PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zak Zinfandel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Runfor Cover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zinfandel
vs
Cover

171 cm
28
168 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
155 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zak Zinfandel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Runfor Cover!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, jab by Cover - just one landing.
Cover swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cover throws a nice looking combination but Zinfandel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cover swinging wildly here.
Cover fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cover defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zinfandel.
Runfor Cover seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Cover. Those never looked like landing.
Zinfandel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cover.
Cover listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Zinfandel shoots in looking for a takedown but Cover manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zinfandel's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cover sizes up Zinfandel with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Zinfandel drives through and clinches with Cover against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cover doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zinfandel is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Zinfandel tries to score a body lock takedown but Cover shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zak Zinfandel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zinfandel lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Zinfandel throwing shots but Cover is blocking nicely.
Cover wants to control but Zinfandel is keeping busy.
Zinfandel scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Zinfandel scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cover really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zinfandel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Zinfandel is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zinfandel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cover trying to control here.
Zinfandel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cover defending well though.

Zinfandel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cover holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cover is looking to improve his position.
Cover moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cover keeping full guard, as Zinfandel tries to pass.
Zinfandel landing with the ground and pound.
Zinfandel looking to pass the guard.
Zinfandel passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cover is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cover managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zinfandel.
Zinfandel throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zinfandel working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cover is looking to regain half guard here but Zinfandel keeps moving and retains side control.
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 Zak Zinfandel will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cover lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Zinfandel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cover.

Zinfandel fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cover sprawls well initially but Zinfandel persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zak Zinfandel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cover is trying to stand back up but Zinfandel is controlling him
Cover keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Zinfandel.
Zinfandel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cover tries to roll over but Zinfandel keeps him under control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cover blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zinfandel.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cover can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zinfandel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cover's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zinfandel 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.
Zinfandel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cover's head.
Zinfandel is nestled in close to Cover, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Zinfandel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zinfandel slips a nice elbow through Cover's hands, connecting with Cover's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel lands with a punch from half guard.
Cover wants to improve his position but Zinfandel is controlling well.
Cover is trying to control but can't.
Zinfandel looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cover manages to get to full guard.
Zinfandel tries to free his leg and advance position but Cover is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel pushes down on Cover's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zinfandel is trying to control the action in half guard but Cover is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zinfandel looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cover with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Zinfandel wants to pass to mount but Cover is defending the position.
Cover is trying to control but can't.
Zinfandel throwing shots but Cover is blocking nicely.

Zinfandel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cover tries to get to full guard but Zinfandel has control of the leg.
Cover trying to hold on to Zinfandel's head to control him but Zinfandel postures up.
Zinfandel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cover blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zinfandel.
Zinfandel thows a huge punch but Cover dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Zinfandel dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cover is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zinfandel.
Runfor Cover is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zinfandel misses the jab.
Cover will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zinfandel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cover.
Cover throws a big shot that misses.
Cover connects with a body shot that sends Zinfandel's belly button to the back.
Zinfandel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cover swivels and escapes.
Cover lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zinfandel circles away quickly and effectively.
Cover misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Cover.
Cover fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cover throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zinfandel lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Zinfandel dodges the punch combination from Cover.
Cover keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Runfor Cover is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cover throws a right and a left that Zinfandel avoids nicely.
Cover throws a right hand that Zinfandel ducks under and follows up with a left that Zinfandel also avoids with ease.
Cover throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cover takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zinfandel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cover's sensitive parts.
Cover misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cover throws a one two combo.
Cover stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zak Zinfandel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No joy there for Cover, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cover swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Zinfandel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zinfandel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Zinfandel is looking for a kimura here.
Zinfandel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cover's head.
Zinfandel trying to mount his opponent but Cover defends it.
Cover tries to roll over but Zinfandel keeps him under control.
Zinfandel thows a huge punch but Cover dodges it nicely.
Zinfandel passes to full mount!

Zinfandel has control of Cover's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Cover regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel lands with some strikes.
Zinfandel can't control as he wanted to and Cover manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Cover wants to control but Zinfandel is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zinfandel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cover defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Zinfandel clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zinfandel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cover.
Cover tries to bum rush Zinfandel with a series of wild strikes but Zinfandel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cover, as that shot connected.
Zinfandel looks to throw the jab but Cover is out of range.
Cover throws a good cross that connects.
Zinfandel wants to clinch up but Cover keeps it at a distance.
Cover takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Some bone on bone action there as Cover checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cover keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zinfandel tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cover sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zinfandel somewhat.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Zinfandel.
Cover connects with a right hand. Zinfandel shakes it off.
Cover will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zinfandel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zak Zinfandel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cover throws a right and a left that both miss.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zinfandel.

Zinfandel gets the takedown into side control.
Zinfandel sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Cover is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Zinfandel has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cover tries to improve position but can't.
Zinfandel looking to control but instead Cover has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Cover keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zinfandel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cover's head.
Cover wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cover with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cover blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zinfandel.
Cover tries to get to full guard but Zinfandel has control of the leg.
Zinfandel looks to land a strike but Cover avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Cover keeping full guard, as Zinfandel tries to pass.
Zinfandel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cover works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zinfandel working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel postures up.
Cover keeping full guard, as Zinfandel tries to pass.
Cover preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cover working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zinfandel.
Zinfandel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cover is keeping the position for now.
Cover working a defensive guard but Zinfandel passes into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cover avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zinfandel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Zinfandel had his way with Runfor Cover in 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. This is the final round!

Zinfandel misses with a straight right.
Zinfandel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cover misses with the combination.
Cover paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Zinfandel is looking to clinch.
Cover rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zinfandel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cover throws a series of punches but Zinfandel moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Cover as Zinfandel shoots in.
Cover swinging wildly here.
Cover's corner calls for a 1-2. Cover obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
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 one minute gone in the round.
Cover lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Zinfandel backs up against the cage.
Cover throws a right and a left that Zinfandel avoids nicely.
Cover swinging wildly here.
Zinfandel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cover.
Cover looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cover has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nice sprawl there from Cover as Zinfandel shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zak Zinfandel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cover throws a series of punches but Zinfandel moves out of range.
Cover missing with a left hand there. Zinfandel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cover lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cover throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice defenses there by Zinfandel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cover fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch lands to the side of Cover 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Cover feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zinfandels jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cover throws a big shot that misses.
Cover will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cover throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zinfandel counters with a good low kick that Cover was not able to check.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cover swinging wildly here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zinfandel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zinfandel slips a straight right by Cover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel lands with an uppercut that bounces Cover off the cage and back into range.
Zinfandel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cover misses with a combination
and Zinfandel makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Cover fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zinfandel manages to avoid it.
Zinfandel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cover lands with a straight right. Zinfandel didn't see that one coming.
Cover slaps away a takedown attempt from Zinfandel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zinfandel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zak Zinfandel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cover lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cover.
Runfor Cover has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cover throws a right hand that Zinfandel ducks under and follows up with a left that Zinfandel also avoids with ease.
Runfor Cover seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cover throws a series of punches but Zinfandel avoids them all with ease.
Cover stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cover wants it to stay on the feet.
Cover fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch combination from Cover misses.
Zinfandel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cover throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Cover. Those never looked like landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Zinfandel. Cover shrugs it off though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zinfandel cracks a nice hook into Cover's ribs.

Zinfandel clinches with his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Runfor Cover comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zinfandel 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 49:47
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 49:46
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zak Zinfandel!