PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hecor ZIG (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liam Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

ZIG
vs
Smith

185 cm
22
179 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hecor ZIG!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liam Smith!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
ZIG avoids a wild elbow strike from Smith.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Smith creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through ZIG's defenses.

ZIG manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

ZIG had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Smith is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. ZIG Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Smith's back instead.
Smith is keeping busy.
Smith trying to control the action but ZIG just sinks the hooks in.
Smith rolls, trying to escape but ZIG keeps control of the position.
Smith has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from ZIG.
Smith tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Smith tries to hold on but ZIG postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control ZIG kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

ZIG working for a submission but Smith is keeping him at bay.
ZIG controlling the position easily from mount.
Smith wants to control but ZIG is having none of it.

ZIG wants to finish this one by submission but Smith is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from ZIG.
ZIG looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smith is working to get back to half guard.
Smith tries to hold on but ZIG postures up.
ZIG can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smith is looking to escape.

ZIG stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
ZIG is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ZIG shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.

ZIG drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but ZIG wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Smith manages to get back to half guard.
Smith is trying to stand.
Smith is doing well to control the position and prevent ZIG from advancing to side control.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
ZIG trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

ZIG wants to work for an arm triangle but Smith is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
ZIG trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Smith lands a nice looking body kick.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
ZIG tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually ZIG drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Liam Smith will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith lands a jab to ZIG's midsection.
Smith tries to clinch up but ZIG circles away and keeps his distance.
Some wild striking there from Smith.

ZIG closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Smith.
Smith landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Smith misses with a knee to the head.
Smith tries a knee to the head but ZIG blocks it.
Smith tries a knee to the head but ZIG blocks it.
Knees to the body from Smith.
Smith with a knee to the head.
Smith lands a knee to the head.
ZIG blocks an elbow strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. ZIG has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smith tries to clinch

so ZIG counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smith looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith managing to control the position.
ZIG is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
ZIG working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith wants to stand but ZIG is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
ZIG tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith is looking to land body kicks.
Smith tries to clinch but fails miserably
and ZIG cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith fails with the takedown.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.

ZIG pulls guard effortlessly.
ZIG not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Smith wants to control from the top but ZIG keeps moving.
Smith tries to stand but ZIG is controlling from the bottom.

ZIG is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

ZIG looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith preventing the sweep.
ZIG keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith wants to control from the top but ZIG keeps moving.
ZIG working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hecor ZIG dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Smith throws a quick head kick that skims the top of ZIG's head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Smith.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smith.
Liam Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Smith misses.

Smith moves into the clinch.
ZIG is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
ZIG fails to pull guard.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
ZIG jumps guard but Smith stands there with ZIG around his waist. ZIG gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hecor ZIG. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.
ZIG on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

ZIG successfully pulls guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith trying to control but ZIG is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but ZIG gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

ZIG thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
ZIG wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
ZIG trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
ZIG closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. ZIG pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with ZIG.
Smith scores a nice knee to the body.
Smith lands a nice elbow.
Smith landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but ZIG blocks with his arms.
Smith misses with an elbow strike.
Smith lands an elbow inside.
ZIG changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smith tries to clinch but ZIG moves away

and ZIG moves into the clinch.
ZIG has Smith pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Smith manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Smith gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
ZIG takes an elbow to the temple.
ZIG blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but ZIG is keeping busy.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but ZIG has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ZIG fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smith lands a knee to the head.
ZIG is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smith pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Smith lands an elbow just above ZIG 's eye.
Smith crunches a lovely knee into ZIG's ribcage.
ZIG can't get the takedown.
ZIG looking for a takedown.
Smith lands a nice elbow.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
Smith lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Smith lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Smith comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

ZIG successfully pulls guard.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from ZIG's guard.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
ZIG keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
ZIG trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Smith gets to his feet. ZIG looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Smith wants to clinch

and ZIG counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and ZIG is now in half guard.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.

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 Hecor ZIG.
I think ZIG 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Hecor ZIG!