PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Giovanni Charles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bal Zak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Charles
vs
Zak

175 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Giovanni Charles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bal Zak!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zak shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Charles has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zak is working away from the top position though.
Zak not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zak controlling the action here.

Zak postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Charles to stand up.
Charles misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Charles tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Charles closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zak's guard.

Zak pushes Charles off and scrambles back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zak scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zak drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zak is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zak trying to control the position from guard on top but Charles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zak not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Zak drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zak jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Charles keeping moving, preventing Zak from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zak chips away with some ground and pound.
Charles seems keen to control Zak's posture.
Zak advances to half guard.
Zak sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Charles is refusing to be controlled, as Zak sits in half guard.
Charles tries to get to full guard but Zak has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zak is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zak prevents Charles from improving his position.
Still in half guard, Zak seems content to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A chopping leg kick lands by Charles.

Zak drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zak controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zak slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zak tries to score with some ground and pound. Charles controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Zak throws an elbow but Charles slips to the side and avoids it well.
Zak advances to mount.
Charles can't escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zak throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Charles is trying desperately to improve position.
Zak thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bal Zak dominated that round.
That's time! Charles's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Good work by Zak as he checks the leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Zak. No joy for Charles on that attempt.
Charles shoots for a takedown but Zak saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Zak bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Zak wants to lay and pray for a moment but Charles keeps working.
Charles is trying to improve his position.
Charles parries the strikes from Zak easily there. Zak is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Charles to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zak stands up.

Zak has closed the distance and engaged Charles in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zak breaks the clinch.

Zak looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Charles!
Zak has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zak slows the pace down.

Zak stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Zak throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Zak feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Charles working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zak doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zak manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zak has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zak wants to stand and escape but instead Charles has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Zak will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Charles stopping the sweep attempt from Zak.

Zak is looking for a triangle but Charles pushes his legs off easily.
Charles is stalling in the full guard.
Zak keeping moving, preventing Charles from controlling successfully.
Charles is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Bal Zak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zak looking to hit a scissor sweep but Charles is one step ahead there.
Zak pulls Charles in close to prevent any damage.
Charles trying to control but Zak is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Zak decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

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.
Charles wants to get back to full guard.

Zak postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Charles to stand up.

Zak closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Zak prevents Charles from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Charles wants to control but Zak passes into side.
Charles sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bal Zak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zak fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Charles sprawls well initially but Zak persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zak trying to control the action but Charles is working from the bottom.
Charles avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zak.
Zak not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Charles gets back to full guard.
Zak throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Charles works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zak trying to control the position from guard on top but Charles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zak throwing strikes from guard but Charles blocks nicely.
Zak showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zak is continuing to stall.
Zak works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zak is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Charles reverses the position - he's now on top in Zak's guard.
Charles sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Charles trying to control the position from guard on top but Zak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles wants to stand but Zak has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zak looking to control.
Zak wants to sweep here but Charles controlling him for the moment.
Zak has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Charles trying to control but Zak is working from the bottom.
Charles wants to get up but he can't break Zak's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zak looking to score a takedown here. Charles is defending well but Zak drives through and ends up in Charles's guard.
Zak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Charles can't keep his opponent in guard - Zak advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zak trying to control the pace.
Charles trying to control from the bottom.
Zak thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Charles's head.
Charles makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Charles.
Zak forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles is looking to control Zak's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Charles avoid being mounted?

Zak escapes and gets back to his feet.
Zak stuffs the takedown attempt from Charles. Charles gets slowly back to his feet.

Zak fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Charles sprawls well initially but Zak persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zak throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Charles blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zak.
Giovanni Charles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bal Zak is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Still in half guard, Zak seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bal Zak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zak has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bal Zak!