PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emory Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michal Zabijaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Franco
vs
Zabijaka

176 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emory Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michal Zabijaka!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zabijaka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Franco tries to avoid it but Zabijaka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Franco to the ground. Franco escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zabijaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franco paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Franco stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Franco wants it to stay on the feet.
A combination from Zabijaka does no damage.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zabijaka. That's going to slow Franco down.
Zabijaka connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Franco defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zabijaka.
Emory Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michal Zabijaka.

Franco moves into the clinch.

Zabijaka breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco stuffs the takedown attempt from Zabijaka. Zabijaka gets slowly back to his feet.

Franco gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco successfully pulls guard.

Zabijaka stands up from Franco's guard - Zabijaka perhaps looking for a knockout.
Zabijaka shoots in but no luck this time.
Franco is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zabijaka tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zabijaka tries to bum rush Franco with a series of wild strikes but Franco uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Franco manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zabijaka won't allow Franco to get back to his feet.
Zabijaka stopping the sweep attempt from Franco.
Zabijaka sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Franco tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Franco keeping full guard, as Zabijaka tries to pass.
Franco might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Zabijaka decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zabijaka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zabijaka wants to counter the offense by Franco and move into the clinch position.
Zabijaka lands with an overhand left.

It looks like Emory Franco has been cut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Franco is trying to break the clinch but Zabijaka is controlling him.

Zabijaka breaks from the clinch.
Zabijaka looks to land a combination but Franco avoids it well.
Franco feinted with a counter takedown.
Zabijaka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Franco circles away.
Zabijaka looks winded!
Zabijaka avoids the head kick by Franco.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch but Zabijaka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zabijaka shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zabijaka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Franco gets tackled into the cage by Zabijaka. Zabijaka maintains the clinch.

Zabijaka breaks the clinch.

Franco clinches with his opponent.
Zabijaka lands with a left to the head.
Zabijaka tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zabijaka manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zabijaka's guard.

Franco stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Emory Franco will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Emory Franco's cut.
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.

Franco misses with an attempted mid kick.
Franco tries to clinch
and Franco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Franco has closed the distance and engaged Zabijaka in a clinch.
Zabijaka fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Franco has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zabijaka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zabijaka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zabijaka prevents Franco from breaking the clinch.

Zabijaka pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zabijaka is trying to keep Franco in close.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Franco scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabijaka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Franco's guard.

Franco looking for a sweep. Not yet Franco, not yet.
Zabijaka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Zabijaka stands up and waves to Franco to follow him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zabijaka pressing his opponent against the cage.
Zabijaka is trying to pull guard but Franco has him pressed against the cage.
Emory Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michal Zabijaka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries to pull guard but Zabijaka won't allow it.
Franco is trying to force a seperation but Zabijaka has the dominant position.

Zabijaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michal Zabijaka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franco doesn't manage to clinch there - Zabijaka circles away.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zabijaka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franco tries to clinch up.
Zabijaka fails with a takedown attempt.
Zabijaka is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zabijaka.
Franco stuffs the takedown.
A head kick misses from Franco.
Emory Franco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Franco lands a nice hook to Zabijaka's body. Zabijaka takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Franco tries to clinch but Zabijaka moves away
and Zabijaka counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Franco tries to clinch up but Zabijaka circles away and keeps his distance.
Zabijaka tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Franco counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Zabijaka throws a head kick that Franco semi-blocks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zabijaka shoots in and drives through. Franco sprawls well.
Zabijaka blocks a head kick by Franco.
Franco tries to clinch there but Zabijaka circles away.
And Zabijaka tries to counter it with a takedown but Franco pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Zabijaka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Franco avoids it really well and circles away.
Zabijaka is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Franco wants to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zabijaka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Zabijaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Emory Franco's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

No luck for Zabijaka with that takedown attempt.
Zabijaka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Franco circles away.
A head kick misses from Zabijaka.

Zabijaka moves into the clinch successfully.
Zabijaka is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Franco gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Emory Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michal Zabijaka.
Franco tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Franco is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zabijaka trying to stall but Franco improves his position.
Franco tries to pull guard but Zabijaka forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Franco is working for takedown but Zabijaka is calmly controlling the position for now.
Zabijaka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabijaka misses with a knee to the head.
Franco is trying to pull guard but Zabijaka turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Franco has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Zabijaka regains guard immediately.
Zabijaka managing to control the position.
Michal Zabijaka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Franco wants to stand and escape but instead Zabijaka has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Franco keeping moving, preventing Zabijaka from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zabijaka stays in close to Franco's body and controls the position.
Franco can't keep his opponent in guard - Zabijaka advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zabijaka controlling the pace.
Franco scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Zabijaka manages to mount him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zabijaka controlling the position easily from mount.
Franco has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco is keeping busy.

Zabijaka is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Franco has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Franco trying to get back to his feet but Zabijaka is in full control for now.
Franco manages to reverse the position and now he's in Zabijaka's guard. Nice work there by Franco.

Franco decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Zabijaka, up you get!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zabijaka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Franco crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Zabijaka - the referee stops the clock and Franco gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Zabijaka. Franco manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Zabijaka throws a head kick that Franco semi-blocks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michal Zabijaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zabijaka has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michal Zabijaka!