PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kartjan Zion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rice
vs
Zion

191 cm
23
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
245 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Rice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Kartjan Zion!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Zion.
Rice throws a nice looking combination but Zion bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Rice takes the fight into the clinch.
Zion has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rice wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Zion's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rice stalling in the clinch.
Rice tries to break the clinch but Zion is controlling the position.
Zion is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Rice jumps guard and drags Zion to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Zion trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rice's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rice holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zion stopping the sweep attempt from Rice.
Zion wanted to stand there but Rice had control of the position.

We're going to have a standup here because John Rice wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Rice shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zion napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rice creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Zion sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rice takes a little break here. Zion wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Zion pushes Rice away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rice gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Rice controls the position from side control.

Rice stands up.

Rice clinches up with Zion and pushes him back against the cage.
Come on Rice - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rice escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rice throws a right hand that Zion ducks under and follows up with a left that Zion also avoids with ease.
Zion throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kartjan Zion is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zion misses with a double jab

and Rice counters by moving into the clinch.

Rice has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Zion regains guard immediately.
Rice is stalling in the full guard.
Rice slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rice controlling the action here.
Rice is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rice is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Zion is surviving well by controlling Rice's body position as best he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rice working for a submission but Zion is keeping him at bay.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Rice dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rice shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zion as he jumps to the side.
A jab from Zion does it's job there.
Rice takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Zion fails to land with a series of punches.
Good standup being displayed there by Zion as he connects with a hook.
Rice is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

It looks like Kartjan Zion has been cut.
Zion with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rice with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zion to score with a decent uppercut.
Rice shoots in but Zion avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Rice rushes Zion and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zion is looking to break free of the clinch but Rice has double underhooks.
Rice prevents Zion from breaking the clinch.
Zion is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rice manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Zion is trying to push Rice away but Rice has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zion is trying to force a seperation but Rice has the dominant position.

Rice pulls guard successfully.
Rice pulls Zion in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rice lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zion!

Rice with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Rice jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Zion manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Zion really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rice. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zion managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rice is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zion is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rice controlling the position from side mount.

Rice has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Zion is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Rice yanks on the arm and Zion is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Rice.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). John Rice!