PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Timur Rubin (ranked 165 p4p, 18 weight class) and Nova Zigaman (ranked 638 p4p, 78 weight class). Zigaman has chosen Cameo - Word Up! as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Rubin
vs
Zigaman

190 cm
36
256 lbs
40 - 18 - 1

203 cm
33
287 lbs
23 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

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 40 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Timur Rubin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nova Zigaman!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rubin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zigaman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rubin somewhat.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Zigaman has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Rubin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Zigaman shoots in looking for a takedown. Rubin tries to sprawl out of it but Zigaman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rubin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zigaman gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rubin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zigaman works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zigaman is keen to just control but Rubin is a slippery customer.
Rubin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zigaman is keen to just control but Rubin is a slippery customer.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rubin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zigaman looking to pass the guard.
Zigaman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rubin keeping full guard, as Zigaman tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubin keeping moving, preventing Zigaman from controlling successfully.
Zigaman might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rubin haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rubin keeping full guard, as Zigaman tries to pass.
Zigaman is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Zigaman throwing strikes from guard but Rubin blocks nicely.
Rubin 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rubin is on top in guard.

Zigaman looking for a sweep. Not yet Zigaman, not yet.
Rubin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Zigaman keeping moving, preventing Rubin from controlling successfully.
Rubin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rubin trying to control but Zigaman is working from the bottom.
Rubin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rubin throws an elbow that misses. Zigaman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rubin's guard. Nice move by Zigaman!

Rubin keeping full guard, as Zigaman tries to pass.
Rubin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zigaman is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zigaman looking to pass the guard.
Rubin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zigaman wants to control from the top but Rubin keeps moving.
Zigaman landing with the ground and pound.
Zigaman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rubin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zigaman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rubin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rubin stands up over Zigaman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nova Zigaman will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rubin misses with a straight left.
Zigaman doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Zigaman misses with a low kick as Rubin jumps back.
Rubin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zigaman looks to score with a jab to the body but Rubin is just out of range.
Zigaman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rubin moves away.
Rubin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zigaman.
Zigaman flicks out a counter leg kick but Rubin steps away.
Zigaman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rubin's waist but Rubin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zigaman off to one side.
Rubin attempts a counter takedown but Zigaman avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rubin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zigaman makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zigaman looks for a takedown but Rubin sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zigaman lands a jab to Rubin's midsection.

Zigaman manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rubin on his heels. He'll look to pass Rubin's guard now, I'm sure.
Zigaman trying to control the position from guard on top but Rubin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zigaman looking to pass the guard.
Rubin throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zigaman sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rubin's guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Rubin's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Rubin is staying active underneath Zigaman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zigaman prevents Rubin from improving his position.

Zigaman seems to be looking for submissions.
Zigaman is keen to just control but Rubin is a slippery customer.
Rubin is looking for a sweep. Zigaman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zigaman passes to full mount!
Rubin sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zigaman 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.
Rubin is looking to improve his position.
Zigaman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rubin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zigaman trying to pass the guard but Rubin defending well.

Zigaman wants to work for an arm triangle but Rubin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rubin moves into full guard.
Rubin wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zigaman trying to control the position from guard on top but Rubin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rubin wants to sweep here but Zigaman controlling him for the moment.
Zigaman trying to control but Rubin is working from the bottom.
Rubin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zigaman trying to control but Rubin is working from the bottom.
Zigaman looking to pass the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rubin keeping moving, preventing Zigaman from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rubin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nova Zigaman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zigaman throws a jab but it's blocked by Rubin.
Rubin staying out of range there.
Rubin throws a jab but it's blocked by Zigaman.
Rubin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zigaman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zigaman shoots for a double leg takedown but Rubin sprawls well. He's pushed Zigaman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zigaman dodges the punch combination from Rubin.
Rubin jabs Zigaman to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zigaman shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zigaman showed some decent athleticism there.
Zigaman is pressing down on Rubin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rubin is holding on for now.
Rubin trying to control here.
Rubin desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Rubin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rubin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Timur Rubin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zigaman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rubin 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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Rubin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zigaman won't allow Rubin to sweep him here.
Zigaman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Zigaman advances to half guard.
Zigaman is trying to control the action in half guard but Rubin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zigaman takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zigaman passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rubin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rubin is looking to get to half guard.
Zigaman wants to take his opponent's back but Rubin doesn't allow it.

Zigaman is working for a guillotine from mount but Rubin frees his head quite easily.
Zigaman trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zigaman scoring with strikes but Rubin is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zigaman is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Rubin to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rubin shrugs it off.
Zigaman controlling from the full mount.
Zigaman wants to control but Rubin has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Nova Zigaman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rubin trying to control here.
Zigaman is trying to control. Rubin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rubin missing with punches from the bottom.
Nova Zigaman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rubin punching from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nova Zigaman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zigaman winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nova Zigaman!
Nova Zigaman took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I'm the champ. I'm the greatest. Yo' listen Junior... 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.'.