PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Buchanan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gianfranco Zola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virgil Buchanan has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Buchanan
vs
Zola

214 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

190 cm
18
245 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

{R.W} Four Aces Nutrition

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Virgil Buchanan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gianfranco Zola!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Anthony Taglia and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Zola, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Buchanan tries to clinch up but Zola circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice takedown defense from Zola. No joy for Buchanan on that attempt.
Buchanan keeps the fight on the outside.
Zola fails in his attempt to clinch.
Buchanan swats away the attempt to clinch by Zola.
Buchanan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zola moves away.
Zola misses with a takedown attempt - Buchanan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zola throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Buchanan enables Zola to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Buchanan manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zola must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Zola is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zola missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Buchanan looking for a guillotine here but Zola defends easily.
Zola wants to control from the top but Buchanan keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buchanan wants to stand and escape but Zola is having none of it.
Buchanan keeping moving, preventing Zola from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gianfranco Zola.

Zola scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Buchanan stops Zola from passing to mount.
Buchanan tries to escape but Zola is in control.
Zola has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buchanan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zola landing shots from mount.
Zola controlling from the full mount.
Zola is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Zola with the ground and pound from mount.
Buchanan is looking to improve his position but Zola isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Zola.
Zola takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zola cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zola looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Buchanan regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
It looks like Zola is going to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gianfranco Zola dominated that round.
That's time! Buchanan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zola drives through with a takedown into Buchanan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Zola trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Buchanan manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Buchanan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zola wants to get back to his feet but Buchanan passes into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zola can do anything to dispel that myth.

Zola is defending against the submission attempts here by Buchanan.
Zola trying to hold on to Buchanan's head to control him but Buchanan postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zola tries to roll over but Buchanan keeps him under control.
Zola is positioning himself well to prevent Buchanan advancing to mount.
Buchanan is looking to stall here but Zola recovers full guard.
Buchanan wants to control from the top but Zola keeps moving.
Gianfranco Zola has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buchanan preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zola seems keen to control Buchanan's posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Buchanan gets caught flat footed, as Zola shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zola is breathing heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Buchanan is on top in guard.

Buchanan is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Zola pulls Buchanan in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zola keeping moving, preventing Buchanan from controlling successfully.
Zola should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Virgil Buchanan.
Sloppy strikes from Zola. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zola is looking to clinch but Buchanan is avoiding it.
Buchanan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zola sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Buchanan somewhat.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Zola. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Zola shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Buchanan but Buchanan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zola shoots in for a takedown but Buchanan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Buchanan shoots and misses
and Zola counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zola.
Virgil Buchanan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gianfranco Zola.
Buchanan is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gianfranco Zola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Buchanan manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Zola on his heels. He'll look to pass Zola's guard now, I'm sure.
Buchanan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zola controlling Buchanan's posture.
Buchanan wants to control from the top but Zola keeps moving.
Zola doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Buchanan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Buchanan wants to control from the top but Zola keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Virgil Buchanan just wasn't active enough.

Zola 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.
Zola takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Buchanan looking for a guillotine here but Zola defends easily.
Zola looking to pass the guard.
Zola not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Zola slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zola scoring with punches from side control.
Zola works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Buchanan takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Zola is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Buchanan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Buchanan is looking to reverse the position.

Zola is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Buchanan has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buchanan tries to bench press Zola off him but Zola keeps the position.
Zola just content to control the position.
Zola is looking to take a break and control but Buchanan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zola creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Buchanan sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Zola controlling the position.
Zola working the head and body with strikes.
Virgil Buchanan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gianfranco Zola is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zola is looking to take a break and control but Buchanan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gianfranco Zola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zola 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gianfranco Zola!
A determined Gianfranco Zola didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!