PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akram Zein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pop PopCorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zein
vs
PopCorn

189 cm
18
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
189 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Akram Zein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pop PopCorn!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zein moves into the clinch.

Zein pulls guard successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
PopCorn postures up in Zein's guard and throws a big left but Zein blocks it.
Zein 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.

Zein is looking for a triangle but PopCorn pushes his legs off easily.
Zein trying to control the position.
Zein manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
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!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zein cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zein working PopCorn over with strikes here.
Zein lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
PopCorn wants to control but Zein is having none of it.
PopCorn keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zein tries to control but PopCorn wriggling away.
Zein 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.
Zein controlling from mount.
Zein with a couple of short strikes.
Zein looking to control and managing it successfully.
Zein raining down hammerfists from mount.
Zein tries to control but PopCorn wriggling away.
PopCorn can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zein looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Zein controlling from the full mount.
PopCorn really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zein. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Zein wants to finish this one by submission but PopCorn is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Zein.
Zein will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zein tries to control but PopCorn wriggling away.
Zein lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zein controlling the pace for now.
Zein seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down PopCorn for as long as he can get away with.
PopCorn is working to get back to half guard.
Zein tries to control but PopCorn wriggling away.

Zein working for a guillotine from mount but PopCorn is in no mood to give up.
PopCorn is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zein has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of PopCorn's face.
Zein throws some wild stikes that PopCorn manages to avoid easily.
Zein controlling from the full mount.
Zein punishing his opponent with strikes.
Zein looking to control but PopCorn is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zein lands a big elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zein working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
PopCorn is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akram Zein dominated that round.
That's time! Zein's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zein fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Akram Zein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zein shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says PopCorn as he avoids it easily.
Zein tries to clinch but PopCorn moves out of range.

PopCorn clinches up with Zein and pushes him back against the cage.

PopCorn turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and PopCorn manages to end up in side control.
Zein is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Zein regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from PopCorn.

Zein has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. PopCorn doesn't defend quickly enough and Zein has managed to lock this one up! Can PopCorn escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Zein on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Akram Zein!