PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentino Zamora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rumble Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zamora
vs
Johnson

189 cm
21
212 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
210 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Valentino Zamora!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rumble Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zamora takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zamora drops down looking for a counter takedown but Johnson sprawls and moves away.
Johnson misses with a hook. Zamora ducked under it nicely.
Zamora half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Zamora uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Johnson throws a hook but Zamora avoids it easily.
Johnson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zamora checks it well.
Zamora walks into a left hand.
Johnson throws a combination. Zamora tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Valentino Zamora has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zamora slips a straight right by Johnson.
Zamora changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Johnson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Johnson jabs at Zamora's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands a lovely overhand right.
Johnson lands a jab-cross combination.
Zamora dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zamora checks a leg kick.
Johnson misses with a leg kick.
Zamora drops down looking for a counter takedown but Johnson sprawls and moves away.
Johnson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Johnson scores with a jab to the jaw.
A thudding body kick lands there by Johnson!
Johnson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Zamora decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Zamora manages to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson is trying to escape back to his feet but Zamora uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Zamora stands up and beckons Johnson to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johnson. Zamora does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zamora feinted with a counter takedown.
Zamora on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Zamora moves away and avoids it.
Zamora drops down looking for a counter takedown but Johnson sprawls and moves away.
Zamora uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Zamora tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Zamora attempts a counter takedown but Johnson avoids it well and moves away.
Zamora gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Johnson lands a nice hook to Zamora's body. Zamora takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Johnson stalks Zamora and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Zamora's face. Zamora staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zamora half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Zamora sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zamora feinted with a counter takedown.
Zamora uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
Zamora drops down looking for a counter takedown but Johnson sprawls and moves away.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zamora moves away.
Johnson just misses with a punch to the body.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zamora appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zamora manages to avoid it.
Zamora tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
Johnson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Zamora counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zamora.
Zamora is standing up over Johnson. Johnson looks to escape but Zamora dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rumble Johnson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Valentino Zamora's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson misses with a two punch combination.
Zamora feinted with a counter takedown.
Rumble Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zamora circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson swinging wildly here.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zamora counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.

Zamora has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Johnson lands a slapping body shot.
Johnson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Zamora appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Johnson catches Zamora right on the button with a cross.
Rumble Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zamora manages to avoid it.
Zamora half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Zamora feinted with a counter takedown.
Johnson misses with a body punch

and Zamora counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Johnson!
Johnson tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Johnson trying to get back to his feet but Zamora is in full control for now.
Johnson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zamora has decided that he can't make progress quickly enough from the back position and has rather unusually decided to stand up from the dominant position. Obviously he's going to be looking for the knockout on the feet here!
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zamora decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Johnson's guard.
Johnson is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Zamora dives into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Johnson is looking to get back to his feet here but Zamora is keeping cool and he's managed to take Johnson's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Zamora controlling the positon.
Johnson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Zamora controlling from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Johnson trying to get back to his feet but Zamora is in full control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zamora biding his time, controlling Johnson.
Johnson trying to get back to his feet but Zamora is in full control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Valentino Zamora will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Valentino Zamora's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zamora staying out of range there.
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zamora steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnson.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
Zamora appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Johnson misses with a looping left.
Zamora half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A nice combination there by Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson scores with a hook.
Johnson throws a looping overhand right but Zamora ducks down to avoid it.
Zamora attempts a counter takedown but Johnson avoids it well and moves away.
Zamora uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands a two punch combo.
Johnson throws a nice looking combination but Zamora bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A lazy left from Johnson finds it's target.
Johnson misses the jab.
Zamora attempts a counter takedown but Johnson avoids it well and moves away.
Valentino Zamora is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson throws a poor cross that misses

and Zamora counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Zamora stands up from Johnson's guard - Zamora perhaps looking for a knockout.
Johnson throws an off balance right hand

and Zamora counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zamora.
Johnson is looking to stand back up but Zamora counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zamora prevents Johnson from standing back up.
Johnson tries to kick Zamora off in order to stand up. Zamora Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Zamora decides to stand back up. Zamora steps back and let's Johnson get back to his feet.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Zamora's shoulder, as Zamora tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson takes a swing at Zamora's ribcage but misses.
Zamora slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Zamora counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.

Zamora decides to stand back up.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zamora dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
A bone on bone clash there as Zamora blocks the leg kick.
Zamora feinted with a counter takedown.
Zamora takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zamora drops down looking for a counter takedown but Johnson sprawls and moves away.
Rumble Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson throws a right hand that misses

and Zamora counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson is wriggling around but Zamora manages to pass to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zamora decides to stand and escape the position.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Zamora's shoulder, as Zamora tries to avoid the shot.
Zamora half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zamoras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Zamora tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
A big left from Johnson misses.
Zamora half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zamora.
Zamora half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zamora circles away quickly and effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rumble Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johnson 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rumble Johnson!
In his post fight interview, Rumble Johnson started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.