PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leroy Zimmerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and MA RO (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zimmerman
vs
RO

155 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

178 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Leroy Zimmerman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, MA RO!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
RO fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
It appears Zimmerman was looking to counter with a kick there.
Zimmerman leaves RO with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
RO swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
RO throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
RO pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Zimmerman back to the cage. RO follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Leroy Zimmerman has been cut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zimmerman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for RO with that takedown attempt.
Leroy Zimmerman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of MA RO.

RO bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimmerman dodges the ground and pound from RO.

RO thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
RO creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
RO tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
RO lands a few punches from side control.

RO stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Zimmerman throws the kick towards the body but RO avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
RO fails with a takedown attempt.
MA RO seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
RO shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zimmerman counters with a series of strikes. RO will be more careful next time no doubt.

RO pushes Zimmerman up against the cage in a clinch.
Zimmerman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zimmerman gets underhooks to prevent RO's takedown attempt.

RO manages to break the clinch.
Zimmerman tries to clinch there but RO circles away.
Zimmerman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

RO gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

RO is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zimmerman knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

RO tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
RO trying to control the position but Zimmerman is working away.
RO working the body and head with strikes.

That's four 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.

RO wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zimmerman, who protects the arm well.
Zimmerman struggling a bit here.
RO just content to control the position.
Zimmerman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
RO controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
RO scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Zimmerman to see if he's OK.
Zimmerman is not content to let RO control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

MA RO dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leroy Zimmerman's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zimmerman avoids the head kick by RO.
Zimmerman wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
RO misses with the combination.
Zimmerman tries to land a body kick

and RO counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
RO has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
RO working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

RO looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
RO is trying to control. Zimmerman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
RO throwing shots but Zimmerman is blocking nicely.
RO takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
RO is trying to control. Zimmerman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
RO looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zimmerman with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
RO is figuring out what he wants to do next.
RO tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zimmerman knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
RO is trying to control. Zimmerman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zimmerman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leroy Zimmerman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

RO has taken the fight to the clinch.

RO's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
RO fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zimmerman avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

RO shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zimmerman manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
RO scoring with some ground and pound.
RO wants to control from the top but Zimmerman keeps moving.
RO controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zimmerman looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but RO puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Zimmerman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman taking some punishment here, with RO in his half guard.
MA RO has got the better of the ground game so far.
RO winds up and cracks Zimmerman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
RO is stalling here. Zimmerman is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! RO seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Zimmerman has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The ground and pound from Zimmerman seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
RO takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
RO struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

MA RO showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Leroy Zimmerman's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

RO shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
RO with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
RO seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
RO looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
RO trying to pass the guard but Zimmerman defending well.
RO is taking a breather. Zimmerman says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
RO tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zimmerman knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
RO controlling the pace.

Zimmerman is defending against the submission attempts here by RO.
RO has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Zimmerman wants to improve his position but RO is controlling well.
Zimmerman blocking the ground and pound attempt from RO.
Well, if RO is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zimmerman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

RO closes the distance and clinches.
Zimmerman wants to break the clinch but can't.
RO goes for a takedown attempt but Zimmerman pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

RO looking to score a takedown here. Zimmerman is defending well but RO drives through and ends up in Zimmerman's guard.
RO trying to control but Zimmerman is working from the bottom.
RO looking to sit in guard and control but Zimmerman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

RO is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zimmerman is controlling him.
RO avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
RO is pulling down on Zimmerman's head. It's preventing any offense from Zimmerman, at least for the moment.

RO looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zimmerman preventing the sweep.
RO pulls Zimmerman in close to his closed guard and prevents Zimmerman from doing any damage or advancing position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
RO bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zimmerman's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
MA RO comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well RO 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... MA RO!