PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Solomon Venris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Hitana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zack Hitana acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Venris
vs
Hitana

165 cm
23
157 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

170 cm
28
140 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Solomon Venris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zack Hitana!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Venris swats away the attempt to clinch by Hitana.
Venris avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Venris tries to land a front kick but Hitana steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hitana tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Venris was well out of range. Poor timing from Hitana.
Hitana misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Venris tries to close the distance and clinch but Hitana swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hitana checks a leg kick.
Hitana is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Venris is looking to land body kicks.

Venris moves into the clinch.
Hitana tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Venris avoids it.
Nice elbow from Venris.
Hitana blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Venris throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Venris has picked Hitana up - he's going for a ride! Venris dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Venris not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hitana keeping hold of Venris's head, controlling as best he can.
Venris not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitana avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Venris.
Venris 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.
Hitana is trying to get back to full guard.
Venris missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Venris lands strikes from half guard.
Hitana avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Venris.
Venris thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hitana is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Venris is trying to control. Hitana wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hitana regains full guard. Nicely done.
Venris trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hitana wants to stand but Venris is controlling the position.
Hitana working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Venris.
Venris looking to pass the guard.
Hitana keeping moving, preventing Venris from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venris working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Venris throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hitana is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Venris is controlling him.
Hitana is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Venris trying to control but Hitana is working from the bottom.
Venris throws a big elbow that misses.
Venris throws a big elbow that misses.
Venris won't allow Hitana to sweep him here.
Venris trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Venris tries to free his leg and advance position but Hitana is retaining full guard.
Hitana not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hitana looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Venris throws a big elbow that misses.
Hitana wants to stand and escape but Venris is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venris trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hitana is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Venris missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hitana working a defensive guard here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Zack Hitana hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Hitana misses with a few strikes there.
Hitana blocks a leg kick.
Venris doesn't manage to clinch there - Hitana circles away.
Venris wants to clinch.

Venris gets a clinch.
Hitana with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Venris missing with knees to the body.
Hitana throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Venris blocks it with crossed arms.
Hitana blocks an elbow strike from Venris.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hitana seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Venris.
Venris looking to throw knees to the head but Hitana is blocking nicely.
Venris lands a nice elbow.

Venris breaks the clinch.

Venris gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Venris misses with a knee strike.
Hitana tries to land a knee to the head but Venris blocks with his arms.
Venris lands a nice elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Venris tries to land knees in the clinch but Hitana avoids the damage to the body.
Hitana lands an elbow inside that Venris shrugs off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Venris comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Venris tries to land knees in the clinch but Hitana avoids the damage to the body.
Hitana blocks an elbow strike.
Venris misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hitana.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Venris dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Venris is looking to clinch.
Hitana fails in his attempt to clinch.
Venris avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hitana throws a push kick but Venris slaps the foot to one side.
Venris throws a right hand that Hitana ducks under and follows up with a left that Hitana also avoids with ease.
Hitana wants to clinch up but Venris keeps it at a distance.
Hitana swats away the attempt to clinch by Venris.

Venris has managed to clinch.
Hitana blocks an elbow strike from Venris.
Hitana avoiding damage as Venris throws knees to the body.
Hitana misses with a knee to the head.
Hitana with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Venris avoids a wild elbow strike from Hitana.
Venris takes a knee right on the jaw!
Venris lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Venris looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Venris on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venris on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Venris on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Venris tries to land knees in the clinch but Hitana avoids the damage to the body.
Hitana missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Venris throws an elbow but misses.
Hitana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Venris is defending well for now.
Venris throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hitana crunches a lovely knee into Venris's ribcage.
Venris trying to land knees to the body.
Venris takes a knee right on the jaw!
Venris looking to throw knees to the head but Hitana is blocking nicely.
Hitana with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Venris avoiding damage as Hitana throws knees to the body.
Venris tries to land knees in the clinch but Hitana avoids the damage to the body.
Venris tries to land knees in the clinch but Hitana avoids the damage to the body.
Venris throws an elbow that misses.
Hitana with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hitana with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hitana using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Venris has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Venris avoids a wild elbow strike from Hitana.
Venris missing with knees to the body.
Venris blocks an uppercut.
Solomon Venris has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hitana trying to land knees to the body.

