PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zsiga Venczel (ranked 3320 p4p, 0 weight class) and Veron Totto (ranked 4577 p4p, 0 weight class). Totto is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Rob Zombie - Feel So Numb. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Venczel
vs
Totto

192 cm
26
220 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

184 cm
45
209 lbs
22 - 21 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zsiga Venczel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 21 - 2, fighting out of New York, Veron Totto!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Totto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Totto swinging wildly here.
Venczel takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Venczel shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Totto tries to get to full guard but Venczel has control of the leg.
Venczel is pressing down on Totto's thigh, looking to free his foot. Totto is holding on for now.
Venczel slips a nice elbow through Totto's hands, connecting with Totto's forehead.
Venczel is trying to control the action in half guard but Totto is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Venczel wants to free his trapped foot but Totto is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Totto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Venczel is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Venczel is looking for a kimura here.
Totto wants to control but Venczel is keeping busy.
Totto is trying is best to control the position here.
Venczel slips a nice elbow through Totto's hands, connecting with Totto's forehead.
Venczel keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Venczel trying to control from half guard but Totto is working away.
Venczel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Totto punching from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Venczel slows the pace down in half guard.

Venczel is looking for a kimura here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Venczel looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Totto flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venczel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Totto tries to get to full guard but Venczel has control of the leg.
Totto tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Venczel is thwarting Totto's attempts to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Venczel throws the left hand but Totto avoids the punch easily.
A punch lands to the side of Venczel 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Venczel throws out a loose jab but Totto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Totto takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Venczel scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Venczel cracks Totto with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Venczel misses with a few strikes there.
Venczel looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Venczel misses the shot to the body.
Venczel tries to score a power double leg takedown but Totto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Venczel somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Totto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Venczel shoots in but no luck this time.
Totto is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Venczel gets a double leg takedown into Totto's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Venczel pushing down on Totto's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Totto works his way to full guard. Good work.
Venczel trying to control but Totto is working from the bottom.
Venczel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Totto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Venczel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Venczel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Venczel throwing strikes from guard but Totto blocks nicely.

Totto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Venczel connects with the punch.

Venczel has closed the distance and engaged Totto in a clinch.
Venczel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Totto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Veron Totto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Totto throws a combination. Venczel tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Totto connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Venczel momentarily.

Venczel looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Totto!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Totto is looking for a sweep.

Venczel wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Totto, who protects the arm well.
Venczel scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Totto to see if he's OK.
Totto is looking to regain half guard here but Venczel keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venczel blocks the strikes from Totto.

Venczel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Totto knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Venczel with the ground and pound but Totto regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Totto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Totto works his way to full guard. Good work.

Venczel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Venczel tries to free his leg and advance position but Totto is retaining full guard.

That's two 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.
Venczel trying to control the position from guard on top but Totto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Venczel won't allow Totto to sweep him here.
Venczel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Totto throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Venczel trying to control but Totto is working from the bottom.
Venczel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Venczel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Totto can do to turn this around?
Venczel lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Venczel scoring with punches to the head and body.
Venczel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Totto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Venczel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Totto working the head and body with strikes.
Venczel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Venczel is working hard here to advance position.
Venczel makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Venczel.
Totto connects with a couple of short punches.
Venczel wants to hit a switch here but Totto passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Venczel there!
Totto lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Venczel is looking to get to half guard.
Totto connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Totto prevents Venczel from getting the reversal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Venczel gets back to half guard.
Totto keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Venczel is looking to control Totto's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Venczel avoid being mounted?
Venczel is not content to let Totto control the position.
Zsiga Venczel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Venczel wants to get back to full guard.
Venczel slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
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 Zsiga Venczel will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Totto throws a shot from downtown. Venczel moves away and avoids it.
Totto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Venczel circles away quickly and effectively.
No joy there for Totto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Totto throws a body punch but Venczel moves out of range.
Totto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Venczel moves into range and connects with a jab.
Totto misses with a hook.
Totto misses with a leg kick.
Venczel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Venczel looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Totto!
Venczel trying to control the action but Totto is working from the bottom.
Totto gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Totto trying to control but Venczel postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venczel takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Venczel is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Totto doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Venczel.
Totto 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.
Totto is refusing to be controlled, as Venczel sits in half guard.

Venczel looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Totto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Venczel is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Totto tries to roll over but Venczel keeps him under control.
Totto is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Venczel scores with a couple of nice shots.
Venczel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Totto does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Venczel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Totto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Totto is looking to control Venczel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Totto avoid being mounted?
Totto is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Venczel is staying active.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venczel keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Totto is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Venczel scores with a couple of nice shots.
Totto slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Veron Totto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Venczel passes into half guard.
Totto wants to control but Venczel is keeping busy.
Totto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Venczel.
Totto trying to hold on to Venczel's head to control him but Venczel postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Totto slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zsiga Venczel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Totto trying to control the position.
Venczel trying to control but Totto is working from the bottom.
Venczel won't allow Totto to sweep him here.
Venczel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Totto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Venczel trying to control but Totto is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Venczel walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Venczel throws a right and a left that Totto avoids nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zsiga Venczel.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Venczel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Zsiga Venczel!
During a confident post fight interview, Zsiga Venczel thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.