PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Zanico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bubba Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Zanico has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Zanico
vs
Smith

173 cm
25
143 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

190 cm
22
133 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafael Zanico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bubba Smith!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Skip Squint and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Zanico clinches.
Zanico keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith taking a breather.
Zanico gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Zanico turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rafael Zanico has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bubba Smith.
Smith has Zanico pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zanico manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Smith goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zanico prevents it.
Zanico is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Zanico has hold of one of Smith's legs. Smith is fighting the takedown attempt but Zanico gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Smith keeping full guard, as Zanico tries to pass.

Zanico thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Zanico is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Smith landing strikes from the mount.
Smith lands a nice shot to the head.
Smith pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Zanico might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zanico gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanico avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Zanico tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Smith working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zanico's head.
Zanico is trying to stand.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zanico tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smith working over Zanico with some ground and pound. Zanico looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zanico is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zanico defending well though.
Zanico is not content to let Smith control the position.
Zanico blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zanico on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zanico has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zanico regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Smith.
Smith throws an elbow that misses. Zanico uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Zanico!
Zanico trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith wants to sweep here but Zanico controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zanico won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Zanico advances to half guard.
Smith manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Smith dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith shoots in but Zanico avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Zanico drives through with a takedown into Smith's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Zanico stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bubba Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Zanico pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zanico moves nicely into side control.
Zanico working the ground and pound.

Zanico has hold of Smith's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Smith tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Zanico cranks the arm and Smith screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Smith, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Rafael Zanico!
Rafael Zanico very nearly forgot to thank Hell's Balls Recovery (160) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.