PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ze Serra (ranked 7060 p4p, 0 weight class) and Banana Man (ranked 23174 p4p, 0 weight class). Banana Man told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Serra
vs
Man

180 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
21
178 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ze Serra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Banana Man!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Man shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Well, if Man is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Serra is pressing down on Man's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Serra wants to improve his position but instead Man has moved into half guard.

Man is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Serra sees it coming and defends easily.
Man looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Serra is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Man wants to work for an arm triangle but Serra is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Serra is looking to improve his position.
Man is thwarting Serra's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Serra is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Man sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Serra trying to hold on to Man's head to control him but Man postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Man controlling the action here.
Serra works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Man stays in close to Serra's body and controls the position.
Serra is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Man is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Serra has Man up against the cage in a clinch.
Man tries for a takedown but Serra manages to get underhooks.
Serra pushes Man back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Serra has Man pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Man manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Serra manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Serra is looking to stand up but Man isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Serra has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Man can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Serra wants to stand up but Man is controlling him.
Man controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Man drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Man jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Man drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Man jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Man is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Man misses with a takedown
and Serra counters with a series of strikes. Man will be more careful next time no doubt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Serra looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Man fails with a takedown attempt.
Ze Serra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Banana Man.

Man shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Man was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You can see the frustration on Serra's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Serra pushes Man away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Man gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
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 Ze Serra will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Man shoots in for a double leg but Serra sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Man tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Serra defends well and Man ends up having to push Serra into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ze Serra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Man avoids a punch combination nicely.
Man has a takedown stuffed.
Ze Serra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Banana Man.
Serra misses with the combination.
Serra closes this distance looking for a takedown but Man circles away.

Serra gets caught napping as Man dives in and scores a takedown. Serra manages to retain guard.
Serra is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Serra misses with a head shot. Man uses the momentum to regain guard.
Serra wants to control from the top but Man keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Serra accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Man keeping moving, preventing Serra from controlling successfully.

Serra avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Serra has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Man is working an open guard so Serra takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Man closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Serra to the mat! Serra manages to get full guard.
Man passes easily into side control. Nice work.

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

Man is looking for a triangle but Serra pushes his legs off easily.
Serra trying to control the position from guard on top but Man is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Man is looking for a triangle but Serra pushes his legs off easily.
Serra throwing strikes from guard but Man blocks nicely.

Serra avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Banana Man has got the better of the ground game so far.
Serra throwing strikes from guard but Man blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Man is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Serra missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Man is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Serra tries to stand but Man is controlling from the bottom.
Serra tries to free his leg and advance position but Man is retaining full guard.
Serra stopping the sweep attempt from Man.
Serra trying to control the position from guard on top but Man is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Serra trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Man fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Serra sprawls well initially but Man persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Serra moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Man looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Man pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Serra is keeping the position for now.

Serra escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Man gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Man is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Man forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ze Serra will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Serra shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Man eats them both and turns towards Serra to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
No luck for Man with that takedown attempt.
Serra plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Serra tries to close the distance and clinch but Man swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Man shoots in for a takedown but Serra shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Serra connects with a good right hand that stumbles Man. Man circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ze Serra is winning the standup battle so far.
Serra throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Man stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Man with a poor takedown
and Man takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ze Serra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Banana Man.
Serra goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
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!

Man shoots in and gets a takedown into Serra's guard.
Man is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Let's hope that Man has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Serra is keeping the position for now.
Serra is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Man is controlling him.
Serra keeping full guard, as Man tries to pass.
Man is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Man advances to half guard.

Man seems to be working for a kimura but Serra defends the submission attempt.

Man wants to work for an arm triangle but Serra is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Man perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Serra is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Man is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Serra has managed to free his arm - good work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Man is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Serra sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man content to control rather than advance.

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

Serra gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Man is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Man wants to pass the guard but Serra is keeping the position.
Man slips nicely into half guard.
Man sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Man is trying to work for a kimura but Serra is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Serra pushes Man off looking to stand but Man dives back in and keeps control.
Man stalling.

Man is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Serra looks like he's trying to stand up.
Man trying to mount his opponent but Serra defends it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Man is looking for a kimura here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ze Serra.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Serra, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ze Serra!