PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nova Zigaman (ranked 2403 p4p, 292 weight class) and James Toby (ranked 2314 p4p, 284 weight class). Zigaman kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Cameo - Word Up!. The crowd seem to be enjoying Toby's choice of entrance music: Will Smith - The Fresh Prince. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zigaman
vs
Toby

203 cm
32
287 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

198 cm
34
275 lbs
16 - 12 - 2

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

KOMBAT KLOTHING

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 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nova Zigaman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Toby!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toby throws a series of punches but Zigaman moves out of range.
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.
Toby tries a head kick but it misses.
Zigaman lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Toby throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zigaman throws a series of punches but Toby moves out of range.
Zigaman slips a jab and a cross from Toby.
Zigaman slips a jab and a cross from Toby.
Zigaman moves away from the strike by Toby.
The fighters circling - Toby throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
An attempted straight right counter from Zigaman misses the target.
Toby fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zigaman.
Zigaman scores with a leg kick.
Toby ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fighters circling - Toby throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zigaman.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Toby swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Toby misses with a leg kick

and Zigaman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Toby's guard.
Zigaman lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zigaman stopping the sweep attempt from Toby.
Toby is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zigaman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zigaman is looking to advance position but Toby has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Toby tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zigaman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Toby controlling his opponent.
Zigaman is looking to improve his position but Toby isn't that keen on the idea.
Zigaman is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Toby tries to control but Zigaman wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toby might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Zigaman haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Zigaman tries to reverse the position but Toby maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Toby with shots to the head and body - Zigaman looks very uncomfortable down there.
Toby controlling the position easily from mount.
Zigaman is trying desperately to improve position.
Zigaman is working hard here to advance position.
Toby controlling the pace for now.
Zigaman is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toby controlling from mount.
Zigaman really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Toby tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zigaman keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Toby sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zigaman is looking to improve his position but Toby isn't that keen on the idea.
Zigaman wants to hold on but Toby pushes him away.
Toby trying to control but Zigaman is having none of it.
Toby controlling the position easily from mount.
Zigaman really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Toby with the ground and pound from mount.
Toby takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Toby dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Toby will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Zigaman tests Toby's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Toby connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Toby walks into a stiff left hand from Zigaman.
Toby throws a nice outside leg kick.
Toby cracks a nice hook into Zigaman's ribs.
Toby throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zigaman makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
James Toby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Toby, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Toby misses with an uppercut. Zigaman saw that one coming.
Toby cracks a nice hook into Zigaman's ribs.
Toby has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zigaman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Toby sprawls well. Toby wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zigaman gets slowly back to his feet.
Toby swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zigaman counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Toby.
It looked like Zigaman was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toby will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
It looked like Zigaman wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Toby takes a swing at Zigaman's ribcage but misses.
Toby pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Toby moves out of range as Zigaman strikes.
Toby blocks a low kick nicely.
Toby doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Zigaman lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
James Toby is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Toby.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Toby.
James Toby seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Toby misses with a body shot.

Zigaman drives through with a takedown into Toby's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Toby scrambles and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zigaman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Zigaman wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Zigaman misses with a low kick as Toby jumps back.
A slow jab from Toby misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Zigaman. That snapped Toby's head back.
Toby falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A good leg kick by Zigaman.
Toby lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Zigaman looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zigaman is trying to control. Toby wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Toby gets back to full guard.
Zigaman content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zigaman postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zigaman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Toby pulls Zigaman in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zigaman advances position into side control!
Toby is looking for a sweep.
Toby can't do much from the bottom here.
Toby takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Zigaman grinds an elbow into Toby's temple.
Zigaman misses with the ground and pound.
Zigaman advances nicely into full mount.
Toby wants to hold on but Zigaman pushes him away.
Toby is bucking up trying to escape but Zigaman cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Toby working to try and regain half guard.
Zigaman putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zigaman postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Toby looks a forlorn figure.
Zigaman avoids the attempt from Toby to control.
Toby is bucking up trying to escape but Zigaman cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Toby tries to hold on but Zigaman pushes him away.
Zigaman landing shots from mount.
Zigaman connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Toby tries to hold on but Zigaman pushes him away.
Zigaman lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Zigaman putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Toby is desperately trying to improve his position but Zigaman has a good base and remains in mount.
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.
Zigaman looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Toby working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Toby throws a sloppy head kick
and Zigaman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zigaman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice side step and Toby releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Toby throws a predictable looking body shot
and Zigaman counters with a nice uppercut.
Zigaman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No joy there for Toby, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Zigaman throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Toby tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Zigaman is in Toby's guard.
Zigaman landing with the ground and pound.
Zigaman postures up.
Zigaman scoring with some ground and pound.
Zigaman lands a couple of elbows.
Toby throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Toby is adopting a defensive guard.
Zigaman wants to pass the guard but Toby is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zigaman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zigaman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Toby lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zigaman 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.
Zigaman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Toby controls the pace.
Zigaman trying to control the position.
Toby slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Zigaman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toby is stalling in the full guard.
Toby is pushing down on Zigaman's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zigaman is fighting to maintain full guard but Toby has managed to sneak the leg through.
Zigaman is looking for a sweep. Toby is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Zigaman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zigaman regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zigaman 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.

Zigaman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Toby gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zigaman being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zigaman has an active guard here but Toby has managed to pass into half guard.
Zigaman tries to roll over but Toby keeps him under control.
Zigaman is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Toby's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Toby's back!
Toby tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Toby wants to hold on but Zigaman pushes him away.
Zigaman is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Toby can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Zigaman lands a heavy elbow.
Toby is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toby keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zigaman punishing his opponent with strikes.
Toby wants to control but Zigaman is having none of it.
Zigaman content just to control the position here.
Zigaman fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Toby gets back to half guard.
Zigaman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Toby is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zigaman pulls his head out easily.
Toby takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Toby wants to control but Zigaman is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nova Zigaman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zigaman 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nova Zigaman!
Post fight, Nova Zigaman took to the microphone: 'Yo' listen Cage... get yourself another job and don't ever think you can compete with the freakzilla again. Whilst you're there, send you wife my way and I'll show her just how bombastic the zig-man is. Imagine being named after a piece of sh*t computer character. Mortal Kombat... I don't think so.'.