PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emiliano Zapata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hi Ken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zapata's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, EINA. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Zapata
vs
Ken

189 cm
22
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
184 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emiliano Zapata!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hi Ken!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ken tries to keep at a distance but Zapata has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ken misses with a body punch.
Ken struggles to land a body shot inside as Zapata controls his hands.
Ken lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zapata or not.
Ken wants to break free but Zapata has control.
A knee to the head by Zapata.

It looks like Hi Ken has been cut.
A short uppercut from Ken.

It looks like Emiliano Zapata has been cut.

Zapata tightens his grip and picks Ken up, before dumping him to the ground. Ken manages to land in guard.
Zapata wants to pass the guard but Ken is keeping the position.
Zapata passes Ken's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zapata prevents Ken from standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zapata is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Zapata is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zapata decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Ken looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ken throws a combination that misses
and Zapata counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Zapata throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ken steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Zapata. That one must have hurt.
Zapata moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ken throws a sloppy head kick and Zapata moves out of range easily.
Ken jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Zapata rushes Ken and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ken presses Zapata against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ken goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zapata gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Zapata scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zapata thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zapata works his foot free and advances to mount.
Zapata scoring with strikes but Ken is staying in there.
Zapata tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Zapata has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Ken is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Emiliano Zapata!
Emiliano Zapata retains his middleweight title!
Emiliano Zapata seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.