PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Garth Atkinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Zee (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.

Atkinson
vs
Zee

162 cm
23
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
24
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Garth Atkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bobby Zee!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zee keeps the fight on the outside.
Zee lands a head kick. Atkinson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Garth Atkinson has been cut.
Atkinson shoots in and drives through. Zee sprawls well.
Atkinson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zee is fending him off so far but Atkinson persists. Nope, Zee circles away and we're back to standing.

Zee closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Atkinson did well to prevent Zee getting side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zee content to control rather than advance.
Zee prevents Atkinson from improving his position.
Atkinson regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zee postures up and lands a big shot to Atkinson's brow.
Zee slips nicely into half guard.
Atkinson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Zee slows the pace down in half guard.

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

Zee is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Atkinson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zee.
Zee is controlling the pace.
Atkinson is not content to let Zee control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zee is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Atkinson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Atkinson is staying active underneath Zee, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Bobby Zee hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zee looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zee displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Atkinson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garth Atkinson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zee changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Atkinson tries to avoid it but Zee manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Atkinson to the ground. Atkinson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zee wants to clinch up but Atkinson keeps it at a distance.

Atkinson gets a clinch.
Zee tries to work over Atkinson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zee jumps guard but Atkinson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Atkinson trying to stall but Zee improves his position.
Zee wants a takedown.
Atkinson goes for a takedown attempt but Zee pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Zee looking to score a takedown here. Atkinson is defending well but Zee drives through and ends up in Atkinson's guard.
Zee content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zee stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Zee throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zee throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Atkinson to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Atkinson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zee sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Atkinson somewhat.
Atkinson tries for a takedown but Zee sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Atkinson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Atkinson stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Zee dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Garth Atkinson's cut.
That's time! Atkinson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zee misses with a head kick.
Zee fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zee looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Atkinson is fending him off so far but Zee persists. Nope, Atkinson circles away and we're back to standing.

Zee drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zee trying to control but Atkinson is working from the bottom.
Atkinson tries to strike from the bottom.
Zee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Atkinson controls Zee momentarily but Zee frees himself.
Atkinson 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.
Zee sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bobby Zee was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Atkinson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Atkinson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Atkinson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zee is fending him off so far but Atkinson persists. Nope, Zee circles away and we're back to standing.
Zee swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Zee. Those never looked like landing.
Zee throws a head kick that misses.
Garth Atkinson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Atkinson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zee is fending him off so far but Atkinson persists. Nope, Zee circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garth Atkinson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Atkinson wants to clinch.
Zee looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson darts in looking for a takedown but Zee gets double underhooks and turns Atkinson into the cage.
Atkinson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Atkinson manages to break the clinch.
Atkinson fails with the takedown.
Atkinson scores with a kick to the body.
Zee keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Atkinson slaps away a takedown attempt from Zee, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zee tries to close the distance and clinch but Atkinson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Zee scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Zee is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Atkinson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Zee trying to control the position but Atkinson is working away.
Atkinson is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Atkinson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Atkinson tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Atkinson showing good submission defense here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atkinson is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Zee showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Garth Atkinson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Zee displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Atkinson.
Zee shoots in and drives through. Atkinson sprawls well.
An inside leg kick lands from Zee.
Zee fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Atkinson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zee avoids it really well and circles away.
Zee fails with an attempt to clinch.
Atkinson shoots in and drives through. Zee sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garth Atkinson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Atkinson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bobby Zee seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zee moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Atkinson dives in and grabs Zee's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zee pushes down on Atkinson's head and hops out.
Zee shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Atkinson as he avoids it easily.
Zee misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Atkinson counters with a straight right hand.
Nice shot lands for Zee.

Zee has Atkinson up against the cage in a clinch.
Zee stalling in the clinch but Atkinson improves position.

Zee pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Zee looking to score a takedown here. Atkinson is defending well but Zee drives through and ends up in Atkinson's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Atkinson keeping moving, preventing Zee from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zee is stalling in the full guard.
Atkinson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zee drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Atkinson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zee has Atkinson in his guard.
Atkinson preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zee wants to control the position but Atkinson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Zee trying to control but Atkinson postures up.
Atkinson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Atkinson is looking to take a break and control but Zee is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zee is looking for a sweep. Atkinson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Zee!
Atkinson content just to control the position here.
Zee is looking to get to half guard.
Zee avoids a series of strikes thrown by Atkinson.
Bobby Zee has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zee is in all sorts of trouble here.
Atkinson throwing strikes here but Zee is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Garth Atkinson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bobby Zee is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zee tries to lock up and control but Atkinson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Zee comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zee has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Zee!