PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Athrun Zala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Fletcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Zala
vs
Fletcher

180 cm
24
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Athrun Zala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zach Fletcher!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fletcher swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Fletcher wants to clinch up but Zala keeps it at a distance.
Fletcher fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zala showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fletcher.
Fletcher misses the shot to the body.
Zala dodges the punch combination from Fletcher.
Zala tries to clinch but Fletcher is having none of it.
Fletcher jabs Zala to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Zach Fletcher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Fletcher drops Zala with a left right combo! Fletcher follows him down to the ground into side control.

Zala is rocked!

It looks like Athrun Zala has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Fletcher trying to control the position but Zala is working away.
Fletcher in side control, throwing shots but Zala defends.

Fletcher has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Fletcher keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fletcher tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zala manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fletcher wants to clinch.

Zala rushes Fletcher and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fletcher is working for takedown but Zala is calmly controlling the position for now.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Zala.
Zala is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Zala pulls guard.
Fletcher wants to stand but Zala is controlling his posture from full guard.

Fletcher gets to his feet. Zala looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zala tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Fletcher manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Fletcher darts in and clinches Zala up against the cage.
Fletcher jumps guard but Zala stands there with Fletcher around his waist. Fletcher gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Athrun Zala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zach Fletcher.

Zala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Zala has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zala creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Fletcher's defenses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fletcher has had enough of the clinch but Zala keeps him there for the moment.
Zala has Fletcher pressed against the cage, preventing Fletcher from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Fletcher is trying to push Zala away but Zala has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Fletcher is trying to break free.
Zala leaning against his opponent.

Zala breaks the clinch.
Zach Fletcher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fletcher throws a right hand that Zala ducks under and follows up with a left that Zala also avoids with ease.

Zala has Fletcher up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zala's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Zala is trying to pull guard but Fletcher has him pressed against the cage.
Zala missing with knees to the body.
Zala is trying to maintain a safe position but Fletcher gets an underhook and turns Zala into the cage.
Fletcher can't get the takedown.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Fletcher as Zala tries to tie him up.
Fletcher is trying to break the clinch but Zala is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher has had enough of the clinch but Zala keeps him there for the moment.
Zala keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fletcher's efforts to push away.
Fletcher wants to break the clinch but can't.
A knee to the head by Zala.
Zala jumps guard but Fletcher turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Zala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fletcher swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Fletcher. Those never looked like landing.
Fletcher misses with the combination.
Fletcher looks gassed!
Zala tries to clinch up but Fletcher circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fletcher tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zala was well out of range. Poor timing from Fletcher.
Zala looks to clinch
and Fletcher connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Fletcher dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Athrun Zala'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.

Zala tries to clinch there but Fletcher circles away.
Zala wants to clinch.
Zala dodges the punch combination from Fletcher.
Fletcher throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zala counters with a left and a right that stings Fletcher.

Fletcher moves into range and clinches up with Zala.
Zala fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zala is struggling to control the position.

Zala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zala slips a jab and a cross from Fletcher.
Fletcher looks to land a combination but Zala avoids it well.

Zala clinches with his opponent.
Fletcher can't break the clinch.

Zala ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Zala no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fletcher throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fletcher looking to pass the guard.
Zala wants to stand and escape but Fletcher is having none of it.

Fletcher decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Zala, up you get!
Zala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fletcher swats him away and circles back towards the center.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fletcher tries to score a body lock takedown but Zala shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Zala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fletcher keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zala tries to clinch there but Fletcher circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Fletcher.
Zach Fletcher seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zala avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fletcher throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zala.
Zala keeps the fight on the outside.
Fletcher with a hook.
Zala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Zala moves into range and clinches up with Fletcher.
Athrun Zala has scored more points in the clinch so far.
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!
Fletcher wants to get back to striking at distance but Zala won't allow it.

Zala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zala misses with a series of wild punches.

Zala clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zala breaks the clinch.
Athrun Zala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fletcher throws the kick towards the body but Zala avoids it.
Fletcher throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zala.
Zala moves in looking to clinch but Fletcher pushes him off.
A clash of legs there as Zala blocks the low kick.
Fletcher throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fletcher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zala connects with a right hand. Fletcher shakes it off.
Zala is looking to clinch.
Zala keeps the fight on the outside.
Zala tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Fletcher manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fletcher dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Zala clinches up with Fletcher and pushes him back against the cage.
Zala missing with knees to the body.

Zala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zala clinches up with Fletcher and pushes him back against the cage.
Fletcher wants to get back to striking at distance but Zala won't allow it.
Fletcher wants to break free but Zala has control.
A frustrated look appears on Fletcher's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Zala keeps control of Fletcher as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Fletcher manages to break the clinch.
Fletcher throws a nice looking combination but Zala bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fletcher throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fletcher fails to land with a series of punches.
Zala fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Athrun Zala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fletcher swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zala scores with a one two! Fletcher had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Zala rushes Fletcher and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Athrun Zala will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Athrun Zala's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zala rushes Fletcher and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fletcher prevents the takedown attempt.

Zala's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fletcher is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Zala rather than just go for the knockout.
Fletcher throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zala scores with a jab to the head.
Fletcher throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zala.
No joy there for Fletcher, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zala lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fletcher backs up against the cage.
Zala keeps the fight on the outside.
Fletcher lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zala circles away quickly and effectively.
Zala tries to close the distance and clinch but Fletcher swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zala shoots in and drives through. Fletcher sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fletcher throws a combination. Zala tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Zala moves into the clinch successfully.
Fletcher has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zala leaning his opponent against the cage.
Fletcher is trying to push Zala away but Zala has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Fletcher on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fletcher is trying to break the clinch but Zala is controlling him.
Fletcher tries for a takedown but Zala manages to get underhooks.
Zala stalling against the cage.

Zala breaks the clinch.
Zala scores with a shot to the body.
Zala wants to clinch.
Fletcher throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Zala both land. Nice combination.
Fletcher throws a half hearted mid kick.
A punch combination from Fletcher misses.
Zala shoots for a takedown but Fletcher saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Athrun Zala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fletcher throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zala moves in looking to clinch but Fletcher pushes him off.
Zala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fletcher swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Zala gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Fletcher is trying to push Zala away but Zala has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zala throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fletcher is trying to break free.
Fletcher can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zala breaks the clinch.
Fletcher throws a nice looking combination but Zala bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fletcher wants to land a leg kick but Zala is out of range.

Zala rushes Fletcher and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fletcher is trying to push Zala away but Zala has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Fletcher wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zala - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zala gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Fletcher takes an elbow to the forehead.

Zala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fletcher swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher misses with a leg kick

and Zala counters by clinching up.

Fletcher manages to break the clinch.
Zala scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Fletcher doesn't seem bothered though.

Zala fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fletcher, pushing him back against the cage.
Zala will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Fletcher up against the cage.
Fletcher wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zala has him pressed against the cage.
Fletcher working hard to break the clinch.
Zala prevents Fletcher from breaking the clinch.
Fletcher has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fletcher looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zala softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fletcher wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zala has him pressed against the cage.
Zala comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Athrun Zala showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zala 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Athrun Zala!