, Garbaty changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rubini wants to stand but Garbaty is controlling the position.

Garbaty drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rubini manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Garbaty has Rubini in his guard.
Garbaty is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rubini has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Garbaty is proving hard to escape from.

Garbaty is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rubini stopping the sweep attempt from Garbaty.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Garbaty looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubini stopping the sweep attempt from Garbaty.

Rubini gets to his feet - Garbaty follows without any prompting.

Garbaty drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Garbaty prevents Rubini from getting back to his feet.

Garbaty has gone for a leg lock! Rubini slips out almost immediately though and dives into Garbaty's guard.

Garbaty looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Garbaty on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Garbaty tries to get out of the position.
Garbaty is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Garbaty can't keep his opponent in guard - Rubini advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubini wants to pass the guard but Garbaty is defending well.
Garbaty is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Garbaty has a hand on Rubini's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Rubini takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Garbaty tries to improve his position but instead Rubini has taken his back!
Rubini trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Garbaty tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rubini can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Garbaty is looking to escape.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garbaty closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rubini circles away.
Rubini misses with a hook. Garbaty ducked under it nicely.
Rubini misses with a few strikes there.
Rubini throws a head kick that misses.

Garbaty throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rubini tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Garbaty is in Rubini's guard.

Garbaty drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rubini manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Garbaty has Rubini in his guard.
Rubini postures up.
Garbaty knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rubini on the ground.
Rubini stopping the sweep attempt from Garbaty.

Garbaty is working an open guard so Rubini takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubini attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rubini throws a head kick but Garbaty moves out of range.
Rubini tries a head kick but it misses.
Rubini scores with a head kick.
Rubini fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rubini tries to clinch up but Garbaty circles away and keeps his distance.
Rubini throws a sloppy head kick and Garbaty moves out of range easily.

Garbaty scores a takedown into full mount!
Rubini is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Garbaty takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Zenon Garbaty has been cut.
Rubini tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Garbaty manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rubini with a lazy takedown attempt

and Garbaty counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Garbaty stands up from half guard.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Garbaty tries to score a body lock takedown but Rubini shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rubini working Garbaty over with knees to the body.
Garbaty looking for a takedown.
Garbaty keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rubini's efforts to push away.
Rubini creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Garbaty's defenses.
Garbaty wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zenon Garbaty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rubini lands a nice elbow.
Garbaty is working for takedown but Rubini is calmly controlling the position for now.
Garbaty tries to pull guard but Rubini won't allow it.
Garbaty tries to pull guard but Rubini won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubini lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Rubini.
Garbaty tries for a takedown but Rubini manages to get underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Garbaty has Rubini pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rubini manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Garbaty is working for takedown but Rubini is calmly controlling the position for now.

Rubini manages to break the clinch.
Rubini with a nice cross.
King Rubini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Rubini misses.
Rubini connects with a high kick.
Garbaty takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Garbaty tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rubini manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Garbaty doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rubini counters with an outside leg kick.
Rubini throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rubini gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A bit of stalling here from Rubini.

Rubini escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rubini feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Garbatys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Rubini tries to sprawl but Garbaty drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Garbaty is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rubini defends it well.
Zenon Garbaty overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Garbaty is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rubini sees it coming and defends easily.

Rubini is defending against the submission attempts here by Garbaty.

Garbaty is working for a kimura but Rubini is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubini pushes Garbaty off looking to stand but Garbaty dives back in and keeps control.

Garbaty is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rubini is just riding it out for now. Garbaty eventually gives up the hold.
Rubini makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rubini.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rubini is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Garbaty is controlling him.
Rubini controls Garbaty momentarily but Garbaty frees himself.
Garbaty has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Garbaty postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rubini is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Garbaty, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Garbaty wants to sweep here but Rubini controlling him for the moment.
Garbaty is working hard here to advance position.
Rubini trying to control the position from guard on top but Garbaty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Garbaty wants to stand up but Rubini is controlling him.

Rubini gets to his feet. Garbaty looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Rubini showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zenon Garbaty's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rubini decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Garbaty wants to get back to full guard.
Rubini takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rubini trying to control from half guard but Garbaty is working away.
Garbaty moves into full guard.
Garbaty is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Garbaty working for submissions but it's allowed Rubini to get to half guard.

Rubini decides to stand and escape the position.
Rubini shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Garbaty counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rubini!
Rubini takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garbaty goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rubini is on top in guard.
Rubini wants to control from the top but Garbaty keeps moving.
Garbaty is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rubini would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Garbaty looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rubini is one step ahead there.

Rubini decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
King Rubini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubini misses with a head kick.

Garbaty shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rubini tries to kick Garbaty off but Garbaty keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Garbaty is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rubini doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Garbaty.
Garbaty tries to pass to full mount but Rubini defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubini wants to improve his position but Garbaty is controlling well.

Garbaty looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Garbaty is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rubini doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Garbaty.
Rubini is looking to escape.

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.

Garbaty is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rubini has managed to free his arm - good work.

Rubini manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Garbaty shoots for a double leg takedown but Rubini sprawls well. He's pushed Garbaty's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rubini pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rubini misses with a body kick.

Garbaty closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rubini is trying to stand up here but Garbaty is controlling him well.
Rubini slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zenon Garbaty has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Garbaty with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zenon Garbaty.
I think Rubini 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... King Rubini!