PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between How Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zanderson Zilva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Long comes into the arena with The Anthem by Onra blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Long
vs
Zilva

191 cm
24
192 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

191 cm
23
200 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Red Hand Clothing

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 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, How Long!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zanderson Zilva!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zilva gets caught flat footed, as Long shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zilva trying to keep a closed guard but Long is proving a slippery customer.
Long postures up in Zilva's guard and throws a big left but Zilva blocks it.

Zilva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Long landing some decent shots from guard.
Long is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Zilva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Long throws a big elbow that misses.
Zilva keeping moving, preventing Long from controlling successfully.
Long postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Long landing with the ground and pound.
Long is in close to Zilva's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long 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.
Long is pushing down on Zilva's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zilva is fighting to maintain full guard but Long has managed to sneak the leg through.
Zilva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Long is stalling here. Zilva is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Long seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Zilva has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Zilva wants to control but Long is keeping him busy.
Long tries to bench press Zilva off him but Zilva keeps the position.

Zilva tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zilva has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Zilva is trying to get an arm triangle but Long is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long is trying to improve his position.

Zilva tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Long can't do much from the bottom here.
Long manages to work his way to half guard, despite Zilva's best efforts.
Long 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.
Long is looking to control Zilva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Long avoid being mounted?
Zilva wants to free his trapped foot but Long is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Zilva is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
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.
Long slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zilva slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Long struggling a bit here.

Zilva is trying to get an arm triangle but Long is defending well.

Zilva is trying to get an arm triangle but Long is defending well.
Long is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Zilva off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zilva wants to control his opponent's hands but Long gets his hands free.
Zilva is covering up but some of the strikes from Long are getting through and doing damage.
A lull in the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zilva tries to roll but Long sticks to his back.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Long scores with punches from the back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zilva is trapped and Long is scoring with shots to the head and body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Long controlling well, preventing Zilva from escaping the position.
Long punches Zilva on the ear.
Long tries to get the hooks in deep but Zilva pushed the leg off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Long is looking to clinch.

Zilva shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Zilva wants to work for an arm triangle but Long is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
It looks like Zilva is going to stand back up.

Zilva is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Long won't allow Zilva to pass to mount.

Zilva is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Long is just riding it out for now. Zilva eventually gives up the hold.
Long is positioning himself well to prevent Zilva advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zilva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Long gets full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Long holds on and takes a little breather.
Zilva won't allow Long to sweep him here.
Zilva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Long is keeping the position for now.
Long bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zilva's guard.
Long is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zilva is looking for a triangle but Long pushes his legs off easily.
Long works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Long is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

It looks like Zanderson Zilva has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zilva is trying to stand.
Long controlling the pace.
Zilva moves into full guard.

Zilva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Long can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zilva is breathing heavily.

Zilva looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Long has picked Zilva up and slammed him! Zilva can't keep hold of the triangle and Long manages to pass to side control!
How Long overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Zilva some visible discomfort.
Zilva is looking for a sweep.
Long just content to control the position.
Long landing a few strikes.
Long creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Zilva is looking to reverse the position.
Zilva regains half guard.
Long controlling the action here.

Zilva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Long is looking to take a break and control but Zilva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zilva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Long tries to pass to full mount but Zilva defends it.
Long working the head and body with strikes.
Long is trying to control. Zilva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Long moves into full mount! Zilva won't be happy about that!
Long connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Zilva taking shots to the head.
Long lands a couple of good shots and Zilva has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Zilva is rocked!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zilva trying to control but not successfully.
Zilva is still in real trouble! Can Long finish him?
Long trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Zilva doesn't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

How Long dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Zanderson Zilva's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Long moves into the clinch successfully.
Zilva seems to have recovered his senses.
Long works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Long throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zilvas head.
Zilva takes a shot to the head.
Long scores with a hook to the body.
Long creates some distance for himselfand unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Zilva's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Zilva drops to his knees and Long pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). How Long!
How Long took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Sydney BEAST Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.