PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Baraona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zebuszko Zebek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Baraona
vs
Zebek

180 cm
19
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Baraona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zebuszko Zebek!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Saam Ante and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zebek misses with the body kick

and Baraona counters by moving into the clinch.

Zebek has clasped his hands together around Baraona's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Zebek trying to control the action but Baraona is working from the bottom.
Baraona is letting Zebek control him for a moment.
Baraona is trying to buck Zebek off.
Zebek tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Baraona pushes Zebek away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Zebek gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Zebek scoring with punches and elbows.
Baraona tries to escape but Zebek is in control.
Zebek tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Zebek is working Baraona over with some ground and pound from side control.
Baraona is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zebek has just dragged him back down to the mat.
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!
Zebek is looking to take a break and control but Baraona is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zebek tries to stand but Baraona is controlling his head.
Zebek connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Baraona some visible discomfort.
Baraona is not content to let Zebek control the position.
Zebek in side control lands a decent elbow.
Baraona is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zebek is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zebek takes a little break here. Baraona wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Zebek tries to stand but Baraona is controlling his head.
Baraona is trying to buck Zebek off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zebek wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baraona keeps working.
Baraona wants to get back to his feet but Zebek is dominant here and he's now got Baraona's back!
Baraona is trying to stand back up.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Zebek scores with strikes from the back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baraona is trying to stand back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zebek has good solid back control here.
Baraona is trying to get back to his feet but Zebek has full control of the position and if anything, Baraona has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Zebek scores with strikes from the back.
Zebek is landing with strikes. Baraona can't take much more of this.
The referee is taking a good look at Baraona as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Zebek!
Baraona looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zebek tries to get the hooks in deep but Baraona pushed the leg off.
Zebek really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Baraona.
Baraona holding both Zebek 's hands and preventing any damage.
Zebek scores with punches and elbows.
Baraona trying to get back to his feet but Zebek is in full control for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zebek loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Baraona hold on?
Baraona is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zebuszko Zebek dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zebek fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baraona looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zebek avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baraona is looking to clinch.

Zebek closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Baraona lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Baraona scores a nice knee to the body.
Zebek is looking to take this one to the mat.
Baraona scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Zebuszko Zebek has been cut.
Baraona tries to land a knee to the head but Zebek blocks with his arms.
Zebek looking to slow down the pace here.
Zebek is breathing heavily.
Baraona looking to stall.
Zebek dodges an elbow strike from Baraona.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zebek tries to pull guard but Baraona won't allow it.
Baraona with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Baraona looking to slow down the pace here.
Baraona lands a knee to the head.
Zebek takes a knee right on the jaw!
Baraona taking a breather.
Baraona has Zebek pushed against the cage.
Zebek blocks an elbow strike.
Zebek misses with some punches.
Baraona throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zebek blocks it with crossed arms.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Baraona.
Baraona tries to land a knee to the head but Zebek blocks with his arms.
Zebek trying to control the position but instead, Baraona has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zebek into the cage.

Zebek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Zebek crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Baraona - the referee stops the clock and Zebek gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Baraona. Zebek manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Baraona tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zebek throws a head kick that misses
and Baraona counters with a good, hard body kick but Zebek shrugs it off.
A head kick misses from Zebek.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baraona tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zebek manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Zebek tries to keep at a distance but Baraona has taken the fight into the clinch.
Baraona fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Baraona with a knee to the head.
Zebek takes a knee right on the jaw!
Baraona lands a knee to the head.
Baraona taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Baraona lands a good knee to the midsection. Zebek won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baraona connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zebek's face.
Zebek takes a knee right on the jaw!
Baraona leaning his opponent against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Baraona for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Zebek working hard to break the clinch.
Baraona with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Baraona throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zebek trying to land knees to the body.
Zebek's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Baraona lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Baraona.
Baraona landing knees to the head.

That has opened up Zebuszko Zebek's cut even more.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zebek takes a knee right on the jaw!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Baraona lands a knee to the head.

Zebek is rocked!
Baraona lands a good knee to the midsection. Zebek won't want to take too many of those.
Zebek is still on wobbly legs! Can Baraona finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baraona scores with a knee to the head.
Zebek takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zebek drops down looking for an ankle pick but Baraona pulls his leg out and moves away.
John Baraona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zebuszko Zebek.

Baraona rushes Zebek and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A knee to the head by Baraona.
Zebek seems to have recovered his senses.
Baraona connects with a knee to the head.
Baraona misses with a knee to the head.
Zebek has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Baraona after a bit of a struggle.
Baraona comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Baraona lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Baraona lands a left hand.
Baraona landing knees to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Baraona dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Zebuszko Zebek's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Zebek has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Baraona finds it's way round the side to connect with Zebek's head.
Zebek shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Baraona pinned against the cage. Baraona gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
John Baraona is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baraona fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baraona is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Baraona tries to keep at a distance but Zebek has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zebek misses with a knee to the head.
Baraona connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zebek's face.
Baraona using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zebek has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zebek takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Knees in the clinch landing for Baraona.
Baraona stops a takedown attempt from Zebek.
Baraona connects with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baraona lands a knee to the head.
Baraona lands a knee to the body.
Baraona lands a knee to the body.
Baraona utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Baraona obliges.
Baraona scores a nice knee to the body.
Baraona connects with a knee to the head.
Baraona with a knee to the head.
Baraona lands a knee to the head.
Baraona is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Baraona landing knees to the head.
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!
Baraona using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zebek has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Baraona with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baraona is looking to control Zebek's arms but Zebek gets an underhook and turns him. Now Baraona has his back to the cage.
Zebek fails to pull guard.
John Baraona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zebuszko Zebek.
Baraona connects with a knee to the head.
Baraona with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Zebek is trying to push Baraona away but Baraona has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Our sources have told us that Baraona has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Baraona is pushing Zebek up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A knee to the head by Baraona.
Baraona prevents a takedown attempt there.
Baraona with a knee to the head.
Baraona lands a good knee to the midsection. Zebek won't want to take too many of those.
Zebek is trying to pull guard but Baraona turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baraona unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A knee to the head by Baraona.
Baraona crunches a lovely knee into Zebek's ribcage.
Baraona connects with a knee to the head.
Baraona lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zebek is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Baraona to keep the fight standing.
Baraona connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zebek's face.
Baraona using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Baraona lands a nice elbow.
Zebek is working for takedown but Baraona is calmly controlling the position for now.
Baraona with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Baraona tries a knee to the head but Zebek blocks it.
Zebek jumps guard but Baraona turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baraona is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Baraona gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zebek.
Baraona lands a knee to the head.
Baraona with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Baraona lands a body punch.
Baraona lands a knee to the body.
John Baraona has scored more points in the clinch so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Baraona with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baraona fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Baraona tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Baraona connects with a knee to the head.
Zebek looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Baraona showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Baraona has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Baraona!
A very excited looking John Baraona rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.