PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zen Zelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Da Silva's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Drowning Pool - Bodies (Let The Bodies Hit The Floor) . Zen Zelli told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Da Silva
vs
Zelli

188 cm
26
203 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

189 cm
34
198 lbs
19 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

Alpha Male
Project Mayhem

Alpha Male

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anderson Da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zen Zelli!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Zelli feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Da Silvas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Zelli misses with an uppercut. Da Silva saw that one coming.
Horrible takedown by Da Silva or perhaps it was just good defense by Zelli which made him look bad.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zelli but Zelli pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Da Silva shoots in looking for a takedown but Zelli manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Da Silva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Da Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Silva slips under a jab.
Da Silva avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Da Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zelli's waist but Zelli gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Da Silva off to one side.
Da Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zelli looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Da Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Da Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zelli sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Da Silva somewhat.
Zelli throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zen Zelli is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva staying out of range there.
Da Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zelli holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Zelli tries a body shot but Da Silva blocks it.
Da Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zelli avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zelli lands an elbow just above Da Silva 's eye.
Da Silva is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zelli gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Zelli lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zelli lands a nice shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva is trying to drag Zelli to the mat but Zelli just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zelli lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zelli pushes Da Silva back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Da Silva is breathing heavily.
Zelli working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zelli digs a right hand into Da Silva's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Da Silva's gas tank.
Zelli tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Da Silva avoids it.
Da Silva drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zelli lands a body shot in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zelli lands a right hand.
Zelli lands an elbow inside that Da Silva shrugs off.

It looks like Anderson Da Silva has been cut.
Zelli pushes Da Silva back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Zelli lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zen Zelli dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anderson Da Silva's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Da Silva drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Zelli bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Da Silva's head.
A nice combination there by Zelli.
Da Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Da Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zelli counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Da Silva shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Zelli.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zelli as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Da Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zelli misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Da Silva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Da Silva shoots in for a double leg but Zelli sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zelli misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Da Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Zelli.
Da Silva with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zelli to score with a decent uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Zelli as he connects with a hook.
Da Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zelli avoids it really well and circles away.
Zelli lands a jab-cross combination.
Zelli wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zelli jabs at Da Silva's body.
Da Silva swats away the attempt to clinch by Zelli.
Zelli might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zelli but Zelli pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zen Zelli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anderson Da Silva's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zelli clinches up with Da Silva and pushes him back against the cage.
Zelli lands with a left to the head.
Da Silva blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zelli gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zelli tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zelli lands a hook that snaps the head of Da Silva backwards.
Da Silva has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zelli after a bit of a struggle.
Zelli swings wildly with an uppercut but Da Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zelli.
Zelli prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Zelli on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zelli lands a left hand.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Zelli.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zelli scores with a hook to the body.
Da Silva can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Da Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right handed body shot lands from Zelli.
Zelli lands an elbow inside that Da Silva shrugs off.
Zelli lands a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Zelli scores with a nice short uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Zelli.
A nice left hand lands by Zelli.
Zelli lands an elbow just above Da Silva 's eye.

Da Silva gets control of Zelli's arms and successfully pulls guard. Da Silva will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Zelli is pushing down on Da Silva's leg trying to pass to half guard. Da Silva is fighting to maintain full guard but Zelli has managed to sneak the leg through.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zelli thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Da Silva's head.
Zelli is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Zelli looking to control but Da Silva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zelli might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Da Silva haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Zelli tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Da Silva is squirming around, avoiding Zelli's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Zen Zelli hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Da Silva shoots in and drives through. Zelli sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva shoots for a takedown but Zelli saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zelli cracks Da Silva with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Da Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zelli counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zen Zelli is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zelli has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zelli tries to clinch there but Da Silva circles away.
Anderson Da Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zelli is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Da Silva takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Da Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zelli counters with a stiff right hand.
Anderson Da Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A low kick from Da Silva misses
and Zelli counters with a stiff right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zen Zelli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zelli 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zen Zelli!
A less than humble Zen Zelli misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.