PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emiliano Zapata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Bowen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bobby Bowen told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Zapata
vs
Bowen

189 cm
21
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emiliano Zapata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bobby Bowen!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zapata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bowen takes one to the chin there.
Zapata misses with a double jab.
Bowen feints the counter takedown.
Zapata lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bowen's sensitive parts.
Bowen has a takedown stuffed.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zapata.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zapata works over Bowen's head and body with a nice combination.
Emiliano Zapata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zapata scores with a leg kick.
Zapata fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bowen.
Zapata tries to score with a low kick but Bowen moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata connects with a solid leg kick.
Zapata throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Bowen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Bowen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zapata catches Bowen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bowen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bowen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Bowen shoots in looking for a takedown. Zapata tries to sprawl out of it but Bowen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zapata manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zapata connects with a leg kick. Bowen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Bowen shoots and misses

and Zapata moves into the clinch.
Emiliano Zapata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Bowen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zapata manages to break the clinch.
That kick from Zapata tenderised Bowen's leg. Bowen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nice sprawl there from Zapata as Bowen shoots in.
Zapata thows a body kick. Bowen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zapata misses with a double jab.
Emiliano Zapata is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bowen 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.
Zapata fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bowen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zapata comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zapata throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Bowen tries to clinch up but Zapata circles away and keeps his distance.
Zapata lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowen dives in for a single leg takedown but Zapata sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zapata throws a nice head kick!

Nice combo by Zapata! Oh, that's hurt him - Bowen falls to the canvas and Zapata follows him into side control.

Bowen is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bowen is looking to regain half guard here but Zapata keeps moving and retains side control.
Zapata wants to stand but Bowen has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Zapata throws a strike but Bowen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bowen with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowen looking to pass the guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Bowen drops back looking for a leg! Zapata is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zapata manages to kick Bowen off! Bowen jumps back into Zapata's guard.
Bowen postures up.
Bowen looking to sit in guard and control but Zapata gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emiliano Zapata dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bowen shoots in but no luck this time.
Zapata misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Bowen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zapata, pushing him back against the cage.

Bowen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Zapata seems keen to control Bowen's posture.
Zapata on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zapata tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bowen trying to control the position from guard on top but Zapata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bowen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Zapata knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bowen on the ground.
Zapata is looking to stand up but Bowen isn't so interested in that idea.
Bowen trying to control the position from guard on top but Zapata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bowen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zapata counters with a left and a right that stings Bowen.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bowen crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Zapata - the referee stops the clock and Bowen gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Zapata. Bowen manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Zapata throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bowen.
Bowen fails with a takedown attempt.
Emiliano Zapata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Bowen.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Zapata. Bowen shrugs it off though.
Bowen is breathing heavily.
Zapata dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zapata goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Bowen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zapata turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zapata closes the distance and clinches.
Zapata is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bowen can do to turn this around?
Zapata works on Bowen's body with a couple of short punches.
Zapata lands a good knee to the midsection. Bowen won't want to take too many of those.
I was talking to Zapata's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Zapata breaks the clinch.
Bowen dives in for a single leg takedown but Zapata sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zapata throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Emiliano Zapata is winning the standup battle so far.
Zapata lands with a nice body punch.
A shot to the liver by Zapata. Beautiful body shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zapata.

Oooh a lovely combination from Zapata sends Bowen down but not out. Zapata dives into side control looking to finish.
Bowen is still in real trouble! Can Zapata finish him?

That's four 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!

Zapata stands up.
Zapata is looking to wear down Bowen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Zapata fakes the body blow, causing Bowen to drop his hands! Left hook to the temple! Bowen goes stiff, and falls face first into the mat. Goodnight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Emiliano Zapata!
A victorious Emiliano Zapata thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.