PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Al Capone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nader Zaidan (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.

Capone
vs
Zaidan

175 cm
22
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Al Capone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nader Zaidan!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Felipe Paraventi and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Capone shoots in for a double leg but Zaidan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Zaidan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Zaidan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Capone keeps working.
Capone throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Capone tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Capone is not content to let Zaidan control the position.
Zaidan in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Zaidan trying to control the action but Capone is working from the bottom.
Capone misses with an elbow from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaidan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Capone keeps working.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zaidan tries to clinch up.
Zaidan misses with a takedown

and Capone counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Capone landing some decent shots from guard.
Capone wants to control from the top but Zaidan keeps moving.
Capone connects with a couple of short punches.
Zaidan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Capone. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Zaidan has his foot on Capone's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Capone works his way back into a safe position though.
Capone postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Capone accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Capone distracts Zaidan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Capone could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Capone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Capone 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Capone accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Capone might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zaidan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Capone.
Zaidan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Capone controls the pace.

Zaidan looking for a guillotine here but Capone defends easily.
Zaidan looks gassed!
Capone working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Capone preventing the sweep.
Zaidan working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Capone scoring with some ground and pound.
Capone postures up in Zaidan's guard and throws a big left but Zaidan blocks it.
Capone controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Capone postures up and lands a big shot to Zaidan's brow.
Capone throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zaidan has momentary wrist control but Capone slips an elbow through the middle.
Capone showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Capone scoring with some ground and pound.
Zaidan keeping full guard, as Capone tries to pass.
Capone lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaidan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Capone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Capone trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaidan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Capone with a flurry of punches that miss.
Capone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zaidan is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Capone shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Capone showed some decent athleticism there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Capone dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A jab lands there for Zaidan.

Zaidan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Capone can't do much from the bottom here.
Capone manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Zaidan is looking to improve his position.
Capone trying to mount his opponent but Zaidan defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaidan wants to improve his position but Capone is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Capone takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zaidan wants to get back to his feet.

Capone is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Capone working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Capone seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Capone wants to control but Zaidan is keeping him busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zaidan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zaidan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Capone works over Zaidan with some ground and pound from guard.
Capone working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zaidan wants to stand up but Capone is controlling him.
Capone scoring with punches to the head and body.
Capone working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Capone is working Zaidan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Capone working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zaidan's head.
Zaidan controls Capone momentarily but Capone frees himself.
Zaidan is pulling down on Capone's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Capone postures up and lands a big shot to Zaidan's brow.
Zaidan looking for a sweep. Not yet Zaidan, not yet.
Capone distracts Zaidan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Capone stopping the sweep attempt from Zaidan.
Capone working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Capone scoring with punches to the head and body.
Capone chips away with some ground and pound.
Capone trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Capone trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zaidan goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Capone misses with a takedown attempt
and Zaidan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Zaidan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Capone to the mat! Capone manages to get full guard.
Zaidan stopping the sweep attempt from Capone.
Capone throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Zaidan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Capone thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Capone wants to sweep here but Zaidan controlling him for the moment.
Zaidan scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nader Zaidan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Capone's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zaidan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Capone counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Capone stopping the sweep attempt from Zaidan.
Capone lands a couple of elbows.
Capone postures up.
Capone is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zaidan has momentary wrist control but Capone slips an elbow through the middle.

Zaidan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Capone works over Zaidan with some ground and pound from guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Capone trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaidan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Capone looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Capone is pushing down on Zaidan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zaidan is fighting to maintain full guard but Capone has managed to sneak the leg through.
Zaidan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Capone wants to take a breather but Zaidan is having none of it.
Capone scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Zaidan taking some punishment here, with Capone in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Capone working the head and body with strikes.
Al Capone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Zaidan looking for submissions off his back.
Zaidan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Capone.
Zaidan looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Capone shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Zaidan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Capone putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Capone with shots to the head and body - Zaidan looks very uncomfortable down there.
Zaidan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zaidan is trying to escape the mount.
Capone landing strikes from the mount and Zaidan is in trouble!
Zaidan is in all sorts of trouble here.
BOOM! Capone connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four 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.
Capone lands a heavy elbow.
Zaidan taking shots to the head.
Zaidan flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Capone cracks Zaidan with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Capone scoring with strikes but Zaidan is staying in there.
Zaidan is trying to escape the mount.
Zaidan tries to lock up and control but Capone gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zaidan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Zaidan tries to hold on but Capone postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Al Capone showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Capone 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Al Capone!