PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Bilkington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Zal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bobby Bilkington had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Bilkington
vs
Zal

176 cm
23
145 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

170 cm
25
152 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
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 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bobby Bilkington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Zal!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bilkington tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zal chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bilkington can pounce on him.
Bilkington digs a good body shot into Zal's ribs.
Bilkington throws a body shot but no joy.
Bilkington ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bobby Bilkington seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bilkington fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zal.
Bilkington lands a two punch combo.
Bilkington shoots in looking for a takedown. Zal tries to sprawl out of it but Bilkington keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zal throws out a counter right but Bilkington avoids it with no problem.
Zal has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bilkington shoots for a takedown but Zal saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bilkington throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bilkington moves away from the strike by Zal.
Bilkington throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zal counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Zal misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilkington tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zal manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zal looks to throw the jab but Bilkington is out of range.
Bilkington scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Bilkington takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Bilkington misses with a low kick.
Zal throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zal catches Bilkington with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bilkington misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zal looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bilkington shoots in for a takedown but Zal shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Bilkington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zal fails to land with a series of punches.
Bilkington lands a nice looking body shot.
Zal circles away from the clinch attempt.
And Zal tries to counter it with a takedown but Bilkington pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Zal throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bilkington counters with a left and a right that stings Zal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Bilkington lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Zal connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bilkington momentarily.
Bilkington tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bilkington doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zal counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zal fails to land with a series of punches.
Zal connects with a crisp jab.
Zal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bilkington misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zal.
Bilkington lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bilkington.
Bilkington shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zal defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Bilkington fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zal avoids it really well and circles away.
Bilkington defending well as Zal loads up on a big left hand.
Bilkington tries for a takedown but Zal sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nick Zal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bilkington throws the kick towards the body but Zal avoids it.
Jab by Zal.
Zal throws a body shot but no joy.
Zal thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bilkington is looking for a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington doesn't manage to clinch there - Zal circles away.
A slow jab from Zal misses its intended target.
Zal ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bilkington moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bilkington looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zal scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bilkington doesn't seem bothered though.
Bilkington takes one to the chin there.

Bilkington rushes Zal and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bilkington stops a takedown attempt from Zal.
Bilkington wants to take the fight to the mat but Zal manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Zal has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bilkington avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Zal dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A cross from Zal lands.
Bilkington fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zal moves out of range of the body kick from Bilkington.
Bilkington moves out of range of the strikes.
Bilkington falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bilkington tries to clinch up

and Zal counters with a shoot takedown. Bilkington fights it but they end up in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zal throwing strikes but missing.
Zal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bilkington looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilkington is really struggling to control Zal but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Zal is fighting to break Bilkington's control of his arms but Bilkington is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Zal postures up and lands a big shot to Bilkington's brow.
Bilkington keeping moving, preventing Zal from controlling successfully.
Bilkington looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bilkington shoots in for a double leg but Zal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A punch combination from Zal misses.

Bilkington fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zal sprawls well initially but Bilkington persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zal is not content to let Bilkington control the position.
Zal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zal looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bilkington is keen to just control but Zal is a slippery customer.
Zal is looking for a sweep. Bilkington is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zal is trying to stand back up but Bilkington is controlling him
Bilkington controlling the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Zal is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Zal throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bilkington is looking to clinch but Zal is avoiding it.
Bilkington misses with a takedown attempt
and Zal counters with a nice body shot.
A swing and a miss from Zal.
Bobby Bilkington is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zal misses with a few strikes there.
Zal throws out a loose jab but Bilkington uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zal keeps the fight on the outside.
Zal stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zal wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Bilkington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zal throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A punch combination from Bilkington misses.
Zal doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A jab lands there for Zal.
Bilkington goes for a double leg but Zal avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zal continues to drive forward.

Bilkington drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bilkington is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bilkington looking to pass the guard.
Bilkington postures up.

Zal pushes Bilkington off and gets back to his feet.
Zal looks to score with a jab to the body but Bilkington is just out of range.
Some wild striking there from Zal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Zal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zal scores with a body shot.
Bilkington gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zal.
Bilkington will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bilkington tries to clinch but Zal is having none of it.
Zal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bilkington.
Bilkington misses with a two punch combination.
Bilkington scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Bilkington moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bilkington shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zal takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nick Zal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bilkington fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Bilkington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilkington slips a jab and a cross from Zal.
Zal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bilkington is looking to counter the offense by Zal and move into the clinch.
No luck for Bilkington with that takedown attempt.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Zal, as that shot connected.
Zal slaps away a takedown attempt from Bilkington, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bilkington will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bilkington fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zal avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zal throws a hook but Bilkington blocks it.
Bilkington drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zal sprawls and moves away.
Bilkington drops his hands momentarily and Zal takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Zal scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Bilkington darts in looking for a takedown but Zal gets double underhooks and turns Bilkington into the cage.
Bilkington fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zal jabs Bilkington to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Bilkington closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bilkington is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Zal lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Bilkington is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Zal.
Bilkington is looking for a counter combo.
Oh Bilkington is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bilkington fails to land with a series of punches.
Zal dips to his left and cracks Bilkington with an uppercut!
Bilkington shoots and misses
and Zal counters with a stiff right hand.
Bilkington shoots in looking for a takedown but Zal manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bilkington's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zal with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bilkington wants to clinch up but Zal keeps it at a distance.
Bilkington seems to have got his legs back now.
Zal misses with a two punch combination.
Bilkington misses with a double jab.
Bilkington misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zal thuds a left hand into Bilkington's body.
Zal scores with a jab to the head.
Nice cross by Zal.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zal leaves Bilkington with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A combination from Bilkington does no damage.
Bilkington takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A punch lands to the side of Bilkington 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Zal throws a head kick but Bilkington moves out of range.
Zal digs a good body shot into Bilkington's ribs.
Bobby Bilkington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nick Zal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zal lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Zal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zal winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Zal!
In defeat, Bobby Bilkington stepped up to the mic, saying 'You Can't win them all, the better man won tonight. Next fight i'm gonna come out twice as hungry'.