PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Zappa (ranked 3573 p4p, 314 weight class) and Peter Parker (ranked 5331 p4p, 355 weight class). The key to victory for Ryan Zappa has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Zappa
vs
Parker

168 cm
25
152 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Zappa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Peter Parker!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zappa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Parker to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Parker tries to free his leg and advance position but Zappa is retaining full guard.
Zappa is controlling Parker's posture.
Zappa looking to control.

Parker thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Zappa pushes Parker off and scrambles back to his feet.
Zappa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zappa wants it to stay on the feet.
Zappa throws a body kick that misses

and Parker counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zappa won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Parker looks up at the clock and then as Zappa takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Parker smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Zappa is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Parker in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Zappa tries to buck Parker off but Parker is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parker trying to control the position but Zappa is working away.
Zappa tries to buck Parker off but Parker is having none of it.
Zappa takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Parker is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zappa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Parker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zappa keeps working.
Zappa is trying to get back to half guard.
Parker throws a strike aimed at the side of Zappa's head but Zappa avoids it well.
Zappa trying to remain calm as Parker controls from the top position.
Zappa struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zappa gets back to half guard.
Parker is trying to control. Zappa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Parker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zappa is trying to maintain the position but Parker is very close to passing his half guard.

Parker is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zappa defends it well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zappa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zappa is trying to keep Parker in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Parker trying to control the position from guard on top but Zappa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zappa trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zappa keeping moving, preventing Parker from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Parker shoots in but no luck this time.
Zappa finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Parker has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Zappa is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Parker misses with a takedown attempt
and Zappa counters with a left to the body.
Ryan Zappa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Parker.
Parker stuffs the takedown.

Parker shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Parker was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Zappa manages to work his way to half guard, despite Parker's best efforts.
Parker not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Parker misses with a head shot. Zappa uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Parker throwing strikes from guard but Zappa blocks nicely.
Zappa lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zappa wants to pass the guard but Parker is keeping the position.
Zappa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zappa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Parker is trying to keep Zappa in close.
Parker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
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 Ryan Zappa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zappa is looking to clinch.
Zappa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Parker looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zappa is fending him off so far but Parker persists. Nope, Zappa circles away and we're back to standing.
Zappa lands a head kick. Parker smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Zappa moves into the clinch.
Zappa lands a right hand.

Zappa has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Parker uses from the top position.
Parker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Parker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Parker landing with the ground and pound.
Parker preventing the sweep.
Zappa has control of Parker's left arm, preventing Parker from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parker looking to sit in guard and control but Zappa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zappa trying to control but Parker is working from the bottom.

Parker looking for subs off his back but Zappa has passed one foot through into half guard.
Zappa winds up and cracks Parker with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Parker is looking to escape.
Parker wants to improve his position but Zappa is controlling well.
Zappa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zappa prevents Parker from improving his position.
Zappa wants to control but Parker is keeping him busy.
Parker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zappa.

Zappa wants to work for an arm triangle but Parker is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Parker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zappa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Parker gets full guard.
Zappa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zappa throws a big elbow that misses.
Parker trying to keep a closed guard but Zappa is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Parker fails with a takedown attempt.
Ryan Zappa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Parker.
Parker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zappa avoids it really well and circles away.

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.
Parker closes the distance but Zappa moves to the side
and Zappa counters with a nice body shot.
Zappa misses with a takedown attempt - Parker sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Parker fails to land the takedown.
Parker's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zappa connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Parker scrambles back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zappa takes the fight into the clinch.
Zappa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Zappa dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Parker fails with a takedown attempt.
Zappa throws a head kick that half lands.
Zappa tries to clinch but Parker is having none of it.
Zappa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zappa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Parker circles away.
Parker tries for a takedown but Zappa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zappa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Parker manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Parker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parker makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Parker.
Parker keeping moving, preventing Zappa from controlling successfully.
Parker 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.
Zappa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Parker works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Parker wants to stand but Zappa is controlling the position.

That's two 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.
Zappa tries to free his leg and advance position but Parker is retaining full guard.
Ryan Zappa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Parker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Parker is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Parker tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Zappa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Parker's guard.
Parker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zappa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Parker has his hands on Zappa's head, controlling the position.
Zappa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parker looking for a sweep. Not yet Parker, not yet.
Zappa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Parker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Parker pulls Zappa in close to his closed guard and prevents Zappa from doing any damage or advancing position.
Zappa seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

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.
Parker controls Zappa momentarily but Zappa frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Zappa. No joy for Parker on that attempt.
Zappa throws a big counter combination but Parker scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Ryan Zappa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Parker.
Parker with a poor takedown

and Zappa moves into the clinch.

Zappa breaks the clinch.

Zappa clinches up against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Zappa.
Parker tries for a takedown but Zappa manages to get underhooks.

Zappa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zappa has managed to clinch.

Zappa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Peter Parker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryan Zappa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Parker closes the distance and clinches up with Zappa, looking for a takedown. Parker pushes Zappa against the cage but Zappa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Zappa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zappa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Zappa!