PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Felipe Cain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sabu Zero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Sabu Zero was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Cain
vs
Zero

160 cm
18
346 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

224 cm
24
299 lbs
0 - 2 - 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 super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Felipe Cain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sabu Zero!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zero doesn't manage to clinch there - Cain circles away.
Zero looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Cain throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zero's waist but Zero gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cain off to one side.
Zero stuffs the takedown.
Cain could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Zero tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Cain moves into the clinch.
Cain jumps guard but Zero stands there with Cain around his waist. Cain gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felipe Cain. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zero pushes off an throws an elbow but Cain leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Cain tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cain is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zero pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain wants a takedown but no success here.
Cain avoids a wild elbow strike from Zero.
Cain tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cain fails to pull guard.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zero throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Zero just misses with a elbow thrown towards Cain's brow.
Cain avoids a wild elbow strike from Zero.
Cain tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zero just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cain is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zero to keep the fight standing.
Cain wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zero smiles and moves away.
Zero moves to clinch but Cain breaks away

and Cain counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cain is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zero to keep the fight standing.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zero.

It looks like Felipe Cain has been cut.
Cain tries to pull guard but Zero won't allow it.
Cain jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zero walks away with a smile on his face. Cain gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cain swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cain circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cain circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zero tries to clinch up

and Cain holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Zero misses with an elbow over the top.
Cain tries to pull guard but Zero forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cain jumps guard but Zero turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sabu Zero will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Felipe Cain's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zero tries to clinch up.
Cain misses with a series of wild punches.
Zero doesn't manage to clinch there - Cain circles away.
Zero avoids the body shot from Cain.
Zero tries to clinch up

and Cain holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cain avoids the elbow strike from Zero, against the cage.
Cain working aggressively here.
Cain goes for a takedown attempt but Zero pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zero has Cain up against the cage in a clinch.
Cain jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zero walks away with a smile on his face. Cain gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sabu Zero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cain fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zero sprawls well initially but Cain persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zero is breathing heavily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Zero is staying active underneath Cain, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Cain is working for a kimura but Zero is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cain perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cain slips a nice elbow through Zero's hands, connecting with Zero's forehead.
Cain is trying to control. Zero wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zero has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Cain is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cain controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Felipe Cain.
Zero tries to clinch there but Cain circles away.

Cain shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zero keeping moving, preventing Cain from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cain content to stall in guard here.
Cain might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zero wants to stand and escape but Cain is having none of it.
Cain controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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

Zero gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cain to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zero is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cain is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Cain dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Felipe Cain's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cain looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cain sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Zero is trying to stand back up but Cain is controlling him
Cain not doing much here.
Zero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Felipe Cain wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cain looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sabu Zero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Zero gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cain to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cain seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Cain thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cain wants to control from the top but Zero keeps moving.
Cain engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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

Cain shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zero napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cain wants to control but Zero is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Cain wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zero keeps working.

We're going to have a standup here because Felipe Cain wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cain throws a push kick but Zero slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zero looks to clinch

and Cain moves into the clinch.
Cain tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zero smiles and moves away.
Cain shoots in for a takedown but Zero shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felipe Cain. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cain misses with a body kick.
Zero tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cain paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zero tries to close the distance and clinch but Cain swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cain keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felipe Cain showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cain 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felipe Cain!