PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Troy Morningstar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heliodoro Zuberi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Heliodoro Zuberi has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Morningstar
vs
Zuberi

157 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Troy Morningstar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Heliodoro Zuberi!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morningstar throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Zuberi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zuberi passes Morningstar's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Zuberi wants to pass to mount but Morningstar is defending the position.
Morningstar has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zuberi is working away from the top position though.
Zuberi passes to side control.
Morningstar is trying to control Zuberi's posture but Zuberi avoids it.

Zuberi tries for a kimura but Morningstar is defending well.
Zuberi tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zuberi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Morningstar managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zuberi.
Zuberi tries to advance to mount but can't.
Zuberi works to advance to full mount. Morningstar defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Zuberi wants to take his opponent's back but Morningstar doesn't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Morningstar blocking the ground and pound.
Zuberi in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Zuberi is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Morningstar has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Zuberi jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Morningstar is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Morningstar and Zuberi has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Zuberi advances nicely into full mount.
Morningstar wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Zuberi.
Morningstar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morningstar tries to reverse the position but Zuberi maintains control.
Morningstar knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zuberi on the ground.
Morningstar tries to hold on but Zuberi postures up.
Zuberi looking to ground and pound but Morningstar is blocking nicely.

Zuberi is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Morningstar can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zuberi lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Morningstar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zuberi landing strikes from the mount and Morningstar is in trouble!

It looks like Troy Morningstar has been cut.
Morningstar is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuberi misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Zuberi looking for a guillotine from mount but Morningstar is having none of it.

Zuberi working for a submission but Morningstar is keeping him at bay.

Zuberi working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zuberi is working for a guillotine from mount but Morningstar frees his head quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heliodoro Zuberi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Troy Morningstar's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zuberi fails with the takedown.

Zuberi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Zuberi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Morningstar is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Morningstar has escaped and now he's on top!
Morningstar tries to free his leg and advance position but Zuberi is retaining full guard.
Zuberi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Morningstar puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Zuberi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuberi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zuberi.
Zuberi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Morningstar trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuberi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zuberi looking for a guillotine here but Morningstar defends easily.
Morningstar has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Zuberi had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Morningstar is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Zuberi Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Morningstar's back instead.
Zuberi lands punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morningstar wants to escape the position.

Zuberi is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Morningstar with him. Morningstar is trying to defend but Zuberi has an arm under the chin now! Morningstar grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Heliodoro Zuberi!