PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stacey Atkinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Misha Zyats (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zyats has chosen While We Were at War as his entrance music. Misha Zyats will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Atkinson
vs
Zyats

207 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
23
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stacey Atkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Misha Zyats!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Alyssa Summers and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zyats clinches.

Zyats breaks the clinch.
Atkinson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zyats's waist but Zyats gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Atkinson off to one side.
Atkinson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Atkinson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zyats tries to avoid it but Atkinson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zyats to the ground. Zyats escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stacey Atkinson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zyats shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zyats showed some decent athleticism there.

Zyats is working for a kimura but Atkinson is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson is trying is best to control the position here.

Zyats is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zyats is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Atkinson tries to get to full guard but Zyats has control of the leg.
Atkinson regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Zyats would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Atkinson wants to stand up but Zyats is controlling him.
Zyats trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Atkinson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Zyats wants to stand up but Atkinson is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zyats wants to sweep but no luck.
Atkinson tries to stand but Zyats is controlling from the bottom.
Zyats looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zyats wants to control the position but Atkinson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Zyats tries to get to full guard but Atkinson has control of the leg.
Atkinson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Atkinson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zyats is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Atkinson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Atkinson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atkinson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zyats is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Misha Zyats will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zyats moves into the clinch.

Zyats has clasped his hands together around Atkinson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Atkinson tries to improve position but can't.

Zyats stands up.

Zyats is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Atkinson's half guard.
Atkinson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Atkinson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zyats trying to control but Atkinson is working from the bottom.
Atkinson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Atkinson controlling the position.
Zyats would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Zyats is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stacey Atkinson just wasn't active enough.
Atkinson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Atkinson gets caught flat footed, as Zyats shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zyats is breathing heavily.
Zyats tries to free his leg and advance position but Atkinson is retaining full guard.
Atkinson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Atkinson wants to get back to his feet but Zyats is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Atkinson has his hands on Zyats's head, controlling the position.
Zyats trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Atkinson is looking to stand back up but Zyats counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Atkinson.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Atkinson controlling the position well.
Misha Zyats has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Atkinson tries to roll over but Zyats keeps him under control.
Atkinson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stacey Atkinson just wasn't active enough.
Zyats throws a head kick but Atkinson moves out of range.
Zyats buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Zyats moves into range and clinches up with Atkinson.

Zyats breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zyats.
Atkinson wants to control but Zyats postures up.
Atkinson regains half guard.
Atkinson tries to kick Zyats off but Zyats keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Atkinson wants to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zyats wants to control but Atkinson is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zyats tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Atkinson is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Misha Zyats showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Zyats clinches up against the cage.

Atkinson manages to break the clinch.

Atkinson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Atkinson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zyats tries to stand but Atkinson is controlling from the bottom.
Zyats won't allow Atkinson to get back to his feet.
Atkinson has control of Zyats's left arm, preventing Zyats from doing any damage.
Zyats trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Atkinson scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Zyats throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Atkinson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Zyats is in Atkinson's guard.
Zyats takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Atkinson is pulling down on Zyats's head to control his posture.
Zyats missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zyats is fighting to break Atkinson's control of his arms but Atkinson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Stacey Atkinson.

Zyats feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zyats wants to pass the guard but Atkinson is keeping the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zyats trying to control the position from guard on top but Atkinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Atkinson wants to get back to his feet but Zyats is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Zyats drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zyats jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Atkinson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Zyats manages to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zyats.
Atkinson tries to roll over but Zyats keeps him under control.
Atkinson gets back to full guard.
Atkinson has control of Zyats's left arm, preventing Zyats from doing any damage.
Atkinson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zyats working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Atkinson pulls Zyats in to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stacey Atkinson just wasn't active enough.

Zyats shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Atkinson's guard.

Atkinson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zyats is aware though and is defending well.
Zyats is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Atkinson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Atkinson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Stacey Atkinson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Misha Zyats is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zyats looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Misha Zyats comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zyats 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Misha Zyats!
Misha Zyats decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.