PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gianfranco Zola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Olof (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zola's entrance music is Balls to the Wall. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zola
vs
Olof

163 cm
23
142 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

169 cm
22
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Elite Clothing
Bushido Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gianfranco Zola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Olof!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zola scores with a shot to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Olof!
Olof looks to land a combination but Zola avoids it well.
Zola takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Some wild striking there from Olof.
Gianfranco Zola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Olof steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zola.
Olof slips a straight right by Zola.
Olof looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zola looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters circling a little - Olof finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Olof throws a nice looking combination but Zola bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Olof slips under a jab from Zola.
Zola throws the left hand but Olof avoids the punch easily.
Zola fails in his attempt to clinch.
Olof throws a body kick that misses.

Zola instigates a clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on Zola - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Olof wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olof is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Olof blocks an uppercut.
Olof misses with a hook to the ribs.
Olof blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Zola breaks the clinch.
Olof defending well as Zola loads up on a big left hand.
Olof bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zola throws a shot from downtown. Olof moves away and avoids it.

Zola shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zola showed some decent athleticism there.
Olof tries to kick Zola off but Zola keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Zola is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Olof defends it well.
Olof looks like he's trying to stand up.
Zola passes the guard and advances to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zola is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Olof is surviving well by controlling Zola's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zola working for a submission but Olof is keeping him at bay.
Zola is breathing heavily.

Olof somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Olof lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Olof.

Olof instigates a clinch.

Zola breaks from the clinch.
Olof throws a series of punches but Zola avoids them all with ease.
Zola fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Olof manages to avoid it.
Zola tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Olof counters with a left and a right that stings Zola.
Some wild striking there from Zola.
Zola throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Olof counters with a nice body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Olof scores with a one two! Zola had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Zola throws an off balance right hand
and Olof counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Olof!
Olof swinging wilding here.
Olof tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zola throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Olof counters with a nice kick to the body.
Zola misses with a hook

and Olof counters by clinching up.
Olof working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Olof wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Olof lands a body punch in the clinch.
Olof is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Olof tries to break the clinch but Zola is controlling the position.
Olof lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zola has had enough of the clinch but Olof keeps him there for the moment.
Olof blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zola is trying to stall.
Zola has Olof pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Olof manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Olof breaks from the clinch.

Zola moves into the clinch successfully.
Olof cracks Zola with a nice body shot.

Olof breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Olof looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zola dodges the punch combination from Olof.
Olof throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zola.
A combination from Olof does no damage.
Zola tests Olof's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zola misses with a left hand
enabling Olof to counter with a crisp jab.
Zola throws a poor cross that misses
and Olof counters with a series of strikes. Zola will be more careful next time no doubt.
A combination from Olof does no damage.
Zola misses with a combination
and Olof counters with a left and a right that stings Zola.
Olof throws a one two combo.

Zola tries to keep at a distance but Olof has taken the fight into the clinch.
Olof wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zola has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zola lands an uppercut.
Zola looking to stall.
Zola lands a right hand.
Zola tries for a takedown. No joy.

Olof breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Olof tries to bum rush Zola with a series of wild strikes but Zola uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Olof dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Left hook, right uppercut from Olof.
Zola throws a poor cross that misses
and Olof counters with a one-two to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Olof looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zola is looking to clinch but Olof is avoiding it.

Zola scores a takedown into full mount!
Olof is trying to escape the mount but Zola keeps good control and instead manages to take Olof's back.

Zola is persistently looking for the submission but Olof is defending it well.
Olof trying to get back to his feet but Zola is in full control for now.
Olof is really stuck here.

Olof defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Zola's arms.
Olof looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Olof is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olof is trapped and Zola is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Olof avoids the strikes from Zola.

Zola working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Olof is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Zola has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Olof taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Gianfranco Zola!