PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Zena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Babis Valyras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zena
vs
Valyras

210 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Zena!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Babis Valyras!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valyras fails with a takedown attempt.
Valyras shoots in and drives through. Zena sprawls well.
Zena really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Valyras drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zena trying to control the position here.
Zena looking for a sweep. Not yet Zena, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valyras missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zena not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zena is wriggling around but Valyras manages to pass to half guard.
Zena is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zena actively working from the bottom here.
Valyras prevents Zena from standing back up.
Zena works his way to full guard. Good work.
Valyras stops Zena from standing up.
Zena lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Valyras looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zena is one step ahead there.
Zena advances to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valyras trying to control from the bottom.
Valyras is refusing to be controlled, as Zena sits in half guard.
Zena will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Valyras wants to control but Zena is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zena content to control rather than advance.
Zena tries to pass to full mount but Valyras defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valyras controlling the position well.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Zena sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zena doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Valyras counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Zena shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Valyras's guard.
Valyras is wriggling around but Zena manages to pass to half guard.

Valyras throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zena trying to control the pace.
Zena is trying to control. Valyras wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zena looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Zena has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Valyras works to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zena pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Valyras is keeping the position for now.

Valyras throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that John Zena will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zena moves into the clinch.
Zena lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Valyras backwards.
Zena is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A right hook to the body lands for Valyras.

Valyras decides to pull guard.
Zena controls from within his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zena accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zena accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
John Zena overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valyras has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zena can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zena slips nicely into half guard.
Valyras is looking to control Zena's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Valyras avoid being mounted?
Zena is looking to take a break and control but Valyras is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zena passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Zena is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.

Zena jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Valyras manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Valyras is looking for a sweep.

Zena is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Valyras has escaped the position, nice work there.
Valyras is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valyras is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Valyras taking a bit of punishment here - Zena scoring with strikes.
Zena is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
You can see the frustration on Valyras's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Valyras throws Zena to one side and escapes!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zena keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Zena takes the fight into the clinch.
Valyras has Zena pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zena manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
John Zena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Babis Valyras.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Zena.
Valyras has had enough of the clinch but Zena keeps him there for the moment.
Valyras wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Valyras fails to pull guard.

Zena turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Zena manages to end up in side control.
Valyras tries to bench press Zena off him but Zena keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Zena dominated that second round.
That's time! Zena's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zena pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Zena clinches with his opponent.

Zena decides to pull guard.
Valyras trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zena trying to strike off his back.

Zena is looking for a triangle but Valyras pushes his legs off easily.

Valyras gets to his feet. Zena looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valyras shoots in looking for a takedown. Zena tries to sprawl out of it but Valyras keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zena manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Zena shoots in and gets a takedown into Valyras's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zena is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Valyras not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Valyras keeping moving, preventing Zena from controlling successfully.
Zena slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zena stopping the sweep attempt from Valyras.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Zena gets a takedown into half guard.

Zena decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valyras is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zena throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Valyras's waist but Valyras gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zena off to one side.
John Zena is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zena moves out of range of the leg kick from Valyras.
Zena seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Zena tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Valyras was well out of range. Poor timing from Zena.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zena pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Valyras is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Valyras swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Valyras gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zena to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Valyras pushes Zena off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valyras changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zena tries to avoid it but Valyras manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zena to the ground. Zena escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Valyras is looking to clinch.
Valyras moves to clinch but Zena breaks away

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

Valyras explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zena tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Zena throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Valyras was covering up waiting for the punch and Zena finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Valyras manages to escape and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Babis Valyras comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zena has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for John Zena!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Babis Valyras!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for John Zena!

John Zena wins by split decision!