PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tyquan Zaal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donzel Fortunado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Donzel Fortunado has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zaal
vs
Fortunado

191 cm
20
247 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

199 cm
20
246 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Self confident

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tyquan Zaal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Donzel Fortunado!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fortunado misses with an uppercut. Zaal saw that one coming.

Fortunado dives in and scores a takedown into Zaal's guard.

Zaal is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fortunado trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fortunado 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.
Fortunado slips nicely into half guard.

Fortunado seems to be looking for submissions.
Zaal is looking to control Fortunado's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zaal avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fortunado is looking for a kimura here.

Fortunado is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zaal sees it coming and defends easily.
Fortunado tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zaal knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Fortunado is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zaal has managed to free his arm - good work.

Zaal is defending against the submission attempts here by Fortunado.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fortunado is looking to advance position but Zaal won't allow it.
Fortunado not doing much here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fortunado seems to be working for a kimura but Zaal defends the submission attempt.
Zaal has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fortunado is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fortunado trying to mount his opponent but Zaal defends it.

Fortunado is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zaal is in trouble now - Fortunado has advanced to mount!
Fortunado looking to control but Zaal is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zaal tries to lock up and control but Fortunado gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaal is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zaal tries to hold on but Fortunado pushes him away.

Fortunado goes for an armbar but Zaal turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Zaal.
Fortunado looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zaal wants to control from the top but Fortunado keeps moving.
Zaal is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fortunado is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fortunado wants to stand but Zaal is controlling the position.
Fortunado looking for a sweep. Not yet Fortunado, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donzel Fortunado dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Fortunado pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fortunado throws a head kick that misses.
Zaal scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fortunado fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fortunado misses with a head kick.
Fortunado slips under a jab from Zaal.
A punch lands to the side of Fortunado 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fortunado throws a head kick that misses.
Fortunado misses the shot to the body.
Fortunado keeps the fight on the outside.
Fortunado just misses with a punch to the body.
Fortunado misses with the combination.
Fortunado throws a head kick that Zaal semi-blocks.

It looks like Tyquan Zaal has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zaal lands a nice looking body shot.
Fortunado fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zaal checks it well.
Fortunado tries to land a front kick but Zaal steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Fortunado waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zaal.
Fortunado throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Fortunado will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fortunado throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zaal.
Zaal connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Zaal tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fortunado manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zaal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fortunado swinging wildly here.
Fortunado lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zaal at a distance.
Fortunado pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zaal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fortunado.
Zaal is looking to clinch.
Tyquan Zaal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zaal throws a shot from downtown. Fortunado moves away and avoids it.
Zaal punishes Fortunado's body with a nice straight punch.
Zaal is looking to clinch but Fortunado is avoiding it.
Tyquan Zaal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fortunado uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zaal.
Zaal throws a jab when Fortunado was well out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Zaal. Those never looked like landing.
Zaal dodges the punch combination from Fortunado.
Zaal misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaal avoids the head kick by Fortunado.
Fortunado slips under a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fortunado looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fortunado lands with a good body shot.
A head kick misses from Fortunado.
Fortunado blocks a jab.
Fortunado lands with a nice body kick.
Fortunado circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zaal misses with a two punch combination.
Zaal checks a low kick from Fortunado.
Fortunado pushes Zaal away with a front kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fortunado misses with an attempted mid kick.
Donzel Fortunado seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zaal takes one to the side of the head.
Fortunado misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fortunado misses with a double jab.
Fortunado just misses with a punch to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Fortunado.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaal ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fortunado moves away.
Fortunado misses with a head kick.
Fortunado swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fortunado staying out of range there.
Donzel Fortunado seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zaal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zaal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fortunado tries a head kick but it misses.
Fortunado swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Zaal feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Fortunados jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Zaal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fortunado.
A head kick misses from Fortunado.
Fortunado throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fortunado looks to land a body kick but Zaal moved away.
Fortunado misses with a two punch combination.
A head kick misses from Fortunado.
Fortunado avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fortunado throws a series of punches but Zaal moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fortunado throws a sloppy head kick and Zaal moves out of range easily.
Fortunado throws a body kick that misses.
Fortunado misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaal.
Zaal scores with a decent looking hook.
Zaal cracks a nice hook into Fortunado's ribs.
Fortunado avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zaal scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Zaal uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fortunado.
A right-left combo lands from Zaal.
Zaal lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Zaal is looking to clinch.
Zaal fails to land with a series of punches.
Zaal lands with a good body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fortunado throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fortunado rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zaal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zaal lands an overhand right.
Fortunado throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zaal scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Donzel Fortunado will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tyquan Zaal's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Zaal tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fortunado manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fortunado throws a push kick but Zaal slaps the foot to one side.
Fortunado tries a head kick but it misses.
Zaal avoids the body shot from Fortunado.

Zaal moves into range and clinches up with Fortunado.
Zaal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fortunado is defending well for now.
Fortunado avoiding damage as Zaal throws knees to the body.
Fortunado avoiding damage as Zaal throws knees to the body.
Zaal crunches a lovely knee into Fortunado's ribcage.
Zaal missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zaal landing knees to the body.
Zaal's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zaal blocking some punches.
Fortunado takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fortunado digs a right hand underneath Zaal's ribcage. Zaal let out a lung full of air as it connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fortunado managing to block the knees to the body from Zaal.
Still in the clinch, Fortunado scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fortunado lands a hook that snaps the head of Zaal backwards.
Fortunado can't find room to land a body shot as Zaal controls the action.
Fortunado gets through Zaal's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zaal.
Fortunado makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zaal tries to land knees in the clinch but Fortunado avoids the damage to the body.
Nice body punch from Fortunado.
Zaal trying to land knees to the body.
Fortunado tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zaal trying to land knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Fortunado fails to land.
Fortunado lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zaal or not.
Fortunado pushes Zaal back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Fortunado is working Zaal over against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice body punch from Fortunado - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fortunado lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zaal stalling in the clinch but Fortunado improves position.
Fortunado scores with a shot to the side of Zaal's head.
A hook to the body from Fortunado.
Fortunado lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zaal backwards.
Fortunado throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nice body punch from Fortunado - that landed with a thud.
Fortunado throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zaals head.
Fortunado lands a body punch.
A hook to the body from Fortunado.

Fortunado breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fortunado is looking to slow Zaal down with leg kicks.
Fortunado throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zaal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fortunado takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Fortunado misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fortunado. Zaal does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fortunado lands a nice shot that snaps Zaal's head back.
Whack! Fortunado lands a heavy head kick that drops Zaal. The ref tackles Fortunado to stop the fight - a great save by the referee because Zaal was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Donzel Fortunado!
Donzel Fortunado spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.