PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zarko Zidane (ranked 5065 p4p, 551 weight class) and Max Falco (ranked 4948 p4p, 543 weight class). Zidane's entrance music is Sharp Dressed Man. A fine choice. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Zidane
vs
Falco

180 cm
21
192 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
19
201 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Power Matrix Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zarko Zidane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Max Falco!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, David Schapiro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zidane rushes Falco and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Zidane turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Zidane manages to end up in side control.
Falco wants to control but Zidane postures up.
Falco avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Zidane.
Zidane throws a strike aimed at the side of Falco's head but Falco avoids it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Falco gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Zidane is nestled in close to Falco, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Falco blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zidane.
The fighters are battling for position here. Falco manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zidane looking to sit in guard and control but Falco gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zidane looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Zidane looking to hit a scissor sweep but Falco is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falco throwing strikes but missing.
Falco wants to control from the top but Zidane keeps moving.
Zidane knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Falco on the ground.
Falco stopping the sweep attempt from Zidane.
Falco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zidane looking for a sweep. Not yet Zidane, not yet.
Zidane is working hard here to advance position.
Zidane working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Falco postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zidane seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Zidane looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Falco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Falco throwing strikes from guard but Zidane blocks nicely.
Falco trying to control the position from guard on top but Zidane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zidane wants to sweep but no luck.
Zidane utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zidane looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Falco jabs Zidane right on the nose. Zidane blinks but takes it well.

Zidane fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Falco sprawls well initially but Zidane persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Falco is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zidane's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zidane's back!
Zidane avoids the strikes from Falco.
Falco controlling well, preventing Zidane from escaping the position.
Zidane covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falco gets his hands free as Zidane looks to control.
Falco misses with punches from the back.
Zidane is keeping busy.
Falco is landing with strikes. Zidane can't take much more of this.
Zidane staying busy and making it hard for Falco to control.
Zidane covering up well and avoiding damage.
Falco has the hooks in. Zidane is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Falco punches the canvas rather than the man.
Falco punches the canvas rather than the man.
Zidane tries to roll but Falco sticks to his back.
Falco has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Good control from Falco.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Even with his hooks in, Falco manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Falco misses with a punch to the head.
Falco keeps control of the position as Zidane tries to break free.
Zidane covering up well under a series of strikes from Falco.
Falco throws strikes from the back but Zidane rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Zidane.
Falco trying to control the position from guard on top but Zidane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Falco drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Falco jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Max Falco will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Falco cracks Zidane with an open hand slap.
Falco darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Falco scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Zidane shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Falco manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Falco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zidane trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falco seems keen to control Zidane's posture.
Zidane with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

It looks like Max Falco has been cut.
Falco 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.
Zidane trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zidane throwing strikes but missing.
Falco throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Zidane working some strikes from top position.
Zidane throws a big right hand that misses.
Zidane loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Falco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zidane working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Falco's head.
Zidane postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Falco throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Zidane working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Falco controls Zidane momentarily but Zidane frees himself.
Falco looking for a sweep. Not yet Falco, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falco is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zidane preventing the sweep.
Zidane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Falco swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zidane missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Falco working for a triangle but Zidane defends it easily.
Falco looking to control.
Zidane is in close to Falco's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zidane lands a couple of digs.
Zidane missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Falco tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zidane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Falco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Falco is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zidane scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zidane postures up in Falco's guard and throws a big left but Falco blocks it.

Falco looking for a guillotine here but Zidane defends easily.
Zidane scoring with some ground and pound.
Zidane won't allow Falco to sweep him here.
Zidane has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Falco lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zidane looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarko Zidane overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zidane keeping moving, preventing Falco from controlling successfully.
Falco is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Falco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Falco advances to half guard.
Zidane is trying to maintain the position but Falco is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zidane keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zidane moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zarko Zidane dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Max Falco's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Falco cracks Zidane with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Falco connects with a looping right hand.
Falco throws a jab but it's blocked by Zidane.
Falco throws out a powerful jab.
Falco throws a shot from downtown. Zidane moves away and avoids it.

Zidane gets a double leg takedown into Falco's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falco is trying to control the position but Zidane postures up.
Zidane works over Falco with some ground and pound from guard.
Falco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zidane.
Falco wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zidane trying to control the position from guard on top but Falco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zidane accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Falco is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Falco manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zidane manages to get himself to full guard.

Zidane not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zidane has control of Falco's left arm, preventing Falco from doing any damage.
Falco is looking to work some ground and pound but Zidane has wrist control.
Zidane lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Falco is trying to control the position but Zidane postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zidane working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zidane wants to control from the top but Falco keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zidane accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zidane is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That has opened up Max Falco's cut even more.
Falco lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zidane wants to improve his position but instead Falco has moved into half guard.
Zidane blocking the ground and pound attempt from Falco.
Falco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zidane keeps working.
Zidane wants to improve his position but Falco is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falco thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Falco thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zidane's head.
Falco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zidane keeps working.
Zidane is trying to maintain the position but Falco is very close to passing his half guard.
Zidane keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Falco throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Falco wants to work for an arm triangle but Zidane is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Falco thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zidane avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Falco.
Falco trying to control from half guard but Zidane is working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Falco throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Falco misses with a wild body shot.

Zidane drives through and clinches with Falco against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zidane has picked Falco up - he's going for a ride! Zidane dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zidane connects with a nice short shot to Falco's temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Max Falco.
I think Falco 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Max Falco!