PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kazuma Onodera (ranked 3210 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiago Zuccari (ranked 6161 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Onodera might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Fire Ball - SUPERSTAR. Tiago Zuccari has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Onodera
vs
Zuccari

179 cm
25
172 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Taps On The Island

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kazuma Onodera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tiago Zuccari!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zuccari throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Onodera tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Zuccari is in Onodera's guard.
Zuccari must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zuccari stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Onodera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Onodera working a defensive guard but Zuccari passes into half guard.
Zuccari wants to pass the guard but Onodera is defending well.
Onodera moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Zuccari wants to control from the top but Onodera keeps moving.
Onodera wants to sweep here but Zuccari controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Onodera is working hard here to advance position.

Onodera looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zuccari chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuccari wants to stand and escape but instead Onodera has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Zuccari looking to hit a scissor sweep but Onodera is one step ahead there.
Onodera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Onodera trying to control but Zuccari is working from the bottom.

Zuccari has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Onodera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zuccari wants to stand up but Onodera is controlling him.
Onodera wants to pass the guard but Zuccari is keeping 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.
Zuccari is trying to keep Onodera in close.
Zuccari keeping full guard, as Onodera tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zuccari shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Onodera's guard.
Zuccari sitting in guard here, content to control.
Onodera wants to hit a switch here but Zuccari passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Onodera there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Onodera is looking to get to half guard.
Onodera slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Onodera wants to control but Zuccari is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zuccari passes into side control, despite Onodera's attempt to control the position.
Zuccari trying to control the action but Onodera is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Onodera tries to bench press Zuccari off him but Zuccari keeps the position.
Onodera manages to work his way to half guard, despite Zuccari's best efforts.
Onodera is trying to control but can't.
Onodera gets full guard.

Onodera working for a triangle but Zuccari defends it easily.
Onodera keeping moving, preventing Zuccari from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zuccari tries to free his leg and advance position but Onodera is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tiago Zuccari will probably get the nod.
That's time! Onodera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zuccari drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Zuccari got a little sloppy there for a moment and Onodera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zuccari has managed to get both his arms back between Onodera's legs - danger averted.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Onodera is on top in guard.

Onodera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zuccari swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Onodera pushing down on Zuccari's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zuccari tries to get to full guard but Onodera has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Onodera tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zuccari knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Zuccari is not content to let Onodera control the position.

Onodera is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuccari is looking for a sweep. Onodera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Onodera is thwarting Zuccari's attempts to control the position.
Tiago Zuccari has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zuccari is trying to get back to full guard.

Onodera is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Onodera uses his free foot to push down on Zuccari's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Zuccari.

Onodera has control of Zuccari's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Zuccari regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Onodera controlling his opponent.
Zuccari is desperately trying to improve his position but Onodera has a good base and remains in mount.
Onodera pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Onodera controlling the pace for now.
Onodera trying to control but Zuccari is having none of it.
Onodera wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Onodera is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Zuccari can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Zuccari stops Onodera from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Onodera avoids the attempt from Zuccari to control.
Onodera tries to take Zuccari's back but instead Zuccari uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Onodera seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zuccari does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zuccari can do anything to dispel that myth.

Onodera is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Zuccari to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.

Onodera thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuccari 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.
Onodera advances position into side control!
Zuccari stops Onodera from passing to mount.
Zuccari can't do much from the bottom here.
Onodera tries to advance to mount but Zuccari denies him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Onodera trying to control the position but Zuccari is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuma Onodera dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Onodera shoots and misses

and Zuccari counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zuccari.
Zuccari leaning against his opponent.

Zuccari has hold of one of Onodera's legs. Onodera is fighting the takedown attempt but Zuccari gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Zuccari with a flurry of punches that miss.
Onodera tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Onodera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Onodera looking for a sweep. Not yet Onodera, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Onodera is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Onodera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zuccari is one step ahead there.

Onodera had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zuccari defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuccari with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Onodera looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Onodera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zuccari is one step ahead there.
Onodera being controlled here, momentarily.
Zuccari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.
Onodera looking for a sweep. Not yet Onodera, not yet.
Zuccari wants to control from the top but Onodera keeps moving.

Onodera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zuccari trying to control the position from guard on top but Onodera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Onodera lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zuccari looking for a sweep. Not yet Zuccari, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuccari has Onodera pulled in close to control his posture.
Onodera tries to free his leg and advance position but Zuccari is retaining full guard.
Onodera sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zuccari's guard.
Onodera wants to control but Zuccari is keeping him busy.
Onodera is looking to advance position but Zuccari won't allow it.
Zuccari wants to control but Onodera is keeping busy.
Zuccari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Onodera is trying to control. Zuccari wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zuccari trying to hold on to Onodera's head to control him but Onodera postures up.
Onodera wants to free his trapped foot but Zuccari is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Onodera is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zuccari doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Onodera.
Zuccari is staying active underneath Onodera, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Onodera looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Onodera works his way into side control.

Onodera looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuma Onodera showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Onodera 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuma Onodera!
Kazuma Onodera bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.