PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Collins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Zanotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Collins
vs
Zanotto

180 cm
26
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Oliver Collins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Zanotto!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Hugh Johnson and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Collins displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Collins lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Collins with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zanotto moves into the clinch.
Collins tries to circle away but Zanotto has him pinned against the cage.

Collins manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Collins trying to keep a closed guard but Zanotto is proving a slippery customer.
Collins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Collins being controlled here, momentarily.
Zanotto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zanotto's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zanotto tries to free his leg and advance position but Collins is retaining full guard.
Collins trying to keep a closed guard but Zanotto is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanotto sitting in guard, not really doing much.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zanotto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Collins keeping moving, preventing Zanotto from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zanotto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zanotto looks to land a combination but Collins avoids it well.
Collins connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Collins has his takedown stuffed

and Zanotto counters with a shoot takedown. Collins fights it but they end up in guard.
Zanotto with a nice head shot there.
Collins keeping full guard, as Zanotto tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zanotto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Collins will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Zanotto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Collins has control of Zanotto's left arm, preventing Zanotto from doing any damage.
Zanotto lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zanotto is in close to Collins's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Collins looking for a sweep. Not yet Collins, not yet.
Zanotto throws a big right hand that misses.
Collins not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Collins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zanotto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zanotto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Collins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto trying to move into half guard but instead Collins has managed to sweep!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zanotto wants to stand but Collins is controlling the position.
Collins preventing the sweep.
Zanotto wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zanotto can do anything to dispel that myth.
Collins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zanotto looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ben Zanotto wasn't active enough on the ground.

Collins moves into the clinch successfully.
Collins tries to circle away but Zanotto has him pinned against the cage.
Zanotto has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Collins jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zanotto walks away with a smile on his face. Collins gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oliver Collins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zanotto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zanotto wants it to stay on the feet.
Zanotto misses with a body kick.
Zanotto moves to clinch but Collins breaks away
and Collins counters with a right hand to the body.
Collins shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zanotto defends it nicely.

Zanotto manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Collins on his heels. He'll look to pass Collins's guard now, I'm sure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Collins manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zanotto manages to get himself to full guard.
Zanotto has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zanotto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Zanotto dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Collins scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Collins lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zanotto circles away quickly and effectively.

Zanotto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zanotto seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Zanotto is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Collins reverses the position - he's now on top in Zanotto's guard.
Collins throwing strikes but missing.
Zanotto keeping moving, preventing Collins from controlling successfully.
Zanotto wants to sweep but no luck.
Zanotto managing to control the position.
Collins postures up in Zanotto's guard and throws a big left but Zanotto blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Collins won't allow Zanotto to sweep him here.
Collins trying to control but Zanotto is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Oliver Collins just wasn't active enough.
Collins fails to land with a series of punches.

Zanotto shoots in and bounces Collins off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Collins is looking to stand up but Zanotto isn't so interested in that idea.
Zanotto wants to control from the top but Collins keeps moving.
Zanotto scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Collins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zanotto throwing strikes but missing.
Collins manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zanotto manages to get himself to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Collins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Collins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ben Zanotto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Collins wants to control from the top but Zanotto keeps moving.
Zanotto controlling the position.
Zanotto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Collins is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Collins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Collins with a nice head shot there.
Zanotto is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Collins trying to control the position from guard on top but Zanotto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Collins has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zanotto is proving hard to escape from.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Collins trying to control but Zanotto is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Oliver Collins.
No joy there for Collins, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zanotto throws a leg kick that misses.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto avoids a wild elbow strike from Collins.
Collins is trying to break the clinch but Zanotto is controlling him.
Collins is trying to break the clinch but Zanotto has him pressed against the cage.
Collins tries to pull guard but Zanotto forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Collins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zanotto avoids it.

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

Zanotto bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Collins wants to control but Zanotto postures up.
Collins taking a bit of punishment here - Zanotto scoring with strikes.
Zanotto controlling from side mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Collins is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zanotto has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Zanotto 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!

Collins has managed to clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Collins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zanotto has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Collins tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zanotto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zanotto has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Collins is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Zanotto is trying to trip Collins. He has hold of a leg but Collins is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Zanotto persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Zanotto trying to control the position from guard on top but Collins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zanotto cracks Collins with a solid left hand.
Collins lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zanotto!
Zanotto is desperately trying to improve his position but Collins has a good base and remains in mount.
Zanotto is bucking up trying to escape but Collins cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanotto takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Collins throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Zanotto because Collins loaded up on that one.

Collins working for a guillotine from mount but Zanotto is in no mood to give up.
Collins pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Zanotto tries to hold on but Collins pushes him away.

Collins with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Zanotto is in all sorts of trouble here.

Collins goes for an armbar but Zanotto turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Zanotto.
Collins working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zanotto.
Ben Zanotto is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collins is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Collins 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.
Zanotto controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zanotto keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Collins's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zanotto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zanotto landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collins can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zanotto controls the pace.
Zanotto lands a couple of elbows.
Zanotto's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Zanotto's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ben Zanotto wasn't active enough on the ground.
Collins gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zanotto counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zanotto controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Collins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zanotto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Collins wants to stand and escape but Zanotto is having none of it.
Oliver Collins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zanotto is in close to Collins's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zanotto controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zanotto tries to free his leg and advance position but Collins is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Zanotto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zanotto winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Zanotto!
Ben Zanotto seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.