PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Zarco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodolfo Gusman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antonio Zarco could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Rodolfo Gusman's chin.

Zarco
vs
Gusman

172 cm
26
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
44
186 lbs
23 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antonio Zarco!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 18 - 1, fighting out of London, Rodolfo Gusman!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Seu Braga and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zarco closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Gusman fails to land.
I was talking to Zarco's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Gusman avoiding damage as Zarco throws knees to the body.
Zarco scores a nice knee to the body.
Gusman misses with some punches.
Zarco with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zarco tries to work over Gusman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gusman working aggressively here.
Zarco throws a knee to the head but misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Gusman changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zarco fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zarco throws a head kick that Gusman semi-blocks.

It looks like Rodolfo Gusman has been cut.
Zarco fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gusman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusman fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Zarco is out of range.
Gusman is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Gusman thows a leg kick but Zarco checks it
and Gusman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Gusman is rocked!
Zarco batters Gusman with a massive right followed by a huge left! Gusman is out on his feet looking like a zombie as Zarco lands a final crushing right hand to drop Gusman to the mat with a gruesome thud! Zarco is running around like a mad man after that fight and for good reason!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Antonio Zarco!
Antonio Zarco is the new welterweight champion!
After the fight, Antonio Zarco was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.