Venris breaks the clinch.
Hitana bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hitana tries to clinch but Venris moves out of range.

Venris closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Venris throws an elbow but misses.
Hitana tries a knee to the head but Venris blocks it.
Venris lands an elbow that stopped Hitana in his tracks for a moment.
Venris avoiding damage as Hitana throws knees to the body.
Hitana looking to slow down the pace here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitana avoiding damage as Venris throws knees to the body.
Hitana using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Venris lands a nice elbow.
Venris missing with knees to the body.
Hitana tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Venris trying to land knees to the body.
Hitana tries to land knees in the clinch but Venris avoids the damage to the body.
Venris throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hitana blocks it with crossed arms.
Venris pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Venris is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hitana is defending well for now.
Venris misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hitana.
Venris pushes off an throws an elbow but Hitana leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hitana throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Venris blocks it with crossed arms.
Hitana tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hitana tries to land knees in the clinch but Venris avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hitana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Venris is defending well for now.
Venris looking to throw knees to the head but Hitana is blocking nicely.
Hitana tries a knee to the head but Venris blocks it.
Hitana gets underhooks to prevent Venris's takedown attempt.
Hitana taking a breather.
Venris with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hitana landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hitana misses with a knee to the head.
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!
Hitana blocks an elbow strike.
Venris gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Venris breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Venris has managed to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hitana trying to land knees to the body.
Venris creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hitana managing to block the knees to the body from Venris.
Hitana tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Venris avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zack Hitana will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Venris tries to clinch but Hitana moves out of range.
Hitana wants to clinch up but Venris keeps it at a distance.
Venris throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Venris cracks the inside of Hitana's front leg.
Hitana drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hitana tries to clinch but Venris is having none of it.
Venris shoots in for a double leg but Hitana sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Venris is looking to land body kicks.
Venris misses with a body kick.
Venris shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hitana defends it nicely.
Hitana tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Venris manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Venris fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Solomon Venris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Venris circles away from the clinch attempt.
Venris shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venris doesn't manage to clinch there - Hitana circles away.
Venris swats away the attempt to clinch by Hitana.
Venris fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hitana manages to avoid it.
Venris on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Hitana pushes Venris up against the cage in a clinch.
Venris prevents a body shot from Hitana.
Hitana tries to land knees in the clinch but Venris avoids the damage to the body.
Venris wants a takedown.
Hitana is pushing Venris up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hitana is working Venris over against the cage.
Venris throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hitana tries a knee to the head but Venris blocks it.
Venris lands an elbow inside.
Hitana tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Venris avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venris lands an elbow inside.
Venris misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hitana.
Venris misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hitana.
Venris blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hitana blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hitana misses with a knee to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hitana.
Hitana blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Venris takes an elbow to the temple.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Venris is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hitana is defending well for now.
Hitana avoids the elbow strike from Venris, against the cage.
Hitana working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Venris is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Venris lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Venris trying to land knees to the body.
Venris missing with knees to the body.
Hitana missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitana slows down the pace here.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Venris just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hitana's brow.
Hitana trying to land knees to the body.
Hitana lands a nice knee to the body.
Venris lands a nice elbow.
Venris pushes off an throws an elbow but Hitana leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hitana blocks an elbow strike from Venris.
Hitana misses with a knee to the head.
Venris is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hitana is defending well for now.
Venris misses with a knee to the head.
Hitana managing to block the knees to the body from Venris.
Venris lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Venris tries to land knees in the clinch but Hitana avoids the damage to the body.
A knee to the head by Hitana.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Venris avoiding damage as Hitana throws knees to the body.
Venris blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hitana looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hitana avoids a wild elbow strike from Venris.
Hitana managing to block the knees to the body from Venris.
Hitana throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Venris blocks it with crossed arms.
Venris throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Venris throws an elbow but it misses.
Venris is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hitana is defending well for now.
Venris wants a takedown but no success here.
Venris pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hitana managing to block the knees to the body from Venris.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hitana with a knee to the head.
Hitana using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hitana managing to block the knees to the body from Venris.
Hitana trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Solomon Venris.
Well Venris has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Solomon Venris!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Solomon Venris!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Solomon Venris!

Solomon Venris wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Solomon Venris thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.