PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zhack Znenere (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nil Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Znenere
vs
Armstrong

190 cm
19
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zhack Znenere!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nil Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Reed Andrews and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong fails in his attempt to clinch.
Znenere will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Znenere has Armstrong up against the cage in a clinch.
Znenere stalling in the clinch.
Znenere is working for takedown but Armstrong is calmly controlling the position for now.
Armstrong tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Armstrong wants a takedown.
Znenere drops down looking for an ankle pick but Armstrong pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhack Znenere. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Armstrong throws a push kick but Znenere slaps the foot to one side.
Znenere tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Armstrong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Znenere shoots in for a takedown but Armstrong shows good takedown defense.
Armstrong misses with a kick to the body.
Znenere misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Znenere paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Znenere looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Armstrong shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Znenere is trying to defend but Armstrong finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Armstrong sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Znenere defending well though.
Armstrong tries to pass to full mount but Znenere defends it.
Znenere wants to control but Armstrong is keeping busy.
Armstrong tries to stand and escape but Znenere actually recovers to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong wants to pass the guard but Znenere is keeping the position.
Znenere keeping moving, preventing Armstrong from controlling successfully.
Armstrong looking to pass the guard.
Znenere manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Armstrong manages to get himself to full guard.
Znenere postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Znenere is looking to work some ground and pound but Armstrong has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong working a defensive guard here.
Armstrong tries to strike from the bottom.
Armstrong wants to sweep here but Znenere controlling him for the moment.
Znenere controls from within his opponent's guard.
Znenere stops Armstrong from standing up.
Znenere looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Zhack Znenere just wasn't active enough.
Armstrong stuffs the takedown attempt from Znenere. Znenere gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Znenere or perhaps it was just good defense by Armstrong which made him look bad.
Znenere chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Armstrong throws a body punch but Znenere moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Znenere drives through and clinches with Armstrong against the cage.
Armstrong has Znenere pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Znenere manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Znenere displaying some good clinch control by pressing Armstrong up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zhack Znenere will probably get the nod.
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.

Armstrong fails with the takedown.
Armstrong shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Znenere defends it nicely.

Armstrong shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Armstrong was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Armstrong stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Znenere shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Armstrong as he avoids it easily.
Znenere lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Znenere moves into the clinch successfully.
Armstrong tries to pull guard but Znenere holds him up against the cage and eventually Armstrong drops back down to his feet.
Zhack Znenere has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nil Armstrong.

Znenere gets control of Armstrong's arms and successfully pulls guard. Znenere will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Armstrong really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Znenere. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Znenere is pulling down on Armstrong's head to control his posture.
Armstrong stopping the sweep attempt from Znenere.
Armstrong missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Znenere looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is fighting to break Znenere's control of his arms but Znenere is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Armstrong trying to control the position from guard on top but Znenere is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Armstrong won't allow Znenere to sweep him here.
Znenere working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Armstrong.
Armstrong must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Armstrong trying to control but Znenere is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nil Armstrong hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Armstrong is trying hard to land a takedown here. Znenere sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Armstrong is breathing heavily.

Znenere moves into the clinch successfully.

Znenere gets control of Armstrong's arms and successfully pulls guard. Znenere will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Armstrong won't allow Znenere to sweep him here.
Armstrong wants to pass the guard but Znenere is keeping the position.
Armstrong throws a strike but Znenere rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Armstrong looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Znenere passes into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Znenere.
Znenere wants to control but Armstrong is keeping him busy.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Armstrong can do anything to dispel that myth.
A lull in the action here as Znenere stalls from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Znenere misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhack Znenere dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Armstrong.
Znenere shoots in looking for a takedown but Armstrong manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Znenere's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Znenere shoots in but no luck this time.
Znenere checks a low kick from Armstrong.

Armstrong shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Armstrong was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Znenere can't do much from the bottom here.
Znenere manages to get back to half guard.
Armstrong stalling away here and it's allowed Znenere to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Znenere is trying to hold Armstrong in close to prevent damage but Armstrong has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Znenere trying to hold on to Armstrong's head to control him but Armstrong postures up.

Znenere looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Armstrong is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Znenere gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong being controlled here momentarily.
Armstrong passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Armstrong tries to score with some ground and pound. Znenere controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Armstrong wants to stand but Znenere has his arm trapped.

Armstrong working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong working away.
Znenere is trying to improve his position.

Armstrong goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Znenere rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Armstrong's guard! Nice work there by Znenere!

Znenere stands up and waves to Armstrong to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Znenere doesn't manage to clinch there - Armstrong circles away.
Armstrong swats away the attempt to clinch by Znenere.
Znenere swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Znenere tries to clinch but Armstrong is having none of it.
Znenere tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Armstrong swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhack Znenere. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Znenere tries to clinch but Armstrong is having none of it.
Armstrong tries to score a power double leg takedown but Znenere sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Armstrong somewhat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zhack Znenere.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Znenere, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Zhack Znenere!
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight for Zhack Znenere!
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Zhack Znenere!

Zhack Znenere wins by unanimous decision!