PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Zamarano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Acton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Acton is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Zamarano
vs
Acton

170 cm
22
151 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

160 cm
23
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Self confident

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ivan Zamarano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Acton!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zamarano fails to land the takedown.
Acton shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zamarano counters with a nice double leg into side control. Acton won't be happy with that.
Acton manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Acton seems to be working for a kimura but Zamarano defends the submission attempt.
Zamarano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Acton is working away from the top position though.
Acton trying to control from half guard but Zamarano is working away.
Zamarano on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zamarano tries to get out of the position.
Zamarano is trying to get back to full guard.
Acton is tying to control. Zamarano wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Acton is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Zamarano tries to get to full guard but Acton has control of the leg.
Acton is looking to take a break and control but Zamarano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zamarano closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zamarano lands in his opponent's guard.
Acton wants to sweep here but Zamarano controlling him for the moment.
Acton trying to keep a closed guard but Zamarano is proving a slippery customer.
Zamarano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Acton looking to control.
Acton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zamarano chips away with some ground and pound.
Acton managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zamarano is working Acton over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zamarano is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Zamarano is in close to Acton's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zamarano wants to control from the top but Acton keeps moving.
Acton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zamarano trying to control but Acton is working from the bottom.
Zamarano with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Acton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zamarano is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zamarano has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zamarano.
Acton manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Zamarano taking some punishment here, with Acton in his half guard.
Zamarano is looking for a sweep. Acton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zamarano is trying to control but can't.
Zamarano is breathing heavily.
Acton wants to take a breather but Zamarano is having none of it.
Acton controlling the action here.
Zamarano is looking for a sweep. Acton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Acton works his way into side control.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zamarano is looking to regain half guard here but Acton keeps moving and retains side control.

Acton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Zamarano gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Acton is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Zamarano has managed to free his arm - good work.
Acton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Acton lands a nice short elbow.
Acton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Acton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zamarano keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Acton doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zamarano decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Acton's guard.
Acton keeping moving, preventing Zamarano from controlling successfully.
Zamarano distracts Acton with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zamarano sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Acton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zamarano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Acton wants to sweep but no luck.
Acton is breathing heavily.
Acton keeping moving, preventing Zamarano from controlling successfully.

Acton looking for a guillotine here but Zamarano defends easily.
Zamarano trying to move into half guard but instead Acton has managed to sweep!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Acton 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.
Zamarano controls Acton momentarily but Acton frees himself.
Acton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zamarano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zamarano wants to sweep here but Acton controlling him for the moment.
Ivan Zamarano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zamarano working a defensive guard here.
Zamarano is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Acton trying to control but Zamarano is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Acton shoots and misses

and Zamarano counters with a takedown into side control.
Acton is not content to let Zamarano control the position.
Acton is looking for a sweep.
Zamarano wants to control but Acton is keeping him busy.
Zamarano lands a decent elbow from side control.
Zamarano landing strikes.
Acton wants to control but Zamarano postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zamarano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Acton keeps working.
Acton tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zamarano landing strikes.
Zamarano lands a decent elbow from side control.
Acton manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Acton trying to pass the guard but Zamarano defending well.
Zamarano keeping hold of Acton's head, controlling as best he can.
Zamarano is trying to control but can't.
Zamarano striking from half guard on the bottom.
Zamarano wants to get back to full guard.

Acton is trying to work for a kimura but Zamarano is defending well.
Zamarano regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Acton is pushing down on Zamarano's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zamarano is fighting to maintain full guard but Acton has managed to sneak the leg through.
Acton trying to control from half guard but Zamarano is working away.
Zamarano landing rabbit punches to the side of Acton's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Acton looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Acton seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zamarano does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zamarano slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zamarano is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zamarano doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Acton counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zamarano's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Zamarano dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zamarano throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Zamarano bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Acton parries the strikes from Zamarano easily there. Zamarano is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Acton to escape.
You can see the frustration on Acton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zamarano looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Acton is avoiding damage well.
You can see the frustration on Acton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Acton tries to bench press Zamarano off him but Zamarano keeps the position.
Zamarano is working Acton over with some ground and pound from side control.
Zamarano working the head and body with strikes.
Acton tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zamarano wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Acton wants to control but Zamarano postures up.
What's Acton going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Acton is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zamarano scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Acton to see if he's OK.
Acton 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.
Zamarano working the head and body with strikes.
Acton is trying to control Zamarano's posture but Zamarano avoids it.
Acton is looking to reverse the position.
Zamarano taking a breather here.
Acton is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zamarano connects with a decent elbow.
Zamarano scores with a couple of short elbows.
Zamarano cracks Acton with a big right hand but Acton just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Acton takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acton takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Acton is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zamarano's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zamarano throwing shots but Acton is blocking nicely.
Acton is trying to get back to full guard.
Zamarano is pressing down on Acton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Acton is holding on for now.
Zamarano is thwarting Acton's attempts to control the position.
Acton manages to get to full guard.
Acton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acton wants to improve his position but instead Zamarano has moved into half guard.
Acton is looking for a sweep. Zamarano is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Acton is staying active underneath Zamarano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Acton strikes from the bottom but Zamarano uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Zamarano scores with punches from side control.
Acton is looking to reverse the position.
Acton is not content to let Zamarano control the position.
Zamarano is putting a hurting on Acton here, landing some big shots from side control.

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

Acton feints and as Zamarano raises his hands in defense, Acton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zamarano is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Acton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Zamarano working a defensive guard here.
Acton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zamarano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Acton wants to control from the top but Zamarano keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Zamarano scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Zamarano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zamarano, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Zamarano!