PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zachariah Snook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel Neuer (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.

Snook
vs
Neuer

190 cm
25
221 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zachariah Snook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manuel Neuer!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neuer fails with the takedown
and Snook counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Neuer tries for a takedown but Snook circles away easily
and Neuer takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Neuer misses with a takedown attempt
and Snook counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zachariah Snook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Neuer.
Neuer has his takedown stuffed
and Snook counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Neuer with a lazy takedown attempt
and Snook cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Snook slips a jab from Neuer.
Neuer is trying desperately to land a takedown but Snook is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Neuer.
Neuer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Snook.
Neuer misses with a takedown
and Snook counters with a body kick that stops Neuer in his tracks momentarily.
Neuer looks gassed!
Neuer tries for a takedown but Snook circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Snook fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Neuer sprawls well initially but Snook persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Snook wants to lay and pray for a moment but Neuer keeps working.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Snook in particular looking to stall.
Snook thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Neuer to regain full guard.
Snook working some strikes from top position.
Neuer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Snook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snook with a flurry of punches that miss.
Neuer keeping moving, preventing Snook from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Snook postures up and lands a big shot to Neuer's brow.

Neuer pushes Snook off and scrambles back to his feet.
Neuer looks for a takedown but Snook sprawls well.
Snook missing with a left hand there. Neuer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Neuer with a poor takedown
and Snook makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Neuer really felt that one!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neuer fails with the takedown
and Snook makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Snook throws a hook but Neuer avoids it easily.
Neuer doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Snook counters with a solid body kick.
Snook pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manuel Neuer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Snook looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Neuer tries for a takedown but Snook circles away easily
and Snook makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Snook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Snook looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Snook looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Neuer on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Snook fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Neuer has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Snook gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Snook not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zachariah Snook dominated that round.
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.

Neuer tries for a takedown but Snook circles away easily
and Snook counters with a good low kick that Neuer was not able to check.
Neuer shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Snook counters with a solid body kick.
Snook tries to clinch but Neuer moves out of range.

Neuer decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Snook is trying to get back to full guard.
Snook trying to control from the bottom.
Snook on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Snook tries to get out of the position.
Neuer with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Snook preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neuer is trying to control the action in half guard but Snook is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Neuer with the ground and pound but Snook uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Snook preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Snook lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Neuer!
Snook throwing strikes here but Neuer is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's two 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.
Neuer 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.
Snook not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Neuer has one foot on Snook's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Neuer shoots and misses
and Snook counters with a leg kick.
Zachariah Snook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Neuer.
Neuer fails with the takedown
and Snook counters with a slapping leg kick.
Neuer works Snook's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snook stuffs the takedown attempt from Neuer. Neuer gets slowly back to his feet.

Neuer closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Neuer lands in his opponent's guard.
Snook is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Neuer showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Snook trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neuer drops back, looking for a kneebar! Snook looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Snook looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Snook!
Neuer manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Neuer is trying to stand up here but Snook is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Manuel Neuer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Neuer throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Snook was covering up waiting for the punch and Neuer finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Snook preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Neuer sitting in guard here, content to control.
Neuer throws a strike but Snook rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Snook won't allow Neuer to sweep him here.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Snook here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neuer wants to get back to his feet but Snook is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Snook wants to control from the top but Neuer keeps moving.
Neuer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Snook is one step ahead there.

That's two 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.
Snook trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Snook trying to control but Neuer is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Neuer shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Snook counters with a big head kick but Neuer shrugs it off.
Neuer fails with a takedown attempt.

Snook shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Neuer's guard.
Zachariah Snook overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snook throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Neuer pulls Snook in close to his closed guard and prevents Snook from doing any damage or advancing position.
Neuer lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Snook!
Snook really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Poor strikes thrown by Neuer there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Neuer trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neuer looking to control and managing it successfully.

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 Zachariah Snook.
I think Snook has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zachariah Snook!