PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jose Ignacio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinny Zito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ignacio
vs
Zito

199 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
22
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jose Ignacio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vinny Zito!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zito drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zito with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ignacio keeping full guard, as Zito tries to pass.
Zito preventing the sweep.
Ignacio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zito with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zito drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zito jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zito wants to control from the top but Ignacio keeps moving.
Zito must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ignacio controls Zito momentarily but Zito frees himself.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Zito changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ignacio looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ignacio is trying to get back to half guard.

Zito is trying to get an arm triangle but Ignacio is defending well.
Ignacio tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zito wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zito is looking to take a break and control but Ignacio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ignacio gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ignacio wants to control but Zito is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zito drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ignacio is being controlled here.
Ignacio gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Zito not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignacio trying to control but Zito postures up.

Zito 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.
Zito looks gassed!
Ignacio is looking to control Zito's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ignacio avoid being mounted?
Ignacio wants to get back to full guard.
Zito sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ignacio defending well though.
Zito throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Zito shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ignacio's guard.
Ignacio looking for a sweep. Not yet Ignacio, not yet.
Ignacio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zito trying to control but Ignacio is working from the bottom.
Zito won't allow Ignacio to sweep him here.
Zito wants to pass the guard but Ignacio is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zito loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ignacio trying to control the position.
Ignacio tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ignacio shoots and misses

and Zito counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ignacio is trying to maintain the position but Zito is very close to passing his half guard.
Zito is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Zito is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignacio is controlling Zito's trapped leg to prevent Zito from advancing to side control.
Zito wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ignacio keeps working.
Ignacio trying to control but Zito postures up.
Ignacio tries to get to full guard but Zito has control of the leg.
Ignacio keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Zito closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ignacio regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zito is looking to work some ground and pound but Ignacio has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinny Zito dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ignacio doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zito counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ignacio!
Ignacio is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The referee warns Ignacio that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ignacio regains half guard.
Zito stalling.
Ignacio is looking to control Zito's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ignacio avoid being mounted?
Zito thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ignacio's head.

Zito is trying to work for a kimura but Ignacio is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ignacio blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zito.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zito is thwarting Ignacio's attempts to control the position.
Ignacio tries to get to full guard but Zito has control of the leg.

Zito is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Ignacio has managed to free his arm - good work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ignacio tries for a takedown but Zito circles away easily

so Zito counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Zito is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Zito drops back looking for a leg! Ignacio is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ignacio manages to kick Zito off! Zito jumps back into Ignacio's guard.
Zito trying to control but Ignacio is working from the bottom.
Ignacio 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Ignacio is trying to keep Zito in close.

Zito drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zito jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ignacio bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zito's guard.
Ignacio is pushing down on Zito's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zito is fighting to maintain full guard but Ignacio has managed to sneak the leg through.
Zito is staying active underneath Ignacio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ignacio moves nicely into side control.
Zito tries to buck Ignacio off but Ignacio is having none of it.
Zito is not content to let Ignacio control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zito is looking to regain half guard here but Ignacio keeps moving and retains side control.
Zito struggling a bit here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ignacio tries to clinch but Zito moves out of range.
Ignacio shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zito counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Ignacio. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zito shoots in and bounces Ignacio off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ignacio is trying to keep Zito in close.
Ignacio looking for a sweep. Not yet Ignacio, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zito is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Ignacio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zito.
Zito trying to control the position from guard on top but Ignacio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zito thows a big elbow that misses.
Ignacio manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ignacio raining down shots from the mount!
Zito is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ignacio looking to control but Zito is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zito really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinny Zito showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ignacio doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zito counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Zito seems to be looking for submissions.
Ignacio works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ignacio working a defensive guard here.
Ignacio 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.
Zito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ignacio is keeping the position for now.

Zito drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zito jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zito throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zito tries to free his leg and advance position but Ignacio is retaining full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ignacio with a poor takedown

and Zito counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignacio wants to get back to full guard but Zito has mounted him!

Zito looking to secure an arm triangle but Ignacio defends it well.
Zito content just to control the position here.
Ignacio is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Zito can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ignacio is looking to escape.
Ignacio manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Zito is trying to work for a kimura but Ignacio is defending well.
Ignacio won't allow Zito to pass to mount.

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.
Ignacio is refusing to be controlled, as Zito sits in half guard.
Ignacio avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zito.
Ignacio gets full guard.
Zito trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zito won't allow Ignacio to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ignacio misses with a takedown

and Zito counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ignacio won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Ignacio. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zito tries for a kimura but Ignacio is defending well.

Zito swings around for an armbar but Ignacio sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Zito's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignacio trying to control the position from guard on top but Zito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ignacio postures up.
Zito looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ignacio wants to control from the top but Zito keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ignacio tries for a takedown but Zito circles away easily

and Zito counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ignacio!
Zito thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Zito looking to secure an arm triangle but Ignacio defends it well.
Zito looking to ground and pound but Ignacio is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignacio wants to hold on but Zito pushes him away.
Zito looking to finish with strikes here!

Zito is going olschool here, as he tries to force Ignacio to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ignacio shrugs it off.

Zito looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Ignacio wants to hold on but Zito pushes him away.
Zito prevents Ignacio from getting the reversal.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zito thowing shots but they're missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vinny Zito comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zito has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vinny Zito!