PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mario Zambrana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joon Woo Yang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zambrana comes to the cage accompanied by Impact is Imminent. The key to victory for Mario Zambrana has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Zambrana
vs
Woo Yang

185 cm
21
195 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

195 cm
28
210 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class MT
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mario Zambrana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joon Woo Yang!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yang moves into the clinch successfully.
Zambrana manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A shot in the inside from Yang.

It looks like Mario Zambrana has been cut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zambrana.
Zambrana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yang.
A head punch on the inside from Yang fails to land.
Zambrana trying to land knees to the body.
Zambrana is looking to control Yang's arms but Yang gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zambrana has his back to the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A left hand lands to the body for Zambrana.
Zambrana tries a body shot but Yang blocks it.
Zambrana takes a shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zambrana.
Yang misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yang working aggressively here.
Zambrana creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Yang's defenses.
Yang dodges an elbow strike from Zambrana.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zambrana unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zambrana prevents a body shot from Yang.
Zambrana throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Yang lands a nice uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zambrana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yang fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zambrana is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Yang lands a body shot in the clinch.
Zambrana comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Yang swings wildly with an uppercut but Zambrana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yang can't find room to land a body shot as Zambrana controls the action.
Yang throws a punch but it's blocked by Zambrana.
Zambrana looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Yang working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Yang fails to land.
Zambrana prevents a body shot from Yang.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zambrana.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yang tries a body shot but Zambrana blocks it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zambrana connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yang's face.

It looks like Joon Woo Yang has been cut.
A left hand lands to the body for Zambrana.
Zambrana has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Zambrana looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zambrana is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zambrana.
Yang takes an elbow to the temple.
Yang misses with some punches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Zambrana just misses with a elbow thrown towards Yang's brow.
Yang lands a right hand.
Zambrana tries a body shot but Yang blocks it.
Yang misses with a punch on the inside.
Yang works on Zambrana's body with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yang misses with some punches.
Yang tries to throw a body punch but Zambrana avoids it by throwing Yang back against the cage.
Yang goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zambrana throws an elbow but it misses.
Zambrana stalling in the clinch.
Yang lands with a light punch inside.
Yang avoids the elbow strike from Zambrana, against the cage.
Yang has a couple of punches blocked by Zambrana.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Zambrana will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Yang up against the cage.
Yang managing to block the knees to the body from Zambrana.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Yang struggles to land a body shot inside as Zambrana controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yang tries to work over Zambrana's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zambrana tries a knee to the head but Yang blocks it.
Good body shot from Yang.
Nice elbow from Zambrana.
Yang tries a body shot but Zambrana blocks it.
Yang swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zambrana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yang.
Zambrana lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zambrana lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Yang creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yang has a couple of punches blocked by Zambrana.
A nice left hand lands by Yang.
Yang avoids the elbow strike from Zambrana, against the cage.
Yang lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zambrana.
Zambrana blocking some punches.
Zambrana crunches a lovely knee into Yang's ribcage.
Zambrana creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Yang's defenses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mario Zambrana will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Yang tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick misses from Zambrana.

