PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nick Zal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shino Ohio (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.

Zal
vs
Ohio

170 cm
28
152 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

200 cm
25
150 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Zal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shino Ohio!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jonathan Paton and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ohio drives through and clinches with Zal against the cage.
Zal dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Zal struggles to land a body shot inside as Ohio controls his hands.
Ohio looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Zal tries a body shot but Ohio blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Zal fails to land.
Ohio is looking to break free of the clinch but Zal has double underhooks.
Zal doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A nice left hand lands by Ohio.
Zal throws a head punch that misses.
Zal has a couple of punches blocked by Ohio.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zal tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zal keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ohio's efforts to push away.
Ohio is trying to force a seperation but Zal has the dominant position.
Zal misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zal tries to work over Ohio's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zal doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ohio blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ohio working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Zal tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ohio has had enough of the clinch but Zal keeps him there for the moment.
Zal can't find room to land a body shot as Ohio controls the action.
Zal can't find room to land a body shot as Ohio controls the action.
Zal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zal misses with some punches.
Zal slows down the pace here.
Ohio tries to break free but Zal pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ohio blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zal.
Ohio is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Zal misses with some punches.

Ohio breaks the clinch.

Ohio rushes Zal and presses him up against the cage.
Zal tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ohio's elbow.
Zal tries to work over Ohio's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zal is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ohio wants a takedown but no success here.
Zal can't find room to land a body shot as Ohio controls the action.
Zal takes an elbow to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zal lands a shoulder strike.
Zal stalls.
Zal misses with a punch on the inside.
Zal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zal lands a nice uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from Zal.
Ohio tries to break free but Zal pushes him back against the cage.
Zal doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zal doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ohio blocking some punches.
Ohio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Ohio manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ohio throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zal counters with a lovely straight right hand!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zal effectively controlling the action here.
Zal lands a shoulder strike.
Ohio blocking some punches.

Ohio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ohio takes the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zal pressing his opponent against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ohio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Zal dominated that round.
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.

Ohio has closed the distance and engaged Zal in a clinch.
Zal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ohio lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zal backwards.
Ohio blocks a body shot from Zal.
Ohio blocks a body shot from Zal.

Ohio breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zal misses the jab.
Zal misses with an uppercut. Ohio saw that one coming.

Ohio moves into the clinch successfully.
Zal tries to throw a body punch but Ohio avoids it by throwing Zal back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zal misses with a body punch.
Zal softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Zal slowing the pace effectively.
Zal effectively controlling the action here.
Ohio blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ohio manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zal wants to control from the top but Ohio keeps moving.
Zal throws an elbow that misses. Ohio uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zal's guard. Nice move by Ohio!

Zal is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ohio is controlling him.
Zal knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ohio on the ground.
Ohio is standing up over Zal. Zal looks to escape but Ohio dives into side control.
Zal is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zal looks to move to half guard but instead Ohio has passed into mount! Damn!
Zal gets back to half guard.
Ohio with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Zal trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zal has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Ohio is on him like a limpet, forcing Zal back against the cage.
Zal misses with a body punch.
Zal lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ohio backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zal misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zal misses with a body punch.
Zal tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Come on Zal - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Zal throws a head punch that misses.
Zal is working Ohio over against the cage.
Ohio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zal misses with a punch to the body.
Ohio is trying to pull guard but Zal has him pressed against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Zal as the two fighters clinch.
Zal tries a body shot but Ohio blocks it.
Stalling in the clinch from Zal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zal presses Ohio against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Zal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Zal gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Zal might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zal has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zal throws a big elbow that misses.
Ohio wants to stand and escape but Zal is having none of it.
Zal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zal postures up in Ohio's guard and throws a big left but Ohio blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zal throws a strike but Ohio rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ohio chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zal looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ohio puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Zal dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Zal tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ohio manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Ohio closes the distance and clinches.
Zal pressing his opponent against the cage.
Zal lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zal struggles to land a body shot inside as Ohio controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zal.
Zal is looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zal softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Zal will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ohio up against the cage.
Zal tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ohio's elbow.
Nick Zal has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zal swings wildly with an uppercut but Ohio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zal misses with a punch to the body.

Ohio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shino Ohio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zal throws a series of punches but Ohio avoids them all with ease.
Ohio changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Ohio gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zal trying to control the position but instead, Ohio has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zal into the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zal.
Ohio wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ohio jumps guard but Zal turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zal misses with a body punch.
Ohio is trying to break the clinch but Zal is controlling him.
Zal misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ohio blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zal misses with some punches.
Zal swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zal is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ohio blocking some punches.
Ohio blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zal throws a punch but it's blocked by Ohio.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zal working aggressively here.
Zal working aggressively here.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zal - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zal misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zal lands with a short shot to the head.
Zal trying to stall but Ohio improves his position.
Ohio has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zal swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zal can't find room to land a body shot as Ohio controls the action.
Zal lands with a short shot to the head.
Ohio jumps guard but Zal turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Zal tries a body shot but Ohio blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ohio blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zal misses with a punch to the body.
Zal can't find room to land a body shot as Ohio controls the action.
Zal misses with a punch on the inside.
Zal dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ohio tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zal just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nick Zal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shino Ohio.
Zal avoiding damage.
Zal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A left hand lands to the body for Zal.
Shino Ohio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nick Zal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zal struggles to land a body shot inside as Ohio controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Zal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zal, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Zal!
In defeat, Shino Ohio stepped up to the mic, saying 'i just have to train harder always training for the belt'.