PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Rawls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giuseppe Zanotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Rawls
vs
Zanotti

178 cm
20
208 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

187 cm
22
209 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Einherjer RAW Nutrition

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Rawls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Giuseppe Zanotti!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rawls looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Zanotti!

Rawls is going olschool here, as he tries to force Zanotti to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Zanotti shrugs it off.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rawls prevents Zanotti from getting the reversal.

Rawls goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Zanotti turns into him and now he's in Rawls's guard.
Zanotti must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rawls utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zanotti pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rawls is keeping the position for now.
Zanotti trying to control the position from guard on top but Rawls is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rawls has his foot on Zanotti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zanotti works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawls keeping moving, preventing Zanotti from controlling successfully.
Zanotti might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rawls kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Zanotti stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rawls swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rawls throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Rawls is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Zanotti gets to his feet - Rawls follows without any prompting.
Rawls looks for a takedown but Zanotti sprawls well.
John Rawls seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rawls misses with a takedown attempt - Zanotti sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rawls is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zanotti forces Rawls back against the cage and clinches.
Rawls is trying to drag Zanotti to the mat but Zanotti just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Rawls. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rawls tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zanotti smiles and moves away.

Zanotti moves into the clinch successfully.
Zanotti is trying to break the clinch but Rawls has him pressed against the cage.
Rawls managing to block the knees to the body from Zanotti.
Rawls fails to pull guard.
A bit of stalling here from Zanotti.
Zanotti wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rawls has him pressed against the cage.
Rawls tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zanotti wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rawls has him pressed against the cage.
Zanotti misses with a knee to the head.
Rawls fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zanotti looking to throw knees to the head but Rawls is blocking nicely.
Rawls tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zanotti just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rawls tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zanotti just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rawls tries to pull guard but Zanotti won't allow it.
Rawls fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rawls tries to pull guard but Zanotti holds him up against the cage and eventually Rawls drops back down to his feet.
Rawls tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zanotti connects with a knee to the head.

Rawls pulls Zanotti into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rawls is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Zanotti drops back looking for a leg! Rawls is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rawls manages to kick Zanotti off! Zanotti jumps back into Rawls's guard.

Zanotti thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zanotti accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Zanotti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Zanotti drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zanotti jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zanotti distracts Rawls with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zanotti stands up over Rawls, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Zanotti 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.

Rawls looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Zanotti passes into half guard.
Zanotti drops an elbow to the side of Rawls's head.
Zanotti trying to mount his opponent but Rawls defends it.

Zanotti is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rawls doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zanotti.

Rawls looking for submissions off his back.
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 John Rawls will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rawls has a takedown stuffed.
Rawls has a takedown stuffed.
Rawls looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Rawls. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zanotti closes the distance and clinches.
Rawls is pressed up against the cage. Zanotti has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rawls down to the mat. Rawls avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Zanotti lands with an uppercut that bounces Rawls off the cage and back into rage.
Rawls shoots in for a double leg but Zanotti sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zanotti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zanotti throws a nice inside leg kick.

Rawls gets the takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zanotti manages to get back to half guard.
Zanotti is trying to get back to full guard.
Zanotti regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanotti manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rawls manages to get himself to full guard.
Rawls keeping moving, preventing Zanotti from controlling successfully.

Zanotti 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.
Zanotti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Rawls escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zanotti gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zanotti trying to control but Rawls is working from the bottom.

Rawls working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zanotti doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zanotti manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zanotti passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zanotti is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rawls has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rawls tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zanotti wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rawls is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Zanotti 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.
Zanotti wants to take a breather but Rawls is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanotti prevents Rawls from improving his position.
Rawls works his way to full guard. Good work.
Zanotti works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zanotti trying to pass the guard but Rawls defending well.
Rawls tries to get to full guard but Zanotti has control of the leg.

Zanotti escapes and gets back to his feet.

Rawls looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Zanotti!
Zanotti is desperately trying to improve his position but Rawls has a good base and remains in mount.
John Rawls overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zanotti regains half guard.

Zanotti has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Rawls. Oh but Zanotti has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Rawls goes limp - he's gone! Zanotti jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Giuseppe Zanotti!