Yang rushes Zambrana and presses him up against the cage.
Zambrana scores a nice knee to the body.
Zambrana leaning his opponent against the cage.
Zambrana misses with a knee to the head.
Yang fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zambrana pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Yang tries a body shot but Zambrana blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yang tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yang tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zambrana's elbow.
Yang avoiding damage as Zambrana throws knees to the body.
Zambrana looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Yang managing to block the knees to the body from Zambrana.
Zambrana throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yang blocks an elbow strike from Zambrana.
Zambrana blocks an uppercut.
Zambrana lands an elbow inside.
Yang takes an elbow to the temple.
Zambrana creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Yang's defenses.
Yang misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zambrana creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Yang blocks an elbow strike from Zambrana.
Zambrana effectively controlling the action here.
Zambrana lands a damaging elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zambrana.
Zambrana prevents a body shot from Yang.
Yang lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zambrana is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Yang lands with a right to the head.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Zambrana here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zambrana lands a right hand that snaps the head of Yang backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Yang creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zambrana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yang.
Zambrana with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Yang avoids the elbow strike from Zambrana, against the cage.
Zambrana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zambrana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yang swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yang lands with a light punch inside.
Yang throws a punch but it's blocked by Zambrana.
Yang struggles to land a body shot inside as Zambrana controls his hands.
Zambrana lands a nice uppercut.
Yang on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Yang struggles to land a body shot inside as Zambrana controls his hands.
Yang takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zambrana taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yang pushes Zambrana back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Zambrana wants to stall.
Zambrana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yang.
Yang scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Yang lands with a short shot to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Yang avoids a wild elbow strike from Zambrana.
Zambrana missing with knees to the body.
Yang lands a hook to the side of the head.
Yang swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zambrana fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yang lands with a light punch inside.
Zambrana lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Zambrana.
Yang lands a body shot.
Zambrana looking to slow down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zambrana throws an elbow but misses.
Yang lands a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zambrana throws an elbow that misses.
Zambrana is trying to maintain a safe position but Yang gets an underhook and turns Zambrana into the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Zambrana takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Zambrana throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yang blocks it with crossed arms.
Zambrana blocks an uppercut.
Yang avoiding damage as Zambrana throws knees to the body.
Zambrana throws an elbow that misses.
Zambrana blocks a body shot from Yang.
Zambrana throws an elbow that misses.
Yang misses with a body punch.
Yang tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zambrana looking to slow down the pace here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mario Zambrana will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Zambrana's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zambrana throws a head kick but Yang moves out of range.

Yang has Zambrana up against the cage in a clinch.
The referee calls for Zambrana to work.
A head punch on the inside from Zambrana fails to land.
Mario Zambrana has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A right hook to the body lands for Yang.
Yang tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yang misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Yang fails to land.
Yang tries to throw a body punch but Zambrana avoids it by throwing Yang back against the cage.
Yang stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hand to the body from Zambrana.
Zambrana blocking some punches.
Yang struggles to land a body shot inside as Zambrana controls his hands.
Zambrana is looking to control Yang's arms but Yang gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zambrana has his back to the cage.
Yang lands a hook that snaps the head of Zambrana backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Yang.
Zambrana prevents a body shot from Yang.
Yang lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zambrana backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yang.
Yang is working Zambrana over against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yang.
Yang lands with a short shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zambrana.
Nice elbow from Zambrana.
Yang lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Yang.
Yang lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zambrana lands a right hand that snaps the head of Yang backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yang scores with a hook to the body.
Yang managing to block the knees to the body from Zambrana.
Yang is leaning against Zambrana and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zambrana throws a punch but it's blocked by Yang.
Zambrana lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Yang tries a body shot but Zambrana blocks it.
Yang stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Zambrana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Yang fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zambrana throws an elbow that misses.
Zambrana throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yang blocks it with crossed arms.
Yang avoids a wild elbow strike from Zambrana.
Yang lands a nice uppercut.
Yang scores with a nice hook to the head.
Yang lands with a right to the head.
Zambrana taking a breather.
Yang lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yang swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yang softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Zambrana misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zambrana fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yang lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Yang struggles to land a body shot inside as Zambrana controls his hands.
Yang tries to throw a body punch but Zambrana avoids it by throwing Yang back against the cage.
Yang lands with a right to the head.
Mario Zambrana is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A short right from Yang.
Zambrana pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Yang digs a right hand underneath Zambrana's ribcage. Zambrana let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Zambrana throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Zambrana is trying to maintain a safe position but Yang gets an underhook and turns Zambrana into the cage.
Yang struggles to land a body shot inside as Zambrana controls his hands.
Zambrana creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Joon Woo Yang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yang misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zambrana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Yang scores with a nice short uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Yang creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zambrana misses with an elbow strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yang misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yang tries a body shot but Zambrana blocks it.
Zambrana throws a knee to the head but misses.
Yang working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Yang tries to work over Zambrana's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Yang lands a body punch in the clinch.
Yang blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yang softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Yang tries to work over Zambrana's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Yang.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joon Woo Yang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zambrana 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Zambrana!
Mario Zambrana seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.