PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between LeBron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Zanotto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zanotto has chosen Ben Zanotto -by- Rancid as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

James
vs
Zanotto

180 cm
28
200 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

183 cm
35
195 lbs
27 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu
Kemists ↑™ 5x160Q - $149-199

GREEN!160
Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, LeBron James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Zanotto!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zanotto.
Zanotto on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Zanotto drives through and clinches with James against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by James.
A quick uppercut on the inside from James.
A short right from Zanotto.
James misses with an elbow over the top.
Zanotto lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
James blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by James.

Zanotto gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, James regains guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zanotto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
James is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zanotto wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanotto sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zanotto is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.
Zanotto trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Zanotto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
James throws a head kick that misses
and Zanotto counters with a straight right hand.
Zanotto lands the left hand.
James throws a hook but Zanotto avoids it easily.
James slips a straight right by Zanotto.
James tries a low kick but Zanotto avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto connects with a good right hand that stumbles James. James circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Zanotto jabs James right on the nose. James blinks but takes it well.
Ben Zanotto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James throws a leg kick that is checked
and Zanotto counters with a nice body shot.
Zanotto scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
James needs to keep his hands up - Zanotto had a free shot at his head there.
James throws a jab when Zanotto was well out of range.
Zanotto lands a head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from James.
Zanotto appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Zanotto stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zanotto has a takedown stuffed.

Zanotto throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. James was covering up waiting for the punch and Zanotto finishes the takedown easily into guard.
James is trying to keep Zanotto in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanotto wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.
James is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
James looking to control.
James utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zanotto tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
James can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zanotto controls the pace.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Zanotto working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Zanotto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zanotto uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before James has time to react.
Zanotto connects with the punch.
James throws a leg kick
letting Zanotto counter with a right hand.
James slaps away a takedown attempt from Zanotto, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zanotto scores with a crisp jab that stopped James in his tracks.
James throws a leg kick that is checked
and Zanotto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zanotto moves away.
Zanotto cracks a nice hook into James's ribs.
Zanotto moves out of range of the leg kick from James.
A nice side step and Zanotto releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
James throws out a leg kick but Zanotto moves out of range and James only half commits.
LeBron James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zanotto might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Zanotto misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Zanotto dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zanotto.
James misses with a hook.
Zanotto scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. James doesn't seem bothered though.
James fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zanotto checks it well.
Good work by Zanotto as he checks the leg kick.
James throws a leg kick but Zanotto moved away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zanotto or perhaps it was just good defense by James, which made it look bad.
It looked like James wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Zanotto shoots in looking for a takedown but James manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zanotto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zanotto moves out of range of the leg kick from James.
Zanotto throws out a counter right but James avoids it with no problem.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zanotto darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James lands a nice shot that snaps Zanotto's head back.
Zanotto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says James as he avoids it easily.
LeBron James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Zanotto.
James is looking to clinch but Zanotto is avoiding it.
Zanotto looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Zanotto tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but James defends well and Zanotto ends up having to push James into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Zanotto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James misses with a head kick.
James misses with a straight left.
James cracks Zanotto with a right hand to the side of the head.
James's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zanotto under the eye.
James throws a head kick but Zanotto moves out of range.
James keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
James swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zanotto throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
Zanotto shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
Zanotto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
James blocks a jab.
Zanotto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
James ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Zanotto on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by James. James obviously looking to wear him down.
James displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zanotto.
James throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James throws a sloppy head kick
and Zanotto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zanotto is looking to clinch.
James slaps away a takedown attempt from Zanotto, before circling back to the center of the mat.
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!
James takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zanotto takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
James misses with a looping left.
Zanotto now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Zanotto slips under a jab from James.
Zanotto throws a jab when James was well out of range.
James moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Ben Zanotto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
James throws a wild body kick that Zanotto sees coming a mile off.
Zanotto feints the counter takedown.
James needs to keep his hands up - Zanotto had a free shot at his head there.
Zanotto lands a jab to James's midsection.
James throws a leg kick which misses Zanotto's front leg but catches the back leg as Zanotto tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James scores with a head kick.
Zanotto shoots in but no luck this time.
As Zanotto tries to get set, James tries to push him back and clinch up but Zanotto manages to avoid the attempt.

James drives through and clinches with Zanotto against the cage.
Zanotto blocks an uppercut.
James pushes Zanotto back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
James crunches a lovely knee into Zanotto's ribcage.
James blocking some punches.
Zanotto avoiding damage as James throws knees to the body.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zanotto circles away quickly and effectively.
Zanotto misses with a takedown
and James counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A good leg kick by James.
James throws a solid leg kick but Zanotto takes the impact on his shin and smiles at James.
Zanotto attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Zanotto closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zanotto misses with an uppercut. James saw that one coming.
James seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Nice sprawl there from James as Zanotto shoots in.
A chopping leg kick lands by James.
James takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Zanotto thuds a left hand into James's body.
Zanotto swats away the attempt to clinch by James.
Good shot there by James.
James blocks a jab.
Zanotto misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zanotto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
An inside leg kick lands from James.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeBron James 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!

Zanotto takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zanotto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
James is looking to counter the offense by Zanotto and move into the clinch.
Zanotto blocks a head kick by James.

Zanotto throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. James was covering up waiting for the punch and Zanotto finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zanotto wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is pulling down on Zanotto's head. It's preventing any offense from Zanotto, at least for the moment.
James utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zanotto defends it easily.
Zanotto looking to pass the guard.
James working a defensive guard here.

James has his foot on Zanotto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zanotto works his way back into a safe position though.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
James misses with a looping right.
James cracks the inside of Zanotto's front leg.
Zanotto checks the leg kick.
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
James throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zanotto shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Zanotto keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zanotto closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

James has closed the distance and engaged Zanotto in a clinch.
Zanotto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zanotto lands a right hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
Zanotto wants a takedown but no success here.
LeBron James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Zanotto.

Zanotto breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Zanotto backs up against the cage.
Zanotto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from Zanotto.
Zanotto closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from James, right into the meat.
Zanotto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around James's waist but James gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zanotto off to one side.
Zanotto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but James swivels and escapes.

Zanotto has managed to clinch.
James with a knee to the head.
James prevents the takedown attempt.
Zanotto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
James has a couple of punches blocked by Zanotto.
James misses with some punches.
Zanotto goes for a takedown in the clinch but James prevents it.
James missing with knees to the body.
James lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zanotto goes for a takedown attempt but James pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James connects with a right hand. Zanotto shakes it off.
Zanotto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
James appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Zanotto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around James's waist but James gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zanotto off to one side.
James tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Zanotto manages to circle out of the way.
James lands with a hook. Zanotto tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
James misses with an attempted mid kick.
James tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zanotto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zanotto scores with a jab to the body.
Zanotto lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
James defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zanotto.
James misses with a head kick.
James wants to slow Zanotto down by chopping away at his legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
LeBron James showed his dominance in that final round.
I think James 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... LeBron James!
LeBron James seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.