PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Robert Zeal (ranked 25712 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Basington (ranked 6363 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Billy Basington was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Zeal
vs
Basington

165 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

161 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Robert Zeal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Billy Basington!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Ian Loll and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zeal slips a straight right by Basington.
Basington throws a jab when Zeal was well out of range.
Zeal lands with an overhand left.
Zeal throws a leg kick that misses.
Basington feints the counter takedown.
Zeal shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Basington defends it nicely.
Basington with the counter takedown but Zeal avoids it easily.
Zeal closes the distance and clinches up with Basington, looking for a takedown. Zeal pushes Basington against the cage but Basington circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zeal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Zeal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zeal misses with a takedown attempt - Basington sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Basington doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zeal shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Basington defends it nicely.
Basington looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zeal changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Basington tries to avoid it but Zeal manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Basington to the ground. Basington escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basington throws a lazy right hand but Zeal sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zeal throws a body kick that misses.
Zeal closes the distance and clinches up with Basington, looking for a takedown. Zeal pushes Basington against the cage but Basington circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zeal lands the left hand.
Zeal wants to clinch.
Basington throws a leg kick but Zeal sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zeal avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
No luck for Zeal with that takedown attempt.

Basington closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zeal's guard.
Basington distracts Zeal with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Basington working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zeal's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basington looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Zeal wants to stand but Basington is controlling the position.
Basington not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Basington lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basington scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zeal will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Basington drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Basington jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zeal looking for a sweep. Not yet Zeal, not yet.
Basington is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Basington keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zeal's head.
Basington landing with the ground and pound.
Basington keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zeal's head.
Basington content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Zeal is rocked!
Basington pushes down on Zeal's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Zeal actively working from the bottom here.
Zeal is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Basington is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zeal defends it well.
Zeal on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zeal tries to get out of the position.
Basington scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Basington controlling the action here.
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. Basington connects with a nice short shot to Zeal's temple.
Zeal trying to hold on to Basington's head to control him but Basington postures up.
Basington has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Basington content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Basington dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Basington misses with a hook
and Zeal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zeal slips under a jab from Basington.
Zeal fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Basington avoids the head kick by Zeal.
Zeal dives in and grabs Basington's left leg, looking for a takedown. Basington pushes down on Zeal's head and hops out.
A big left from Basington misses.
Zeal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Basington let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Basington drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Basington has an Americana. Zeal didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Basington is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Basington hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Billy Basington!