PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between ZyD XyD (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Snuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

XyD
vs
Snuka

165 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, ZyD XyD!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jimmy Snuka!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Snuka misses with a body shot.
Snuka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Snuka blocks a head kick by XyD.
XyD shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Snuka sprawls well. Snuka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. XyD gets slowly back to his feet.
XyD closes this distance looking for a takedown but Snuka circles away.

XyD gets a double leg takedown into Snuka's guard.
Snuka is pulling down on XyD's head. It's preventing any offense from XyD, at least for the moment.
XyD wants to control from the top but Snuka keeps moving.
XyD has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
XyD is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Snuka is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
XyD looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snuka is pulling down on XyD's head. It's preventing any offense from XyD, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
XyD preventing the sweep.
Snuka has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Snuka's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Snuka misses with a jab to the body
and XyD counters with a solid body kick.
Snuka throws a combination but it was largely blocked by XyD.
XyD tries to clinch up.
Snuka misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
XyD blocks the body kick.
Snuka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Snuka keeps the fight on the outside.
Snuka fails to land with a series of punches.
Snuka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract XyD.
Snuka misses with a body shot
and XyD counters with a head kick. That will keep Snuka thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

XyD darts in and clinches Snuka up against the cage.
Snuka lands a damaging elbow.
Snuka is looking for a takedown.

XyD jumps guard and drags Snuka to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
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!
Snuka throwing strikes but missing.
XyD trying to control the position.

Snuka drops back looking for a leg! XyD is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and XyD manages to kick Snuka off! Snuka jumps back into XyD's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
XyD controls Snuka momentarily but Snuka frees himself.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Snuka's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
XyD has momentary wrist control but Snuka slips an elbow through the middle.
XyD knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Snuka on the ground.
XyD not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Snuka trying to control but XyD is working from the bottom.
XyD on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if XyD tries to get out of the position.
XyD wants to sweep but no luck.
XyD trying to keep a closed guard but Snuka is proving a slippery customer.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
XyD being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
XyD staying out of range there.

XyD rushes Snuka and presses him up against the cage.
XyD stops a takedown attempt from Snuka.
Snuka pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
XyD is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Snuka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for ZyD XyD. That's going to take a lot out of him.
XyD tries to score a body lock takedown but Snuka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
XyD blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Snuka.

Snuka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Snuka throws a lazy uppercut
and XyD counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Snuka throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Snuka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that ZyD XyD will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Snuka bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
XyD avoids a punch combination nicely.
No luck for XyD with that takedown attempt.
XyD dives in for a single leg takedown but Snuka sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Snuka holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Snuka throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Snuka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Snuka goes for a takedown in the clinch but XyD prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Snuka misses with a knee to the head.
Snuka is looking for a takedown.
XyD is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Snuka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for ZyD XyD. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Snuka tries to land knees in the clinch but XyD avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

XyD breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
XyD lands a nice looking kick to the body. Snuka takes a step back to recover.
Jimmy Snuka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
XyD tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Snuka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Snuka throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Snuka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. XyD tries to avoid it but Snuka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag XyD to the ground. XyD escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Snuka is breathing heavily.

XyD takes the fight into the clinch.
Snuka tries to pull guard but XyD holds him up against the cage and eventually Snuka drops back down to his feet.
XyD is working for takedown but Snuka is calmly controlling the position for now.

XyD pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Snuka misses with a combination
enabling XyD to counter with a crisp jab.
Snuka throws a body kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
XyD shoots in but no luck this time.
Snuka attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Snuka swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and XyD cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
XyD fails with a takedown attempt.
Snuka circles away from the clinch attempt

and Snuka counters by clinching up.
Snuka missing with knees to the body.

XyD breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
XyD shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Snuka defends it nicely.
Snuka throws an off balance right hand
and XyD counters with a one-two to the body.
Snuka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jimmy Snuka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Snuka decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
XyD keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
XyD blocking the ground and pound attempt from Snuka.

XyD has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Snuka escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Snuka!
XyD is pushing Snuka's head away, looking to escape. Snuka manages to hold on to the position though.
Snuka working the head and body with strikes.
Snuka misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Snuka working the head with strikes.
Snuka working away.
Snuka working the ground and pound from side control.
XyD tries to buck Snuka off but Snuka is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Snuka is putting a hurting on XyD here, landing some big shots from side control.
XyD is trying to work for a sweep but Snuka has mounted him!
Snuka landing strikes from the mount and XyD is in trouble!
Snuka lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Snuka landing punches.
Snuka landing strikes, looking to finish!
Snuka landing shots from mount.
XyD tries to reverse the position but Snuka maintains control.
Snuka wants to control the pace but XyD is squirming around nicely.
XyD is working to get back to half guard.
Snuka raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Snuka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

XyD closes the distance and clinches up with Snuka, looking for a takedown. XyD pushes Snuka against the cage but Snuka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Snuka looks for the body kick but XyD saw that one coming.
Snuka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Snuka throws the left hand but XyD avoids the punch easily.
Snuka throws a lazy body kick
and XyD counters with a good low kick that Snuka was not able to check.
No joy there for Snuka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
XyD tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Snuka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
XyD throws a one two combo.
Snuka throws a jab when XyD was well out of range.
Snuka throws a shot from downtown. XyD moves away and avoids it.
XyD digs a good hook to Snuka's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
XyD tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Snuka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
XyD looks to land a combination. Snuka sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Jimmy Snuka has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Snuka darts in looking for a takedown but XyD gets double underhooks and turns Snuka into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Snuka just misses with a elbow thrown towards XyD's brow.
Snuka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Snuka misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
XyD dodges an elbow strike from Snuka.
XyD wants a takedown but no success here.
XyD slows down the pace here.
XyD avoids a wild elbow strike from Snuka.
Snuka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
XyD trying to control the position but instead, Snuka has worked for underhooks and has pushed XyD into the cage.
Snuka is looking for a takedown.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Snuka drops down looking for an ankle pick but XyD pulls his leg out and moves away.
ZyD XyD has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Snuka.
XyD ducks under a wild hook from Snuka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
XyD tries to score a power double leg takedown but Snuka sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten XyD somewhat.
Snuka walks into a stiff left hand from XyD.
XyD scoring well with a low kick there.

XyD closes the distance and clinches.

XyD pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
XyD shoots in for a double leg but Snuka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Snuka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Jimmy Snuka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
XyD has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Snuka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
XyD is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Snuka is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
XyD prevents the takedown attempt.
XyD drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Snuka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
XyD blocks the elbow strike.
Snuka is looking for a takedown.

XyD successfully pulls guard.

XyD is looking for a triangle but Snuka pushes his legs off easily.
Snuka scoring with some ground and pound.
Snuka working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of XyD's head.
Snuka working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Snuka advances to half guard.
XyD wants to get back to full guard.
Snuka takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Snuka looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Snuka is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! XyD is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jimmy Snuka!
Jimmy Snuka was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.