PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rayford Zimmerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alessio Preziosi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alessio Preziosi has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rayford Zimmerman's chin.

Zimmerman
vs
Preziosi

172 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
183 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rayford Zimmerman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alessio Preziosi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zimmerman tries to clinch but Preziosi moves out of range.
Preziosi looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Preziosi gets a double leg takedown into Zimmerman's guard.
Zimmerman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zimmerman throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Zimmerman pulls Preziosi in to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zimmerman pushes Preziosi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Preziosi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zimmerman jumps guard.
Zimmerman has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Preziosi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zimmerman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Preziosi is one step ahead there.
Preziosi being controlled here momentarily.
Zimmerman continues to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zimmerman wants to get back to his feet but Preziosi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Zimmerman trying to strike off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zimmerman looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zimmerman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Zimmerman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Preziosi keeps control of Zimmerman as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zimmerman jumps guard.

Zimmerman has his feet on Preziosi's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Zimmerman gets a clinch.
Zimmerman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Preziosi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Preziosi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zimmerman is in close to Preziosi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zimmerman postures up in Preziosi's guard and throws a big left but Preziosi blocks it.
Zimmerman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zimmerman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zimmerman scoring with some ground and pound.
Zimmerman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zimmerman throwing strikes from guard but Preziosi blocks nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Preziosi can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Zimmerman gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Zimmerman lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Preziosi at a distance.
Preziosi circles away from the clinch attempt.

Zimmerman clinches with his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zimmerman pulls guard effortlessly.
Preziosi stopping the sweep attempt from Zimmerman.

Zimmerman has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Preziosi off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Preziosi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rayford Zimmerman dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zimmerman closes the distance and clinches.
Zimmerman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Preziosi to keep the fight standing.
Zimmerman lands an uppercut.

Zimmerman pulls guard.
Zimmerman throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Zimmerman pushes Preziosi off and gets back to his feet.

Zimmerman darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Zimmerman thows a huge punch but Preziosi dodges it nicely.
Preziosi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimmerman is nestled in close to Preziosi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Preziosi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zimmerman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zimmerman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zimmerman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Zimmerman working over Preziosi with some ground and pound. Preziosi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zimmerman lands a nice short elbow.
Zimmerman controlling the action here.
Zimmerman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zimmerman thows a huge punch but Preziosi dodges it nicely.
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.
Zimmerman scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Preziosi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zimmerman scores with a couple of nice shots.
Zimmerman working over Preziosi with some ground and pound. Preziosi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zimmerman slips a nice elbow through Preziosi's hands, connecting with Preziosi's forehead.
Preziosi has hold of Zimmerman's hands but Zimmerman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Zimmerman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Preziosi can do to turn this around?
Zimmerman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rayford Zimmerman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Preziosi is trying to control but can't.
Zimmerman is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Preziosi felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Preziosi defending well though.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Zimmerman tries for a takedown but Preziosi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Alessio Preziosi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zimmerman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zimmerman looks to land a combination. Preziosi sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Zimmerman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zimmerman connects with a body shot.
Rayford Zimmerman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Zimmerman has closed the distance and engaged Preziosi in a clinch.
Zimmerman jumps guard but Preziosi stands there with Zimmerman around his waist. Zimmerman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rayford Zimmerman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zimmerman jumps into guard, dragging Preziosi to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zimmerman has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Preziosi off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Preziosi keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zimmerman is defended easily by Preziosi.

Preziosi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Preziosi throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Zimmerman jumps guard and drags Preziosi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rayford Zimmerman dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Zimmerman doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Preziosi counters with a two punch combo.

Zimmerman fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Preziosi sprawls well initially but Zimmerman persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Zimmerman.
Preziosi tries to get to full guard but Zimmerman has control of the leg.

Zimmerman decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Zimmerman wants to clinch up but Preziosi keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zimmerman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Preziosi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Preziosi is looking for the big counter here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zimmerman rushes Preziosi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zimmerman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Preziosi to keep the fight standing.
Zimmerman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Preziosi smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rayford Zimmerman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimmerman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Preziosi only half commits to the counter leg kick.

Preziosi drives through with a takedown into Zimmerman's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Zimmerman manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Zimmerman jumps guard but Preziosi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Zimmerman tries to pull guard but Preziosi won't allow it.
Zimmerman tries to pull guard but Preziosi won't allow it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zimmerman jumps guard but Preziosi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Zimmerman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zimmerman jumps guard but Preziosi stands there with Zimmerman around his waist. Zimmerman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman is trying to break the clinch but Preziosi has him pressed against the cage.
Preziosi prevents Zimmerman from breaking the clinch.
Zimmerman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Preziosi to keep the fight standing.
Zimmerman tries to pull guard but Preziosi holds him up against the cage and eventually Zimmerman drops back down to his feet.

Preziosi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zimmerman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Preziosi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Preziosi circles away from the clinch attempt.

Zimmerman rushes Preziosi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Preziosi being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman tries to pull guard but Preziosi won't allow it.

Preziosi pulls guard effortlessly.

Zimmerman decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Preziosi, up you get!

Zimmerman has closed the distance and engaged Preziosi in a clinch.

Zimmerman jumps guard and drags Preziosi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Zimmerman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zimmerman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zimmerman throws a big elbow that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zimmerman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Preziosi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Preziosi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zimmerman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Preziosi has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Zimmerman has passed into side control.
Preziosi pushes Zimmerman away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Zimmerman gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Alessio Preziosi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rayford Zimmerman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zimmerman creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rayford Zimmerman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zimmerman, 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rayford Zimmerman!