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). Rodolfo Gusman is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Zarco
vs
Gusman

172 cm
26
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
44
186 lbs
23 - 20 - 1

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonio Zarco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 20 - 1, fighting out of London, Rodolfo Gusman!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gusman motions for Zarco to come forward. Gusman throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gusman with a hook.
Gusman moves out of range as Zarco throws a body kick.
Gusman connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zarco's hands.
Zarco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've been told by Zarco's head coaches at LOD: Top Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Zarco ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gusman is looking to score with low kicks.
Gusman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zarco tries to counter with a takedown but Gusman is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gusman throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zarco appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Zarco steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gusman.
Zarco feinted with a counter takedown.
Gusman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zarco feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusman throws a lazy right hand but Zarco sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gusman scores with a spinning back kick!
A punch lands to the side of Gusman 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Gusman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gusman throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zarco moves out of range of the strikes.
Gusman missing with a left hand there. Zarco was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gusman moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice defenses there by Zarco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusman throws the left hand but Zarco avoids the punch easily.
Gusman on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Gusman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zarco motions for Gusman to come forward. Zarco throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gusman looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gusman slips a straight right by Zarco.
Gusman looks to throw the jab but Zarco is out of range.
Zarco appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gusman scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gusman misses with the combination.
Zarco attempts a counter takedown but Gusman avoids it well and moves away.
Zarco looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zarco was well out of range. Poor timing from Gusman.
Gusman misses with a wild body shot.
Gusman tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zarco has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Gusman.
Rodolfo Gusman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gusman throws a head kick but Zarco moves out of range.
Zarco connects with a crisp jab.
Gusman slips a straight right by Zarco.
Gusman only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Gusman missing with a left hand there. Zarco was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gusman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zarco tries to counter with a takedown but Gusman is quick to defend against it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusman fails to land the takedown.
Zarco appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gusman looks to land a left hand but Zarco moved out of range nicely.
Nice straight punches there by Zarco. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zarco.
Gusman misses with a wild body shot.
Zarco blocks a leg kick.

Zarco feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gusman tries to strike from the bottom.
Zarco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gusman is keeping the position for now.
Zarco has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodolfo Gusman dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gusman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gusman blocks a low kick nicely.
A swing and a miss from Gusman.
Gusman is looking to slow Zarco down with leg kicks.
Gusman misses with a wild combination.
Zarco throws a right hand that misses
and Gusman counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gusman loads up on a big right hand but Zarco slips the punch.
Gusman connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zarco momentarily.
Gusman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zarco connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusman does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gusman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zarco throws a leg kick that is checked
and Gusman counters with a leg kick.
Zarco scores with a body shot.
Rodolfo Gusman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gusman takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Gusman is rocked!
Gusman swings for the body but Zarco moves out of range.
Zarco tries to counter with a takedown but Gusman is quick to defend against it.
Gusman looks to score with a jab to the body but Zarco is just out of range.
Zarco appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gusman takes a swing at Zarco's ribcage but misses.
Zarco feinted with a counter takedown.
Gusman misses with a leg kick.
Zarco changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gusman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zarco changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zarco but Zarco pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zarco lands a jab to Gusman's midsection.
Gusman throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zarco scores with a shot to the body.

Zarco tries to keep at a distance but Gusman has taken the fight into the clinch.
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!
Gusman blocks the elbow strike.
Zarco is working for takedown but Gusman is calmly controlling the position for now.
Zarco has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gusman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusman misses with the head strike.
Gusman trying to stall but Zarco improves his position.
Zarco trying to control the position but instead, Gusman has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zarco into the ropes.
Zarco lands a right hand.
Zarco lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Gusman has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zarco after a bit of a struggle.
Antonio Zarco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodolfo Gusman.
Zarco is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gusman lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zarco.
Gusman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zarco effectively controlling the action here.
Zarco misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Zarco.
Zarco pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Zarco lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Rodolfo Gusman has been cut.
Gusman throws a punch but it's blocked by Zarco.
Zarco comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gusman is still on wobbly legs! Can Zarco finish him?
Gusman is trying to drag Zarco to the mat but Zarco just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Gusman seems to have recovered his senses.
Zarco pushes Gusman back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gusman stalling against the ropes.
Gusman displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zarco up against the ropes.
The crowd are getting on Gusman's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Zarco tries to stall but Gusman uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Zarco dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rodolfo Gusman's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gusman throws a lazy right hand but Zarco sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gusman cracks Zarco with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gusman throws a chopping leg kick but Zarco manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Zarco feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Gusman sprawling to the canvas! Gusman rolls over backwards and springs off the ropes and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Zarco finish him?!
Gusman fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Zarco is out of range.
Zarco thumps Gusman with a low kick.
Gusman sizes up Zarco with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
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!
A slow jab from Gusman misses its intended target.
Zarco attempts a counter takedown but Gusman avoids it well and moves away.
Gusman misses with a two punch combination.
Gusman swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zarco.
Zarco lands with a nice body punch.
Zarco lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gusman's sensitive parts.
Gusman scores with a leg kick.
Zarco looks to land a right hand but Gusman moved out of range.
Gusman connects with a leg kick. Zarco looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Gusman misses with a head kick.
Gusman misses with a hook. Zarco ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarco rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gusman counters with a straight right hand.
Gusman throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zarco stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Zarco scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zarco just misses with a punch to the body.
Gusman throws a body punch but Zarco moves out of range.
Zarco dodges the punch combination from Gusman.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zarco blocks a head kick by Gusman.
Gusman moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusman throws a leg kick but Zarco checks it.
Gusman on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Zarco checks a low kick from Gusman.
Zarco tries to counter with a takedown but Gusman is quick to defend against it.
Gusman throws a body punch but Zarco moves out of range.
Zarco walks into a jab.
Zarco bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Zarco bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zarco blocks a leg kick.
Zarco feinted with a counter takedown.
Gusman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusman looks to land a left hand but Zarco moved out of range nicely.
Gusman is looking to land body kicks.

Zarco cracks Gusman with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Gusman looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Zarco finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zarco fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Gusman walks straight into a right hand from Zarco - that's dropped him! Zarco jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Gusman from any more punishment! Gusman complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Antonio Zarco!
Antonio Zarco was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.