PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nikos Stalikas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Zero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zero comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Fozzy's "Shine Forever" kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Stalikas
vs
Zero

183 cm
22
202 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
193 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nikos Stalikas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Zero!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stalikas fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Zero to the ground. Stalikas is now in Zero's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stalikas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zero has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stalikas has managed to get both his arms back between Zero's legs - danger averted.
Stalikas sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stalikas connects with a couple of short punches.
Zero looking to control.
Stalikas won't allow Zero to get back to his feet.

Zero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zero is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stalikas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stalikas 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalikas postures up.
Stalikas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stalikas has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Zero is adopting a defensive guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ray Zero was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Zero will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice takedown defense from Stalikas. No joy for Zero on that attempt.
Stalikas scores with a nice right hand.
Zero looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Zero gets a takedown into half guard.
Stalikas is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zero seems to be looking for submissions.
Stalikas keeping hold of Zero's head, controlling as best he can.
Zero tries to stand but can't do so whilst Stalikas controls his leg.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Zero is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zero wants to control but Stalikas is keeping him busy.
Zero throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zero working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Stalikas's thigh. Stalikas counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Stalikas is looking to stand up but Zero isn't so interested in that idea.
Zero trying to move into half guard but instead Stalikas has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalikas wants to control from the top but Zero keeps moving.
Zero managing to control the position.
Stalikas stopping the sweep attempt from Zero.
Zero working a defensive guard but Stalikas manages to pass into side control anyway.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zero sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Zero wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Zero dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zero shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stalikas but Stalikas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zero shoots and misses
and Stalikas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stalikas throws a body punch but Zero moves out of range.
Stalikas's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zero under the eye.
Zero with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stalikas counters with a straight right hand.
Nikos Stalikas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Zero.
A big right from Stalikas misses.
Zero dives in for a single leg takedown but Stalikas sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Zero is fighting off a takedown attempt but Stalikas is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Zero to the mat. Zero regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Zero is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stalikas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zero is looking for a triangle but Stalikas pushes his legs off easily.

Zero is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stalikas is aware though and is defending well.
Stalikas showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalikas keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zero's head.
Zero keeping full guard, as Stalikas tries to pass.
Stalikas sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Stalikas lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zero is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ray Zero wasn't active enough on the ground.

Stalikas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zero to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Stalikas pulls Zero in close to prevent any damage.
Zero advances to half guard.
Ray Zero has got the better of the ground game so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zero is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Zero prevents Stalikas from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zero is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stalikas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zero.

Zero looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Stalikas makes his way to full guard, as Zero worked for a kimura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalikas wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zero pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stalikas is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nikos Stalikas will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stalikas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zero sprawls well. Zero wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stalikas gets slowly back to his feet.
Stalikas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Stalikas looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zero has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stalikas is working away from the top position though.
Stalikas is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zero manages to get to full guard.
Stalikas trying to control but Zero is working from the bottom.
Stalikas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zero has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Stalikas won't allow Zero to sweep him here.
Stalikas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stalikas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nikos Stalikas has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Zero fails with the takedown.
Stalikas throws a big shot that misses.

Zero gets caught napping as Stalikas dives in and scores a takedown. Zero manages to retain guard.

Zero pushes a forearm under Stalikas's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Stalikas is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ray Zero!
A victorious Ray Zero thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.