PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nova Zigaman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sota Sankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zigaman's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Cameo - Word Up!. The crowd seem to be enjoying Sankari's choice of entrance music: For Heavy Metal we will die!. This should be fireworks!

Zigaman
vs
Sankari

203 cm
28
287 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

195 cm
30
260 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Good knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Lion Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Nova Zigaman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sota Sankari!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zigaman misses with a hook. Sankari ducked under it nicely.
We've been hearing reports that Zigaman has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Zigaman checks a leg kick nicely.
Sankari displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zigaman throws out the jab.
Sankari throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Zigaman lands with a hook. Sankari tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Zigaman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sankari throws a jab but it's blocked by Zigaman.
Zigaman throws a low kick but Sankari moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zigaman cracks Sankari with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Zigaman getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sankari fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sankari has closed the distance and engaged Zigaman in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sankari gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sankari lands with a right to the head.
Sankari misses with an elbow over the top.
Zigaman is looking for a takedown.
Sankari gets through Zigaman's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zigaman tries to circle away but Sankari has him pinned against the cage.
Zigaman blocks an elbow strike from Sankari.
Sankari missing with knees to the body.
Zigaman takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Nova Zigaman has been cut.
Sankari tries a body shot but Zigaman blocks it.
Zigaman has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sankari avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sankari lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sankari scores with a shot to the side of Zigaman's head.
Sankari lands an elbow inside that Zigaman shrugs off.
Sankari is pressed up against the cage. Zigaman has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sankari down to the mat. Sankari avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nova Zigaman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zigaman closes the distance and clinches up with Sankari, looking for a takedown. Zigaman pushes Sankari against the cage but Sankari circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Zigaman scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zigaman tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sankari's legs.
Sankari gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Zigaman 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.
Sankari is trying is best to control the position here.
Zigaman lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zigaman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sankari does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zigaman is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sankari is staying active underneath Zigaman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zigaman not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sankari has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Sankari moves into full guard.
Zigaman preventing the sweep.
Zigaman trying to control the position from guard on top but Sankari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sankari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zigaman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sankari looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sankari is pulling down on Zigaman's head. It's preventing any offense from Zigaman, at least for the moment.
Zigaman lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sankari really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zigaman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sankari pulls Zigaman in close to prevent any damage.
Zigaman 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.
Sankari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sankari has control of Zigaman's left arm, preventing Zigaman from doing any damage.
Zigaman is looking to work some ground and pound but Sankari has wrist control.
Sankari working a defensive guard here.
Sankari looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zigaman is one step ahead there.
Zigaman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zigaman trying to control the position from guard on top but Sankari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zigaman darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sota Sankari dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nova Zigaman's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zigaman closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sankari did well to prevent Zigaman getting side control.
Sankari has his hands clasped together around Zigaman's back. He's all about the action.

Zigaman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sankari sees it coming and defends easily.
Zigaman prevents Sankari from improving his position.
Sankari keeps trying to improve his position.
Zigaman looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zigaman is trying to control. Sankari wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sankari is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zigaman is looking to advance position but Sankari won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zigaman trying to control from half guard but Sankari is working away.
Sankari is trying to stand.
Zigaman passes to side control.
Zigaman throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sankari tries to buck Zigaman off but Zigaman is having none of it.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Zigaman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sankari keeps working.
Sankari is trying to control Zigaman's posture but Zigaman avoids it.
Zigaman lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sankari is trying to escape the position but Zigaman is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sankari dodges the ground and pound from Zigaman.
Zigaman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sankari keeps working.
Zigaman takes a little break here. Sankari wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Zigaman seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sankari for as long as he can get away with.
Sankari is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Zigaman working over Sankari with some ground and pound. Sankari looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zigaman trying to control from half guard but Sankari is working away.
Zigaman with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sankari wants to improve his position but Zigaman is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sankari on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sankari looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sankari is not content to let Zigaman control the position.
Sankari is trying to get back to full guard.
Zigaman is thwarting Sankari's attempts to control the position.
Zigaman is keen to just control but Sankari is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sankari tries to roll over but Zigaman keeps him under control.
Zigaman is trying to control. Sankari wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sankari wants to improve his position but Zigaman is controlling well.
Sankari has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zigaman is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zigaman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zigaman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zigaman staying out of range there.
Zigaman connects with a leg kick. Sankari looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nova Zigaman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nova Zigaman's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zigaman tries for a takedown but Sankari sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zigaman thuds a left hand into Sankari's body.
Sankari throws a head kick that misses.
A big left from Zigaman misses.
Zigaman rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sankari counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Zigaman looks to throw the jab but Sankari is out of range.
Zigaman gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sankari.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zigaman throws an overhand right that lands on Sankari's shoulder, as Sankari tries to avoid the shot.
Sankari scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zigaman scores with a hook.
Sankari avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sankari unleashes a big counter combination but Zigaman bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zigaman with a poor takedown

and Sankari counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Zigaman avoids a wild elbow strike from Sankari.
Sankari misses with an elbow over the top.
Sankari misses with the head strike.
Zigaman is looking to break free of the clinch but Sankari has double underhooks.
Zigaman avoids a wild elbow strike from Sankari.
Sankari pushes off an throws an elbow but Zigaman leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Zigaman is looking to break free of the clinch but Sankari has double underhooks.
Sankari softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Zigaman blocks a body shot from Sankari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sankari comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Zigaman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nova Zigaman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sankari lands with a left to the head.
Sankari lands with a left to the head.

Zigaman breaks from the clinch.
Zigaman misses with a right hand
and Sankari counters with a thumping low kick.
Zigaman throws a series of punches but Sankari avoids them all with ease.
Zigaman misses with a wild combination.
Sankari counters with a body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sankari throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zigaman stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sankari.
Zigaman lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sankari slips a jab and a cross from Zigaman.
Zigaman misses with a takedown attempt
and Sankari counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sankari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zigaman was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nova Zigaman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sankari fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sankari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zigaman throws a shot from downtown. Sankari moves away and avoids it.
Sankari lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Zigaman misses with a low kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Sankari misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zigaman misses with an uppercut. Sankari saw that one coming.
Zigaman connects with a solid leg kick.
Sankari keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sankari tries to clinch but Zigaman is having none of it.
Zigaman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Despite the aggression on Sankari's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sankari on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Zigaman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sankari swivels and escapes.
Sankari is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Zigaman rather than just go for the knockout.
Zigaman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sankari tries to clinch there but Zigaman circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sota Sankari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sankari has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sota Sankari!
Sota Sankari bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
Nova Zigaman spoke after the fight, saying 'If you look up the word fluke in the dictionary, it will have a picture of this piece of shit right here. You were lucky right there and you know it.'.