PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gary Barlow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Zanotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barlow kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Gary Barlow Song. Zanotto has chosen Ben Zanotto -by- Rancid as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barlow
vs
Zanotto

190 cm
28
195 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

183 cm
29
195 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Zombie Nutrition - LOD
Backyard Fighting

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gary Barlow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Zanotto!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Skip Squint and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zanotto has closed the distance and engaged Barlow in a clinch.

Zanotto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Zanotto has Barlow up against the cage in a clinch.

Zanotto is trying to trip Barlow. He has hold of a leg but Barlow is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Zanotto persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Zanotto being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zanotto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zanotto is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Zanotto scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zanotto landing with the ground and pound.
Zanotto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Barlow throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Barlow preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanotto wants to control from the top but Barlow keeps moving.
Zanotto scoring with some ground and pound.
Zanotto trying to control but Barlow is working from the bottom.
Barlow tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barlow is trying to control the position but Zanotto postures up.
Zanotto distracts Barlow with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zanotto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zanotto landing with the ground and pound.
Barlow tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zanotto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zanotto tries to free his leg and advance position but Barlow is retaining full guard.
Zanotto trying to control the position from guard on top but Barlow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Barlow is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zanotto throwing strikes but missing.
Zanotto looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Barlow has momentary wrist control but Zanotto slips an elbow through the middle.
Zanotto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zanotto passes Barlow's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Barlow regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Zanotto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zanotto makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zanotto throws a big elbow that misses.
Zanotto trying to control the position from guard on top but Barlow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zanotto works over Barlow with some ground and pound from guard.
Zanotto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barlow looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zanotto is one step ahead there.
Zanotto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zanotto wants to control from the top but Barlow keeps moving.
Zanotto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barlow tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zanotto wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barlow struggling a bit here.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Zanotto working his ground and pound in the gym.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zanotto looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Barlow is avoiding damage well.
Zanotto cracks Barlow with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Zanotto immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Barlow is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Zanotto!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ben Zanotto!
Ben Zanotto really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Zombie Nutrition - LOD logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.