PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin Gabriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marek Zegarek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gabriel kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is No Sunshine. Marek Zegarek is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Gabriel
vs
Zegarek

209 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
269 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid 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 Hilo, Justin Gabriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marek Zegarek!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zegarek throws a head kick that misses.

Zegarek darts in and clinches Gabriel up against the cage.

Zegarek pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zegarek takes one to the chin there.
Zegarek fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gabriel manages to avoid it.
A punch lands to the side of Zegarek 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zegarek.

Zegarek darts in and clinches Gabriel up against the cage.
Zegarek content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Zegarek has clasped his hands together around Gabriel's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Zegarek fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zegarek sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gabriel is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zegarek postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Zegarek throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Gabriel works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Gabriel keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zegarek tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Zegarek trying to mount his opponent but Gabriel defends it.
Zegarek throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zegarek sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gabriel defending well though.
Zegarek throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Zegarek is working for a kimura but Gabriel is defending it quite comfortably.
Zegarek trying to control the action but Gabriel is working from the bottom.
Zegarek content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zegarek is looking for a kimura here.
Gabriel tries to kick Zegarek off but Zegarek keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Zegarek throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gabriel is trying to stand back up but Zegarek is controlling him
Zegarek missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zegarek tries to stand but can't do so whilst Gabriel controls his leg.
Gabriel tries to kick Zegarek off but Zegarek keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Zegarek seems to be working for a kimura but Gabriel defends the submission attempt.

Gabriel manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gabriel connects with a nice looking jab.

Zegarek closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marek Zegarek dominated that round.
That's time! Gabriel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gabriel lands a lovely overhand right.

Zegarek darts in and clinches Gabriel up against the cage.

Zegarek breaks the clinch.
Gabriel keeps the fight on the outside.
Zegarek wants to clinch.

Zegarek gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Zegarek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zegarek looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zegarek fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zegarek's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Gabriel connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zegarek scrambles back to his feet.
Zegarek tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Zegarek gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Zegarek pulls guard.

Gabriel has gone for a leg lock! Zegarek slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gabriel's guard.
Zegarek loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gabriel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zegarek.
Gabriel wants to get back to his feet but Zegarek passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zegarek is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gabriel has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gabriel is trying to stand.
Zegarek wants to stand but Gabriel has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Zegarek is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gabriel is refusing to be controlled, as Zegarek sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel pushes Zegarek off looking to stand but Zegarek dives back in and keeps control.
Zegarek not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zegarek tries to stand but can't do so whilst Gabriel controls his leg.
Zegarek seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gabriel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gabriel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zegarek.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel is trying to stand back up but Zegarek is controlling him

Marek Zegarek has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Zegarek gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gabriel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gabriel tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zegarek just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gabriel tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zegarek just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Gabriel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zegarek is pushing Gabriel up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Zegarek putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gabriel in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marek Zegarek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zegarek moves into range and clinches up with Gabriel.
Zegarek stalling.
Gabriel tries to pull guard but Zegarek won't allow it.

Zegarek breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zegarek fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gabriel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gabriel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gabriel is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Zegarek throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Zegarek has closed the distance and engaged Gabriel in a clinch.
Gabriel jumps guard but Zegarek stands there with Gabriel around his waist. Gabriel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gabriel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Gabriel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zegarek manages to break the clinch.
Zegarek doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zegarek tries to clinch up but Gabriel circles away and keeps his distance.
Zegarek fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gabriel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zegarek misses with a takedown attempt - Gabriel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zegarek takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Horrible takedown by Zegarek or perhaps it was just good defense by Gabriel which made him look bad.
Marek Zegarek is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zegarek tries to clinch but Gabriel is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zegarek fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zegarek stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like Justin Gabriel has been cut.
Gabriel keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Zegarek takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Zegarek fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Zegarek fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gabriel, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zegarek misses with a punch to the body.

Zegarek drags the fight down to the ground.

Gabriel drops back looking for a leg! Zegarek is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zegarek manages to kick Gabriel off! Gabriel jumps back into Zegarek's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gabriel drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zegarek looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zegarek looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zegarek!
Gabriel wants to get back to his feet.

Gabriel throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zegarek tries to clinch but Gabriel moves out of range.
Zegarek tries to clinch but Gabriel is having none of it.
Zegarek throws a head kick that Gabriel semi-blocks.

Zegarek clinches.
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!

Zegarek successfully pulls guard.

Gabriel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gabriel drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zegarek manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gabriel has Zegarek in his guard.
Justin Gabriel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marek Zegarek is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zegarek postures up in Gabriel's guard and throws a big left but Gabriel blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marek Zegarek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zegarek has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marek Zegarek!