PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Higor Pereira (ranked 8373 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Zabijaka (ranked 6424 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pereira
vs
Zabijaka

168 cm
26
150 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

185 cm
24
152 lbs
12 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Higor Pereira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jack Zabijaka!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pereira misses the jab.

Zabijaka instigates a clinch.
Zabijaka's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Zabijaka prevents the takedown attempt.
Pereira can't get the takedown.
Zabijaka makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pereira fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Higor Pereira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zabijaka lands a hook that snaps the head of Pereira backwards.

Zabijaka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pereira dodges the punch combination from Zabijaka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zabijaka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pereira doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Zabijaka closes the distance and pushes Pereira back into the cage.
Pereira takes a knee right on the jaw!
Pereira is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zabijaka lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabijaka will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Pereira up against the cage.
Pereira tries for a takedown but Zabijaka manages to get underhooks.
Zabijaka lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pereira backwards.
Pereira letting Zabijaka take a breather here.
Zabijaka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pereira is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zabijaka to keep the fight standing.
Zabijaka lands a nice shot to the body.
Pereira takes a shot to the head.
Pereira looking for a takedown.

Zabijaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zabijaka pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Pereira back to the cage. Zabijaka follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Zabijaka moves into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zabijaka.
Pereira has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zabijaka after a bit of a struggle.
Zabijaka scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Zabijaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Zabijaka has managed to clinch.
Zabijaka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pereira backwards.
Zabijaka throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pereiras head.
Pereira tries to pull guard but Zabijaka forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Zabijaka - that landed with a thud.
Pereira is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zabijaka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Zabijaka is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Zabijaka stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Zabijaka breaks from the clinch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Zabijaka.

Zabijaka takes the fight into the clinch.

Zabijaka breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zabijaka has Pereira up against the cage in a clinch.
Zabijaka pushes Pereira back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zabijaka avoiding damage.
Zabijaka connects with a knee to the head.
Zabijaka working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pereira changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zabijaka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Jack Zabijaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zabijaka scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Zabijaka misses with a two punch combination.
Pereira throws a looping overhand right but Zabijaka ducks down to avoid it.
Pereira looks for the body kick but Zabijaka saw that one coming.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zabijaka!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zabijaka defending well as Pereira loads up on a big left hand.
A shot to the liver by Zabijaka. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pereira finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zabijaka misses with a wild combination.
Pereira throws an overhand right that lands on Zabijaka's shoulder, as Zabijaka tries to avoid the shot.
Zabijaka ducks under a wild hook from Pereira.

Zabijaka closes the distance and pushes Pereira back into the cage.
Zabijaka lands with a light punch inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zabijaka working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pereira drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pereira tries for a takedown. No joy.
Pereira has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zabijaka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zabijaka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pereira.
Zabijaka lands a nice elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Zabijaka dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zabijaka has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pereira drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pereira wants a takedown.
Pereira tries for a takedown but Zabijaka manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Higor Pereira. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zabijaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Zabijaka closes the distance and clinches.
Zabijaka scores with a shoulder strike.
Zabijaka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Pereira fails to pull guard.
Zabijaka lands a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pereira drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zabijaka prevents the takedown attempt.
Zabijaka makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zabijaka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pereira has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zabijaka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jack Zabijaka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zabijaka cracks Pereira with a nice body shot.
Zabijaka prevents the takedown attempt.
A shot in the inside from Zabijaka.
Zabijaka lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pereira or not.
Zabijaka lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zabijaka prevents the takedown attempt.
Pereira looking for a takedown.
Zabijaka is working Pereira over against the cage.
Zabijaka scores with a nice hook to the head.
Zabijaka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zabijaka is pushing Pereira up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zabijaka lands a nice elbow.

Zabijaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Zabijaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zabijaka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zabijaka manages to break the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Zabijaka clinches.
A bit of stalling here from Zabijaka.
Zabijaka lands with a left to the head.
Pereira takes a shot to the head.
Zabijaka lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Zabijaka manages to break the clinch.

Zabijaka rushes Pereira and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zabijaka displaying some good clinch control by pressing Pereira up against the cage.
Pereira has Zabijaka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zabijaka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Zabijaka landing knees to the head.
Pereira has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Zabijaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A nice combination there by Zabijaka.

Pereira is rocked!

Pereira tries to keep at a distance but Zabijaka has taken the fight into the clinch.
Oh Pereira is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pereira tries for a takedown but Zabijaka manages to get underhooks.
Pereira seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zabijaka.
Zabijaka lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pereira backwards.
Zabijaka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pereira has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zabijaka after a bit of a struggle.

Zabijaka breaks from the clinch.

Zabijaka has closed the distance and engaged Pereira in a clinch.
A short left from Zabijaka.
Pereira tries to pull guard but Zabijaka forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zabijaka lands a nice uppercut.
Zabijaka lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Pereira is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pereira has Zabijaka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zabijaka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nice body punch from Zabijaka - that landed with a thud.

Zabijaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zabijaka lands a body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Zabijaka clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zabijaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zabijaka lands a body shot.
Zabijaka lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Zabijaka lands a hook that stumbles Pereira back into the cage. Zabijaka follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping Pereira to the canvas! Zabijaka pounces and lands several unanswered shots - Pereira has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Jack Zabijaka!
An out of breath Jack Zabijaka thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.