PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gianfranco Zola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Walker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zola comes to the cage accompanied by Balls to the Wall. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zola
vs
Walker

163 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

158 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Syndicate Drugs

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 Rio de Janeiro, Gianfranco Zola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Walker!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zola tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Walker looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Zola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zola is trying to keep Walker in close.
Zola has a closed guard, preventing Walker from standing up.
Walker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Walker wants to control from the top but Zola keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zola is on top in guard.
Zola is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zola trying to control but Walker is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zola accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Walker is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zola is controlling him.
Zola tries to free his leg and advance position but Walker is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker wants to stand up but Zola is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walker trying to keep a closed guard but Zola is proving a slippery customer.
Zola preventing the sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Walker bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Zola's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Walker creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Zola sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Zola is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Walker tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Walker decides to stand back up. Walker steps back and let's Zola get back to his feet.
Walker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zola as he jumps to the side.
Walker looks gassed!
Zola tries to clinch there but Walker circles away.
Zola circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Walker 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 throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Walker stopping the sweep attempt from Zola.
Zola is trying to keep Walker in close.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Walker throwing strikes but missing.
Zola is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Zola working for a triangle but Walker defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Walker slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Zola trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walker with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Zola looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Walker would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Walker gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Walker gets a takedown into half guard.
Zola slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Walker stopping the sweep attempt from Zola.
Walker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zola. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Zola is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Walker has his hands clasped together but Zola extends an breaks Walker's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Zola.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gianfranco Zola!