PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mitchell Pearsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Zappa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pearsen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, "One Eighty By Summer" - Taking Back Sunday. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pearsen
vs
Zappa

170 cm
21
159 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

171 cm
27
156 lbs
12 - 9 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
Legal High's [CBK]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mitchell Pearsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Junior Zappa!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pearsen avoids the body shot from Zappa.
Pearsen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zappa.
Pearsen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Pearsen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zappa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pearsen looks to land a right hand but Zappa moved out of range.
Pearsen defending well as Zappa loads up on a big left hand.
Mitchell Pearsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pearsen tries to clinch but Zappa moves out of range.
Zappa goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zappa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Pearsens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Pearsen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pearsen connects with a body shot that sends Zappa's belly button to the back.
Zappa dodges the punch combination from Pearsen.
Zappa throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Zappa misses with a series of wild punches.
Zappa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Pearsen is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zappa misses with a series of wild punches.

Pearsen closes the distance and pushes Zappa back into the cage.
Pearsen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zappa pressing his opponent against the cage.
Zappa tries to pull guard but Pearsen won't allow it.
Zappa blocking some punches.
Zappa misses with the head strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Pearsen tries to throw a body punch but Zappa avoids it by throwing Pearsen back against the cage.
Pearsen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pearsen gets through Zappa's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zappa stalling in the clinch but Pearsen improves position.
Zappa misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen misses with a punch on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Pearsen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zappas head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Pearsen.
Pearsen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pearsen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Pearsen has a couple of punches blocked by Zappa.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pearsen has had enough of the clinch but Zappa keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zappa.
Pearsen has a couple of punches blocked by Zappa.
Zappa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pearsen tries to work over Zappa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Zappa prevents a body shot from Pearsen.
Pearsen misses with a hook from the clinch.

Pearsen breaks from the clinch.
Zappa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Pearsen's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zappa. Pearsen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zappa moves out of range as Pearsen strikes.
Pearsen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zappa.
Zappa connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zappa connects with a nice looking jab.
Pearsen throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Zappa to counter with a crisp jab.
An inside leg kick from Zappa misses.
Pearsen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zappa ducks under a wild hook from Pearsen.
Zappa throws a series of punches but Pearsen avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zappa misses with a shot to the body
and Pearsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zappa feints a jab promting Pearsen to slip. Zappa then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Pearsen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Pearsen clinches with his opponent.
Zappa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pearsen misses with a punch on the inside.
Pearsen tries a body shot but Zappa blocks it.
Zappa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pearsen is keeping busy.
Pearsen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pearsen scores with a shot to the side of Zappa's head.
A short body shot lands from Pearsen as the two fighters clinch.
Zappa misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Pearsen.
A head punch on the inside from Pearsen fails to land.
Zappa stalling in the clinch but Pearsen improves position.
Pearsen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pearsen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pearsen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pearsen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pearsen has a couple of punches blocked by Zappa.

