PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andre Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abel Zero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bell comes to the cage accompanied by Remember the Name-Fort Minor. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bell
vs
Zero

193 cm
22
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
195 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andre Bell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Abel Zero!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zero chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bell throws a nice looking combination but Zero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zero avoids a punch combination nicely.
A big right from Bell misses.
Bell throws a nice looking combination but Zero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Zero 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.
Bell looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Zero puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Zero prevents Bell from standing back up.
Zero slows the pace down in half guard.
Zero prevents Bell from improving his position.
Zero sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell is looking to improve his position.

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.

Bell is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Zero pulls his head out easily.
Bell wants to get back to full guard.

Bell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zero works his way into full mount!
Zero sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Bell missing with punches from the bottom.
Bell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bell wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Zero manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell has a hand on Zero's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Zero takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Bell bucks Zero off and manages to get back to his feet!
Bell throws a right and a left that Zero avoids nicely.
Andre Bell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zero.
Bell misses with a hook. Zero ducked under it nicely.
No joy there for Bell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bell is breathing heavily.
Zero avoids the head kick by Bell.

Zero feints and as Bell raises his hands in defense, Zero changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zero preventing the sweep.
Zero throwing strikes but missing.
Zero pushes down on Bell's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bell gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bell is trying to hold Zero in close to prevent damage but Zero has managed to pass into half guard.
Bell wants to improve his position but Zero is controlling well.
Bell is working hard here to advance position.
Zero content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Bell is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Zero pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zero escapes and gets back to his feet.
Bell tries to bum rush Zero with a series of wild strikes but Zero uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bell misses with a double jab.
Bell misses with a series of wild punches.
Bell throws a right and a left that Zero avoids nicely.

Zero shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bell's guard.
Bell being controlled here, momentarily.
Zero lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zero passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bell looking for a sweep but Zero has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Bell tries to hold on but Zero pushes him away.
Bell is trying desperately to improve position.
Zero controlling the pace for now.
Zero manages to capitalize on a mistake by Bell to take his back!
Bell covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell just trying to survive but Zero is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Bell is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Zero.
Bell is trying to stand back up.
Zero is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Bell is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Zero biding his time, controlling Bell.
You can see the frustration on Bell's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four 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.
Bell looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Zero throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Bell tries to escape but Zero has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Bell has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Bell trying to control but not successfully.
I really don't envy Bell right now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zero looking for the choke from the back.
Zero throwing damaging strikes from the back! Bell could be in trouble here!
Bell manages to reverse the position and now he's in Zero's guard. Nice work there by Bell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abel Zero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Bell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zero blocks a jab.
Bell throws a combination. Zero tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Zero is rocked!
Bell scores with a shot to the body.

Zero takes the fight into the clinch.
Bell has Zero pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zero manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Zero lands a takedown into guard.
Zero missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Bell has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zero off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Zero takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Zero is still on wobbly legs! Can Bell finish him?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bell swinging wilding here.
Zero dodges the punch combination from Bell.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zero rushes Bell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zero seems to have recovered his senses.
Bell wants to get back to striking at distance but Zero won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zero is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bell blocks the elbow strike.
Zero lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bell blocks the elbow strike.
Zero looking to slow down the pace here.
Zero manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zero pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andre Bell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zero prevents Bell from breaking the clinch.
Zero misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bell.
Zero lands a nice elbow.

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.
Bell blocks the elbow strike.
Zero wants a takedown.
Zero is trying to stall.
Bell is working for takedown but Zero is calmly controlling the position for now.
Zero is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bell is keeping busy.
Bell blocks an elbow strike from Zero.
Zero creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Zero is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zero.
Bell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Zero manages to pull guard.
Bell is looking to work some ground and pound but Zero has wrist control.
Zero keeping full guard, as Bell tries to pass.
Zero tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell wants to stand but Zero is controlling his posture from full guard.
Zero trying to keep a closed guard but Bell is proving a slippery customer.
Bell postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zero is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zero is on top in guard.
Zero stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bell wants to stand and escape but Zero is having none of it.

That's four 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.
Bell striking off his back but it's not causing Zero any problems.
Zero is standing up over Bell. Bell looks to escape but Zero dives into side control.
Zero moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Bell sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Zero postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Bell to stand up.
Bell throws a series of punches but Zero moves out of range.
Andre Bell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
No joy there for Bell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

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 Andre Bell.
I think Zero 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abel Zero!