PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zico Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Lambert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lambert has chosen Aaron Lewis - Country Boy as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Ali
vs
Lambert

193 cm
24
220 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

187 cm
23
205 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Bare Knuckle Fisticuffs Clothing

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 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zico Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Lambert!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lambert takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lambert fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ali throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zico Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lambert shoots in and drives through. Ali sprawls well.
Lambert is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ali.

Ali drives through and clinches with Lambert against the cage.
Lambert misses with an elbow strike.
Lambert creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ali's defenses.
Lambert throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Lambert keeps control of Ali as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ali leaning his opponent against the cage.
Lambert drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zico Ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Lambert.
Ali wants to get back to striking at distance but Lambert won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lambert is keeping busy.
We've been hearing reports that Ali has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Lambert slowing the pace effectively.
Lambert goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ali prevents it.
Lambert wants a takedown.
Lambert is looking to take this one to the mat.

Ali's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ali closes the distance and pushes Lambert back into the cage.
Ali prevents the takedown attempt.

Ali breaks from the clinch.
A jab from Ali finds it's way through Lambert's defenses.
Lambert keeps the fight on the outside.
Ali tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ali closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Lambert's guard.
Lambert lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lambert postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ali is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lambert, into his guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ali stands and steps away. Lambert gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Ali moves into the clinch successfully.

Ali has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lambert uses from the top position.
Lambert keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ali's head.
Ali keeping full guard, as Lambert tries to pass.
Lambert chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert wants to control from the top but Ali keeps moving.
Lambert has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lambert landing with the ground and pound.
Ali controls Lambert momentarily but Lambert frees himself.

Ali throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ali keeping moving, preventing Lambert from controlling successfully.
Lambert throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lambert postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ali utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lambert is looking to work some ground and pound but Ali has wrist control.
Ali trying to keep a closed guard but Lambert is proving a slippery customer.
Lambert in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ali closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lambert circles away.
Lambert is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Lambert goes for a double leg but Ali avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ali continues to drive forward.

Ali gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lambert is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ali with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ali trying to control the position but instead, Lambert has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ali into the cage.
Lambert gets through Ali's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zico Ali dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ali shoots in but Lambert avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lambert is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ali tries to clinch but Lambert moves out of range.
Ali closes the distance and clinches up with Lambert, looking for a takedown. Ali pushes Lambert against the cage but Lambert circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lambert looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lambert defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ali.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zico Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ali fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lambert moves out of range as Ali strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lambert as he jumps to the side.
Lambert unleashes a big counter combination but Ali bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ali is looking to clinch but Lambert is avoiding it.
Ali tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Lambert counters with a single leg into guard. Ali didn't expect that.
Lambert working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ali is trying to keep Lambert in close.
Ali is looking to stand up but Lambert isn't so interested in that idea.
Lambert is in close to Ali's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali has momentary wrist control but Lambert slips an elbow through the middle.
Lambert scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lambert throwing strikes from guard but Ali blocks nicely.
Lambert pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ali is keeping the position for now.
Ali trying to control the position here.
Mike Lambert has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lambert makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lambert throwing strikes from guard but Ali blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lambert works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ali is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lambert scores with a couple of nice shots.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Lambert lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lambert landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lambert lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nice strikes from Lambert there.
Lambert scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lambert content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lambert is looking to advance position but Ali won't allow it.
Lambert working over Ali with some ground and pound. Ali looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ali is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lambert scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ali is pressing down on Lambert's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lambert accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lambert won't allow Ali to sweep him here.
Lambert with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Lambert showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ali tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lambert sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ali somewhat.
Lambert is looking for the big counter here.
Nice sprawl there from Lambert as Ali shoots in.
Ali shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lambert as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zico Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ali gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lambert to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lambert postures up in Ali's guard and throws a big left but Ali blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lambert works over Ali with some ground and pound from guard.
Ali wants to stand up but Lambert is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lambert is looking to work some ground and pound but Ali has wrist control.
Lambert trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lambert working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ali's head.
Ali wants to stand but Lambert is controlling the position.
Lambert is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lambert throws a strike but Ali rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ali has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Ali drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lambert manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ali has Lambert in his guard.

Ali is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lambert defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lambert is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lambert throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ali works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lambert with a nice head shot there.

Ali had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lambert defends it easily.
Lambert trying to control but Ali is working from the bottom.
Lambert lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lambert with a nice head shot there.
Lambert lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ali working a defensive guard here.
Lambert works over Ali with some ground and pound from guard.
Ali wants to stand up but Lambert is controlling him.
Ali thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lambert landing with the ground and pound.
Ali is trying to control the position but Lambert postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lambert throwing strikes from guard but Ali blocks nicely.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
No joy there for Ali, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ali sets himself, and Lambert steps forward looking for the clinch! Ali avoids it this time.

Ali clinches up against the cage.
Lambert lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ali backwards.
Lambert lands an elbow inside that Ali shrugs off.

It looks like Zico Ali has been cut.

Ali has hold of one of Lambert's legs. Lambert is fighting the takedown attempt but Ali gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

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

Lambert dives in and scores a takedown into Ali's guard.
Ali lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lambert keeping moving, preventing Ali from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Lambert comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lambert 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Lambert!
Mike Lambert decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.