PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mordion Zeraka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Severn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dan Severn has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zeraka
vs
Severn

180 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
300 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mordion Zeraka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan Severn!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zeraka looks to clinch
and Severn counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Mordion Zeraka has been cut.
Severn circles away from the clinch attempt
and Severn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Severn misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zeraka moves to clinch but Severn breaks away

and Severn counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zeraka is pushing Severn's head away, looking to escape. Severn manages to hold on to the position though.
Zeraka prevents Severn from moving into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zeraka is pushing Severn's head away, looking to escape. Severn manages to hold on to the position though.
Zeraka might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zeraka is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Severn 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.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from Zeraka as Severn shoots in.
Severn shoots in looking for a takedown. Zeraka tries to sprawl out of it but Severn keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zeraka manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mordion Zeraka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Severn.
Severn circles away from the clinch attempt
and Severn counters with a two punch combo.
Zeraka darts in trying to clinch

and Severn counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zeraka is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Severn stopping the sweep attempt from Zeraka.
Zeraka wants to get back to his feet but Severn is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zeraka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mordion Zeraka just wasn't active enough.
Zeraka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zeraka wants it to stay on the feet.
Mordion Zeraka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zeraka clinches with his opponent.
Zeraka prevents a takedown attempt there.
Severn looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zeraka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Severn's efforts to push away.
Zeraka trying to land knees to the body.
Zeraka misses with a knee to the head.
Severn wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zeraka has him pressed against the cage.
Zeraka stops a takedown attempt from Severn.
Severn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zeraka misses with an elbow strike.
Severn goes for a takedown attempt but Zeraka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Severn circles away from the clinch attempt

and Severn counters with a shoot takedown. Zeraka fights it but they end up in guard.
Zeraka is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Severn slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Zeraka gets caught flat footed, as Severn shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Severn is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Severn's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Severn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mordion Zeraka's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zeraka closes the distance looking to clinch

and Severn decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zeraka's guard.
Severn controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

We're going to have a standup here because Mordion Zeraka wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Zeraka tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Severn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Severn throws a hook but Zeraka blocks it.
Zeraka wants to clinch but Severn slips to the side

and Severn counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Severn tries to free his leg and advance position but Zeraka is retaining full guard.
Severn is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mordion Zeraka just wasn't active enough.
Severn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zeraka as he avoids it easily.

Zeraka gets tackled into the cage by Severn. Severn maintains the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Zeraka tries to land knees in the clinch but Severn avoids the damage to the body.
Severn looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zeraka tries a knee to the head but Severn blocks it.
Severn wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zeraka stops a takedown attempt from Severn.

Severn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Severn is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zeraka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mordion Zeraka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Severn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Severn has a takedown stuffed.
Severn throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Severn fails with the takedown.
Severn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Severn rushes Zeraka and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Severn is trying to push Zeraka away but Zeraka has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Severn looking for a takedown.
Zeraka lands an elbow inside.
Severn is trying to break the clinch but Zeraka has him pressed against the cage.
Zeraka landing knees to the head.
Severn is trying to break free.
Severn takes an elbow to the forehead.
Severn takes an elbow to the temple.
Severn dodges an elbow strike from Zeraka.

Severn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Severn shoots in looking for a takedown but Zeraka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Severn's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Severn fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zeraka tries to clinch
and Severn counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Zeraka closes the distance and clinches.
Severn is trying to break the clinch but Zeraka is controlling him.
Zeraka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Severn blocks an elbow strike from Zeraka.
Zeraka stops a takedown attempt from Severn.
Severn is trying to force a seperation but Zeraka has the dominant position.
Severn takes an elbow to the forehead.

Severn has Zeraka pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Severn pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Zeraka tumbling to the mat - Severn dives into Zeraka's guard.
Zeraka is trying to control the position but Severn postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mordion Zeraka just wasn't active enough.
A nice combination there by Severn.
Severn shoots for a double leg takedown but Zeraka sprawls well. He's pushed Severn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zeraka doesn't manage to clinch there - Severn circles away.
Mordion Zeraka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Severn throws a head kick that misses.
Zeraka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Severn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Severn circles away from the clinch attempt

and Severn decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zeraka's guard.
Severn wants to control from the top but Zeraka keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Severn prevents Zeraka from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Severn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mordion Zeraka's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Severn pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zeraka is out of range and Severn settles back down.
Severn is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Zeraka tries to clinch up
and Severn counters with a three punch combo that has Zeraka backing up. Zeraka nods at Severn to acknowledge the strikes.
Severn circles away from the clinch attempt

and Severn counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zeraka's guard now.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Zeraka wants to stand but Severn is controlling the position.
Severn sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zeraka's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Severn tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zeraka knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Severn slows the pace down in half guard.
Zeraka is trying to get back to full guard.
Mordion Zeraka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Severn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mordion Zeraka just wasn't active enough.
Severn has a takedown stuffed.
Zeraka tries to clinch but Severn moves away

and Severn counters with a single leg into guard. Zeraka didn't expect that.
Severn's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Severn fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zeraka sprawls well initially but Severn persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Severn takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeraka is trying to stand.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Severn instigates a clinch.
Severn wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Severn has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zeraka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Severn has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zeraka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Severn blocks it with crossed arms.
Zeraka gets underhooks to prevent Severn's takedown attempt.
Mordion Zeraka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Severn.
Severn wants a takedown but no success here.
Severn wants to get back to striking at distance but Zeraka won't allow it.
Zeraka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Severn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zeraka lands a nice elbow.
Zeraka with a knee to the head.
Zeraka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Severn has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zeraka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Severn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zeraka doesn't manage to clinch there - Severn circles away.
Dan Severn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zeraka wants to clinch

and Severn counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeraka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Severn is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Severn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Severn 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Severn!