PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Amado Noel (ranked 24493 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Zigrand (ranked 5881 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Zigrand's choice of entrance music: Linkin Park - Never back down. Daniel Zigrand has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Amado Noel's chin.

Noel
vs
Zigrand

167 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Amado Noel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Daniel Zigrand!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zigrand throws a head kick that misses

and Noel decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zigrand's guard.
Zigrand throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Noel could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Noel postures up.
Zigrand looking for a sweep. Not yet Zigrand, not yet.
Noel postures up.
Noel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zigrand working a defensive guard but Noel passes into half guard.

Zigrand is defending against the submission attempts here by Noel.
Zigrand is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noel is nestled in close to Zigrand, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zigrand trying to control but Noel postures up.
Zigrand is trying to get back to full guard.

Noel is working for a submission of some sort.
Zigrand lands with a few short shots to the body.
Zigrand tries to get to full guard but Noel has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Noel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zigrand wants to get back to his feet.

Zigrand actively working from the bottom here.

Zigrand is defending against the submission attempts here by Noel.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Noel gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Noel wants to stand and escape but instead Zigrand has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Noel has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Zigrand throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noel wants to sweep but no luck.
Zigrand pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Noel is keeping the position for now.
Noel keeping moving, preventing Zigrand from controlling successfully.
Noel 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zigrand is looking to stand up but Noel won't let him.
Noel 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Amado Noel will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zigrand drives through with a takedown into Noel's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Zigrand looking to pass the guard.
Zigrand trying to control the position from guard on top but Noel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Noel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Noel holds on and takes a little breather.
Zigrand slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zigrand stalling away here and it's allowed Noel to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Noel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zigrand gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Noel holds on and takes a little breather.
Zigrand wants to control from the top but Noel keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Noel looking for a sweep. Not yet Noel, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zigrand bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Zigrand wants to lay and pray for a moment but Noel keeps working.
Zigrand has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Noel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Daniel Zigrand has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zigrand can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Noel is looking to escape.
Noel is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Noel tries to hold on but Zigrand pushes him away.
Zigrand can't control as he wanted to and Noel manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Zigrand tries to stand and escape but Noel is controlling the position.
Noel trying to control from the bottom.

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.
Zigrand wants to lay and pray for a moment but Noel keeps working.
Zigrand has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Zigrand is looking for a kimura here.
Zigrand trying to control the action but Noel is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are battling for position here. Noel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Zigrand showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Noel fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zigrand looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zigrand wants to clinch but Noel slips to the side
and Noel counters with a left and a right that stings Zigrand.

Zigrand shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Noel napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Zigrand throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Noel manages to get back to half guard.
Zigrand is trying to control. Noel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zigrand lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Noel moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zigrand slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Noel is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zigrand grinds an elbow into Noel's temple.
Noel gets back to half guard.
Noel is looking for a sweep. Zigrand is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Zigrand there.
Zigrand wants to pass to mount but Noel is defending the position.
Zigrand controlling the action here.
Zigrand wants to stand up but Noel is controlling the position.

Zigrand is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zigrand tries to pass the half guard into mount. Noel knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Noel is looking for a sweep. Zigrand is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zigrand lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Zigrand is keen to just control but Noel is a slippery customer.
Noel is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Zigrand feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zigrand has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Noel is proving hard to escape from.
Zigrand working some strikes from top position.
Zigrand working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Noel wants to sweep but no luck.

Noel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zigrand can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zigrand advances to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Zigrand comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zigrand has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Zigrand!