PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Lin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sub Zero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Lin
vs
Zero

195 cm
19
265 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
225 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frank Lin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sub Zero!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lin throws the left hand but Zero avoids the punch easily.
Lin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zero moves away.
Lin swings for the body but Zero moves out of range.
Lin misses with a hook. Zero ducked under it nicely.
Zero slips under a jab from Lin.
Lin closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Sub Zero has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Lin. Those never looked like landing.
Lin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lin misses with the combination.
Lin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zero manages to avoid it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lin enables Zero to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lin manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zero pushing down on Lin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Zero is working for a kimura but Lin is defending it quite comfortably.
Lin is looking for a sweep. Zero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lin trying to control here.
Lin wants to get back to full guard.
Zero trying to control the action but Lin is working from the bottom.
Zero lands strikes from half guard.
Lin moves into full guard.
Zero controls from within his opponent's guard.
Zero stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lin controls Zero momentarily but Zero frees himself.
Zero trying to control but Lin is working from the bottom.
Lin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zero manages to get himself to full guard.
Zero tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zero holds on and takes a little breather.
Zero is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zero is keen to just control but Lin is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zero scores with a couple of nice shots.
Zero throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lin is trying to get back to full guard.
Lin pushes Zero off looking to stand but Zero dives back in and keeps control.
Lin wants to get back to full guard.
Zero sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lin defending well though.
Lin wants to improve his position but Zero is controlling well.
Lin pushes Zero off but Zero dives into side control.
Zero working the ground and pound.
Zero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lin keeps working.
Lin is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zero scores with a couple of short elbows.
Zero working the ground and pound.
Zero trying to control the position but Lin is working away.
Zero scores with a couple of short elbows.
Lin is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Zero asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Zero thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zero wants to take a breather but Lin is having none of it.
Zero wants to pass the guard but Lin is defending well.
Zero prevents Lin from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Lin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sub Zero's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lin looks to land a left hand but Zero moved out of range nicely.
Lin misses with a wild combination.
Lin misses with a series of wild punches.

Zero feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Lin keeping moving, preventing Zero from controlling successfully.
Zero might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lin kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zero can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zero lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Lin manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Lin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zero moves away.
Lin misses with a double jab.
Lin avoids the head kick by Zero.

Zero closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lin quickly recovers to half guard.
Lin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zero is working away from the top position though.
Zero has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zero trying to control the action but Lin is working from the bottom.
Zero content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zero is trying to control. Lin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zero is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lin scores with a nice right hand.
Lin throws a body punch but Zero moves out of range.

Zero gets a takedown into half guard.

Lin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zero lands with a punch from half guard.
Zero trying to control from half guard but Lin is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lin trying to control here.

Zero 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zero winds up and cracks Lin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Zero trying to mount his opponent but Lin defends it.
Sub Zero has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zero thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lin's head.
Zero prevents Lin from standing back up.

That's four 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.
Lin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lin is not content to let Zero control the position.
Zero controlling the pace.
Zero missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zero throwing shots but Lin is blocking nicely.
Lin is trying to stand.
Lin trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Zero seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zero prevents Lin from standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lin tries to get to full guard but Zero has control of the leg.
Zero lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sub Zero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sub Zero's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lin misses with a looping left.

Zero is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lin's half guard.
Lin is staying active underneath Zero, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zero.
Well, if Zero is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Zero tries to pass to full mount but Lin defends it.
Zero is thwarting Lin's attempts to control the position.
Zero tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lin looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zero lands strikes from half guard.
Zero lands with a punch from half guard.
Lin wants to improve his position but Zero is controlling well.
Lin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zero scores with a couple of nice shots.
Zero wants to control but Lin is keeping him busy.
Zero works his foot free and advances to mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zero cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Lin is trying desperately to improve position.
Lin tries to hold on but Zero pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zero with a couple of short strikes.
Zero working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Lin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zero lands with some strikes.

Zero working for a submission but Lin is keeping him at bay.
Lin regains half guard.
Zero scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Zero controlling the pace.
Lin is staying active underneath Zero, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lin wants to get back to full guard.
Zero working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zero has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Zero lands a big elbow.
Lin tries to hold on but Zero pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Zero.
Zero looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Zero is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Zero lands a big shot there that rocks Lin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Zero looking to control but Lin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lin tries to hold on but Zero postures up.
Zero looking to finish Lin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Lin!
Lin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zero looking to control and managing it successfully.
Zero lands a heavy elbow.
Zero in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Zero scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Lin?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sub Zero really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sub Zero's cut.
That's time! Lin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zero shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lin's guard.
Lin is trying to keep Zero in close.
Lin keeping moving, preventing Zero from controlling successfully.
Lin trying to keep a closed guard but Zero is proving a slippery customer.
Lin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zero passes Lin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Zero lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zero in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lin won't allow Zero to pass to mount.
Zero wants to take a breather but Lin is having none of it.
Lin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Lin wants to sweep but Zero has passed to side control!
Lin gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Zero thows a huge punch but Lin dodges it nicely.
Zero prevents Lin from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zero performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nice strikes from Zero there.
Zero is looking to take a break and control but Lin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lin moves into full guard.
Lin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lin trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zero is controlling him.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Zero passes Lin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zero is trying to control. Lin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zero.
Zero not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zero is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Zero is trying to control. Lin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zero lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zero tries to pass to full mount but Lin defends it.

That's four 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.
Zero trying to control the action but Lin is working from the bottom.
Zero content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Lin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zero is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Lin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sub Zero dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Sub Zero'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. This is the final round!

Lin misses with a wild combination.
Lin misses the jab.
Lin swings for the body but Zero moves out of range.
Frank Lin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Lin misses with a wild combination.
Lin lands a slapping body shot.
No luck for Zero with that takedown attempt.

Zero feints and as Lin raises his hands in defense, Zero changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zero stopping the sweep attempt from Lin.
Zero chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zero throws a strike but Lin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Zero has his foot on Lin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lin works his way back into a safe position though.
Zero is pulling down on Lin's head to control his posture.
Lin looking to pass the guard.

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.
Zero lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lin!
Zero tries to control but Lin wriggling away.
Lin 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.
Zero sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lin defending well though.
Lin is looking to escape.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zero prevents Lin from improving his position.
Zero looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Zero looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zero is trying to control. Lin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Zero is working for a submission of some sort.
Zero winds up and cracks Lin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Frank Lin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lin wants to sweep here but Zero controlling him for the moment.
Lin wants to get back to his feet but Zero is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zero trying to control the position from guard on top but Lin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lin working for a triangle but Zero defends it easily.
Zero content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sub Zero comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zero 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 46:49
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 45:49
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sub Zero!
Sub Zero is the new heavyweight champion!