PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thanir Todds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Zalama (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.

Todds
vs
Zalama

178 cm
20
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
24
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thanir Todds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Miguel Zalama!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Todds rushes Zalama and presses him up against the cage.

Todds pulls guard effortlessly.
Todds is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zalama is controlling him.
Zalama trying to control but Todds is working from the bottom.
Todds keeping full guard, as Zalama tries to pass.
Zalama would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Zalama wants to control from the top but Todds keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zalama postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Todds is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Zalama, into his guard.
Todds wants to control from the top but Zalama keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todds missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Todds has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Todds trying to control but Zalama is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Zalama clinches with his opponent.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Zalama has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Todds is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todds lands with a left to the head.
Zalama wants a takedown but no success here.
Zalama is trying to pull guard but Todds has him pressed against the cage.
Thanir Todds has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Zalama.
Todds wants a takedown but no success here.

Todds has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zalama uses from the top position.

Todds looking for a guillotine here but Zalama defends easily.
Todds looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Todds wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todds has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Todds looking for a sweep. Not yet Todds, not yet.
Todds throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Todds managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Thanir Todds just wasn't active enough.
Zalama closes this distance looking for a takedown but Todds circles away.
Zalama shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Todds as he avoids it easily.
Todds tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zalama swivels and escapes.
Zalama takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Miguel Zalama has been cut.
Zalama stuffs the takedown attempt from Todds. Todds gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todds slips a jab and a cross from Zalama.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Todds throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zalama.
Todds closes the distance and clinches up with Zalama, looking for a takedown. Todds pushes Zalama against the cage but Zalama circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zalama throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Todds counters with a one-two to the body.
Todds blocks a leg kick.
Todds throws a sloppy head kick
and Zalama counters with a head kick. That will keep Todds thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Todds lands a head kick!
Zalama throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Todds's waist but Todds gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zalama off to one side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Todds tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zalama manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A shot to the body from Zalama misses
enabling Todds to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thanir Todds dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Miguel Zalama's cut.
That's time! Todds's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Todds shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Todds is just content to waste time from the top position. Zalama takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Zalama has his foot on Todds's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Todds works his way back into a safe position though.
Todds wants to control from the top but Zalama keeps moving.
Todds passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Todds looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zalama takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Todds wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zalama, who protects the arm well.
Todds is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Zalama's shoulder. That is not cool.
Zalama manages to work his way to half guard, despite Todds's best efforts.
Todds prevents Zalama from standing back up.
Todds wants to stand up but Zalama has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Todds is just content to waste time from the top position. Zalama takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todds tries to free his leg and advance position but Zalama is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Todds wants to stand but Zalama has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Todds is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zalama trying to keep a closed guard but Todds is proving a slippery customer.
Todds trying to control the position from guard on top but Zalama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Thanir Todds has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Horrible takedown by Todds or perhaps it was just good defense by Zalama which made him look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todds shoots in for a takedown but Zalama shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zalama is defended easily by Todds.
Todds keeps the fight on the outside.
Zalama shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zalama takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zalama fails to land the takedown.
Thanir Todds has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Zalama.
Todds fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Todds shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zalama but Zalama pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalama looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zalama throws a sloppy head kick

and Todds counters with a takedown into side control.
Todds throwing strikes but Zalama manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Todds tries to bench press Zalama off him but Zalama keeps the position.
Zalama in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Todds tries to bench press Zalama off him but Zalama keeps the position.
Todds is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Todds is looking to escape.
Todds is in trouble now - Zalama has advanced to mount!
Todds 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.

Thanir Todds dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Miguel Zalama's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zalama fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zalama closes the distance and clinches up with Todds, looking for a takedown. Zalama pushes Todds against the cage but Todds circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Todds displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Todds fails with the takedown.

Todds moves into range and clinches up with Zalama.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Zalama takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Todds lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zalama gets underhooks to prevent Todds's takedown attempt.
Zalama throws a head punch that misses.

Todds pulls guard successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todds controls Zalama momentarily but Zalama frees himself.
Zalama not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Zalama wanted to stand there but Todds had control of the position.
Todds is trying to control the position but Zalama postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Zalama wants to stand but Todds is controlling his posture from full guard.

Thanir Todds has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Todds looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zalama is fending him off so far but Todds persists. Nope, Zalama circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thanir Todds. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalama shoots in looking for a takedown. Todds tries to sprawl out of it but Zalama keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Todds manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Todds gets a clinch.
Zalama tries to pull guard but Todds holds him up against the cage and eventually Zalama drops back down to his feet.
Todds is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Todds wants a takedown but no success here.
Todds lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Todds is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Zalama is defending well.
Zalama tries to pull guard but Todds holds him up against the cage and eventually Zalama drops back down to his feet.
Zalama wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Todds manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Todds working a defensive guard here.
Todds looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zalama is one step ahead there.
Thanir Todds overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zalama won't allow Todds to get back to his feet.
Zalama trying to control the position from guard on top but Todds is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zalama looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalama is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zalama wants to control from the top but Todds keeps moving.
Zalama lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Todds manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zalama manages to get himself to full guard.
Zalama 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zalama manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
Thanir Todds showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Todds has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thanir Todds!