Zappa jumps into guard, dragging Pearsen to the mat.
Zappa keeping full guard, as Pearsen tries to pass.
Zappa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pearsen is one step ahead there.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zappa is on top in guard.
Zappa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pearsen's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pearsen has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zappa off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Pearsen cracks Zappa with an open hand slap.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zappa uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Pearsen has time to react.
Zappa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jab from Zappa.
Zappa misses with a straight left.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Zappa misses with a wild combination.
Zappa loads up on a big right hand but Pearsen slips the punch.
Pearsen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zappa.
Zappa falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pearsen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pearsen with a nice cross.
Zappa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zappa works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zappa lets loose with a powerful body kick. Pearsen will feel that in the morning.
Zappa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pearsen.
Pearsen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zappa.
Zappa keeps Pearsen at a distance using the push kick.
Pearsen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pearsen misses the shot to the body.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Zappa digs a good body shot into Pearsen's ribs.
Pearsen is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pearsen misses with a hook.
Zappa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Pearsen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pearsen moves away from the strike by Zappa.
Zappa scores with a punch to the head.
Zappa scores with a hook to the body. Pearsen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zappa.
Pearsen misses with a wild body shot.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Zappa.
Zappa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pearsen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zappa can pounce on him.
Zappa feints and then cracks Pearsen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Pearsen down.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Zappa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pearsen lands with an overhand left.
Pearsen cracks Zappa with a good jab.
Zappa misses with a series of wild punches.
Pearsen slips a jab from Zappa.
Zappa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pearsen at a distance.
Pearsen misses with an uppercut. Zappa saw that one coming.
Zappa misses with a looping right.
Zappa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pearsen moves away.
Zappa thows a body shot but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zappa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Pearsen tries to clinch there but Zappa circles away.
Pearsen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mitchell Pearsen will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pearsen moves in looking to clinch but Zappa pushes him off.
Pearsen misses with a lunging right hand
and Zappa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A big left from Zappa misses.
Zappa misses with a body shot
and Pearsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Pearsen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zappa circles away quickly and effectively.
Pearsen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zappa misses with a body shot.
Pearsen takes one to the chin there.
Pearsen slips a straight right by Zappa.
Zappa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Junior Zappa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zappa throws a hook but Pearsen blocks it.
Pearsen looks to score with a jab to the body but Zappa is just out of range.
Zappa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zappa manages to avoid it.
Pearsen thows a body shot but no joy.
A bone on bone clash there as Pearsen blocks the leg kick.
Pearsen dodges the punch combination from Zappa.
Zappa misses with a straight right.
Zappa has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zappa there as he acknowledges the shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zappa. Pearsen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pearsen tests Zappa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A jab lands there for Pearsen.
Pearsen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zappa.
Pearsen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pearsen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zappa paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zappa slips a jab from Pearsen.
Zappa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pearsen manages to avoid it.
Pearsen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Zappa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zappa misses with a looping right.
Zappa slips a jab from Pearsen.
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!
Pearsen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pearsen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pearsen throws a body punch but Zappa moves out of range.
Pearsen wants to clinch.
Zappa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pearsen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen ducks under a wild hook from Zappa.
Pearsen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Pearsen there as he acknowledges the shot.
A big left from Pearsen misses.
Pearsen thows a body shot but no joy.
Pearsen slips a jab from Zappa.
Zappa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pearsen.
Zappa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Pearsen checks a leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pearsen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zappa, right into the meat.
A big right from Pearsen misses.
Pearsen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zappa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pearsen at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zappa throws a right and a left that Pearsen avoids nicely.
Pearsen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zappa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pearsen manages to avoid it.
A jab from Pearsen does it's job there.
Zappa throws a body punch but Pearsen moves out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zappa.
Zappa lands with a good body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pearsen misses with a hook
and Zappa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zappa throws a head kick but Pearsen moves out of range.
Zappa misses with the combination.
Zappa takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Pearsen scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Pearsen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Pearsen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Good shot there by Pearsen.
Pearsen takes a swing at Zappa's ribcage but misses.
Pearsen throws a right and a left that Zappa avoids nicely.
Zappa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Pearsens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Pearsen swings widly with a right hand
and Zappa counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Pearsen misses the shot to the body.
Zappa lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Pearsen takes a swing at Zappa's ribcage but misses.
Zappa swats away the attempt to clinch by Pearsen.
Pearsen wants to clinch.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Zappa.
That kick from Zappa tenderised Pearsen's leg. Pearsen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zappa throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Pearsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Pearsen misses with a looping right.
Zappa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pearsen moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pearsen throws a hook but Zappa avoids it easily.
Zappa looks to land a combination but Pearsen avoids it well.
Pearsen tries to clinch but Zappa is having none of it.
A combination from Pearsen does no damage.
Zappa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pearsen is looking to clinch but Zappa is avoiding it.
Zappa moves away from the strike by Pearsen.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zappa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pearsen backs up against the cage.
Pearsen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zappa throws out the jab.
Pearsen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zappa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pearsen.
Zappa throws a right and a left that Pearsen avoids nicely.
Pearsen misses with a hook. Zappa ducked under it nicely.

Zappa manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Pearsen on his heels. He'll look to pass Pearsen's guard now, I'm sure.
Zappa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pearsen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zappa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pearsen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zappa.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen trying to control the position.
Zappa wants to control from the top but Pearsen keeps moving.
Zappa prevents Pearsen from getting back to his feet.
Pearsen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
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!
Zappa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zappa throwing strikes from guard but Pearsen blocks nicely.
Zappa stops Pearsen from standing up.
Pearsen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen keeping moving, preventing Zappa from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zappa pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Pearsen back to the cage. Zappa follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Pearsen cracks a nice hook into Zappa's ribs.
Donk. Zappa catches Pearsen right on the button with a cross.
Pearsen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Pearsen moves out of range of the body kick.
Pearsen slips a jab from Zappa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zappa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zappa dodges the punch combination from Pearsen.
Zappa misses with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Junior Zappa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Pearsen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Pearsen looks to score with a jab to the body but Zappa is just out of range.
Zappa moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Pearsen tries to clinch but Zappa is having none of it.
Pearsen misses with a lunging right hand
and Zappa counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Pearsen misses with a hook. Zappa ducked under it nicely.
Pearsen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice body punch from Zappa.
Zappa misses with a looping right.
Pearsen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Pearsen has managed to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zappa gets control of Pearsen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zappa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zappa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pearsen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pearsen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zappa is keeping the position for now.
Zappa manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Pearsen avoids a series of strikes thrown by Zappa.
Zappa fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Zappa cracks Pearsen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zappa throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zappa fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Pearsen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zappa misses with some ground and pound and Pearsen recovers position to half guard.
Zappa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zappa wants to take a breather but Pearsen is having none of it.
Pearsen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zappa.
Pearsen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pearsen.
Zappa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zappa won't allow Pearsen to sweep him here.
Zappa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Zappa 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.
Zappa gets back to full guard.
Zappa keeping moving, preventing Pearsen from controlling successfully.
Pearsen wants to get up but he can't break Zappa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zappa throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Zappa pushes a forearm under Pearsen's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Pearsen is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Junior Zappa!