PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Zabuza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Newland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zabuza
vs
Newland

178 cm
21
165 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
165 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricky Zabuza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zach Newland!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Newland misses the jab.
Newland pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Newland swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zabuza moves out of range of the body kick.
Newland throws a leg kick which misses Zabuza's front leg but catches the back leg as Zabuza tries to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Newland misses the target.
Zach Newland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zabuza walks into a jab.
Newland looks to score with a jab to the body but Zabuza is just out of range.

Zabuza drives through with a takedown into guard.
Newland has control of Zabuza's left arm, preventing Zabuza from doing any damage.
Newland wants to sweep here but Zabuza controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newland is trying to control the position but Zabuza postures up.
Newland avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Newland is on top in guard.
Zabuza controlling Newland's posture.
Newland looking to pass the guard.
Newland wants to stand but Zabuza has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Newland pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zabuza is keeping the position for now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zabuza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zabuza takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Newland takes a swing at Zabuza's ribcage but misses.
Zabuza moves out of range of the strikes.
Zabuza shoots in looking for a takedown but Newland manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zabuza's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Newland throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zabuza sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newland throws a shot from downtown. Zabuza moves away and avoids it.
Newland throws a solid leg kick but Zabuza takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Newland.
Newland misses the shot to the body.
Newland throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Newland stuffs the takedown.
Newland misses with a hook. Zabuza ducked under it nicely.
Zabuza shoots in and drives through. Newland sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Zabuza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zabuza stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Newland.
Zabuza misses with a jab, cross combination.
Newland misses with a wild body shot.
Zabuza misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zabuza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Newland sprawls well. Newland wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zabuza gets slowly back to his feet.
Zabuza stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Newland.
Newland connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zabuza's hands.
Newland throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zabuza sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Newland bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Zabuza is breathing heavily.
Zabuza slips a straight right by Newland.
Newland misses the shot to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Newland, as that shot connected.

It looks like Ricky Zabuza has been cut.
Newland looks to throw the jab but Zabuza is out of range.
Newland lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Newland dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ricky Zabuza's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Newland fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Zabuza ducks under a wild hook from Newland.
Zabuza gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Newland tests Zabuza's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Zabuza bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Newland is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabuza is looking to take a break and control but Newland is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zabuza in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Newland taking a bit of punishment here - Zabuza scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zabuza lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Newland down.
Zabuza lands a few punches from side control.
Zabuza working away.
Zabuza taking a break here but Newland is having none of it and regains half guard.
Newland trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Zabuza punching from mount but Newland doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Zabuza sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newland keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Newland is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zabuza misses with a head shot.
Zabuza controlling from the full mount.
Newland is squirming around, avoiding Zabuza's attempts to control the action.

That's four 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.
Newland really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Newland holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Zabuza tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zabuza cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zabuza lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Zabuza pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Zabuza dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ricky Zabuza'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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Newland misses with a straight left.
Newland fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Newland looks for the body kick but Zabuza saw that one coming.
Newland misses with a body shot.
Zabuza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Newland circles away quickly and effectively.
Newland misses the jab.
Zabuza defending well as Newland loads up on a big left hand.
Newland swings away with a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newland will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zabuza throws a right hand that Newland ducks under and follows up with a left that Newland also avoids with ease.
Newland throws a hook to the side of Zabuza's head but Zabuza sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newland tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zabuza was well out of range. Poor timing from Newland.
A slow jab from Newland misses its intended target.
Zabuza has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Newland finds it's way round the side to connect with Zabuza's head.
Zabuza steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Newland.
Newland misses with a straight right.
Zabuza lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Zabuza.
Zabuza chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Newland can pounce on him.
Zabuza walks into a left hand.
A head kick misses from Newland.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Newland.
Zabuza avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zabuza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Newland throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Newland avoids a punch combination nicely.
A big right from Newland misses.
Zabuza keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Newland.
Newland sizes up Zabuza with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Newland scoring well with a low kick there.
A telegraphed right hand from Newland misses the target.
Zabuza staying out of range there.
Newland displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zabuza.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zabuza slips under a jab from Newland.
Zach Newland seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Newland lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zabuza circles away quickly and effectively.
Zabuza takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Newland lands with an uppercut that bounces Zabuza off the cage and back into rage.
Zabuza drops his hands momentarily and Newland takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Newland.
Newland stuffs the takedown attempt from Zabuza. Zabuza gets slowly back to his feet.
Ricky Zabuza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Newland throws a hook but Zabuza avoids it easily.
Newland sizes up Zabuza with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Newland. No joy for Zabuza on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Zabuza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A solid leg kick lands there for Newland.
Nice shot lands for Newland.
Zach Newland is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Newland throws a sloppy head kick and Zabuza moves out of range easily.
Newland cracks Zabuza with an open hand slap.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Newland fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zabuza ducks under a wild hook from Newland.
Newland throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Newland throws a nice outside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice cross by Newland.
Newland throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Newland feints and then cracks Zabuza's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zabuza down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zach Newland comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Newland 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zach Newland!