PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Athrun Zala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cliff Sierra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sierra's choice of entrance music: Sweet Dreams-Manson. Cliff Sierra is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Zala
vs
Sierra

180 cm
24
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 2 - 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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cliff Sierra!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Sierra.
Zala tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sierra was well out of range. Poor timing from Zala.
Zala tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sierra manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sierra will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sierra shoots in for a double leg but Zala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zala keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zala shoots in looking for a takedown. Sierra tries to sprawl out of it but Zala keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sierra manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sierra misses with a takedown attempt - Zala sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Athrun Zala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Sierra.
Zala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sierra swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sierra shoots for a double leg takedown but Zala sprawls well. He's pushed Sierra's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sierra throws a head kick but Zala moves out of range.
No luck for Sierra with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zala crunches a lovely knee into Sierra's ribcage.
Zala trying to land knees to the body.

Sierra pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zala wants to clinch up but Sierra keeps it at a distance.
Sierra dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zala. That did some damage!
Zala tries to clinch up.
Sierra shoots in looking for a takedown. Zala tries to sprawl out of it but Sierra keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zala manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sierra is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zala sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sierra pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Zala gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zala taking a breather.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sierra as Zala tries to tie him up.
Zala is trying to break the clinch but Sierra is controlling him.

Zala's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
An inside leg kick from Sierra misses.
Zala leaves Sierra with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Zala clinches up against the cage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zala feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sierra's calf.
Zala is looking to clinch but Sierra is avoiding it.
Zala tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sierra manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sierra closes the distance and clinches up with Zala, looking for a takedown. Sierra pushes Zala against the cage but Zala circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sierra shoots in for a takedown but Zala shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sierra shoots in for a takedown but Zala shows good takedown defense.
Zala throws a leg kick

and Sierra counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zala won't be happy with that.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sierra 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.
Sierra staying calm.
Sierra has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sierra stands up.
Zala misses with a takedown

and Sierra counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zala's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sierra loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sierra pushing down on Zala's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sierra controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cliff Sierra dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sierra shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zala as he jumps to the side.
Sierra fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zala tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sierra cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Zala closes the distance and clinches.
Sierra throws an elbow that misses.
Sierra throws a punch but it's blocked by Zala.
Sierra is working for takedown but Zala is calmly controlling the position for now.
Athrun Zala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Sierra.
Zala is trying to pull guard but Sierra has him pressed against the cage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zala tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sierra manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sierra keeps the fight on the outside.
Sierra stuffs the takedown.
Zala wants to clinch.

Sierra shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zala manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sierra seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Zala preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sierra passes Zala's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sierra uses his free foot to push down on Zala's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Zala.
Sierra can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zala is looking to escape.
Zala knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sierra on the ground.
Zala blocking the ground and pound.
Sierra controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sierra cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sierra looking to control but Zala is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sierra takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sierra breaks from Zala's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sierra punishing his opponent with strikes.
Sierra thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sierra lands a big shot to the head and Zala winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Cliff Sierra!