PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Mario Zambrana (ranked 3403 p4p, 385 weight class) and Buzz Meeks (ranked 1936 p4p, 247 weight class). Zambrana comes to the ring accompanied by Impact is Imminent. Buzz Meeks 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!

Zambrana
vs
Meeks

185 cm
30
195 lbs
21 - 19 - 0

185 cm
32
202 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

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 21 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mario Zambrana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Buzz Meeks!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zambrana lands with a shot to the body.
Meeks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Meeks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zambrana moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zambrana misses with an uppercut.
Zambrana lands with an uppercut that bounces Meeks off the ropes and back into range.
A good leg kick by Zambrana.

Meeks moves into the clinch.

Zambrana breaks from the clinch.
Nice jab there from Meeks.
Zambrana jabs at Meeks's body.
Meeks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zambrana.
A counter left hand to the body from Zambrana misses its target.
Zambrana lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Meeks misses with a head kick.
Zambrana is looking to counter punch.
Zambrana scores with a nice right hand.
A left lands for Zambrana.
Zambrana moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Meeks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zambrana was well out of range. Poor timing from Meeks.
Zambrana was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Meeks moves into range and clinches up with Zambrana.
Zambrana misses with a punch to the body.
Meeks gets through Zambrana's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Zambrana.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zambrana.
Zambrana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Meeks stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Zambrana.
Meeks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice left hand lands by Zambrana.

Zambrana's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Meeks misses with a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Zambrana on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zambrana misses with an attempted mid kick.
Meeks misses the jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zambrana.
Zambrana loads up on a big right hand but Meeks slips the punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zambrana. Meeks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Meeks scores with a spinning back kick!
Meeks tries to clinch up but Zambrana circles away and keeps his distance.
Buzz Meeks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Meeks throws a jab when Zambrana was well out of range.
Zambrana waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Meeks.
Meeks steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Zambrana.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Meeks lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Zambrana has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Zambrana and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A little feinted left hand from Zambrana on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Meeks wants to clinch up but Zambrana keeps it at a distance.
Meeks misses with a body shot.
Zambrana tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Meeks was well out of range. Poor timing from Zambrana.
Zambrana slips under a jab from Meeks.

Meeks clinches with his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Meeks digs a right hand underneath Zambrana's ribcage. Zambrana let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zambrana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Meeks is defending well for now.
A short right from Meeks on the inside.

It looks like Mario Zambrana has been cut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Meeks.
Meeks scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zambrana.
Meeks lands with a short shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zambrana.
Meeks goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Meeks lands with a right to the head.
Zambrana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Meeks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zambrana scores with a hook to the body.
Zambrana lands a body shot.
Meeks tries a body shot but Zambrana blocks it.
Meeks prevents a body shot from Zambrana.
Meeks misses with a punch to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zambrana misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Meeks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Meeks.
Meeks is leaning against Zambrana and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Meeks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Buzz Meeks will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mario Zambrana's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Meeks tries to move into range but Zambrana moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Meeks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zambrana throws a lazy right hand but Meeks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Meeks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zambrana.
Zambrana sets himself, and Meeks steps forward looking for the clinch! Zambrana avoids it this time.
Zambrana scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zambrana digs a good hook to Meeks's body.
A thudding body kick lands there by Meeks!
Meeks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zambrana swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Meeks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Meeks on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zambrana. Zambrana obviously looking to wear him down.
Zambrana misses with a looping right.
Meeks closes the distance but Zambrana moves to the side
enabling Zambrana to counter with a crisp jab.
Meeks throws a hook to the side of Zambrana's head but Zambrana sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Meeks pushes Zambrana up against the ropes in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Meeks.
Zambrana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zambrana misses with a punch to the body.
Meeks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zambrana misses with a knee strike.
Meeks misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zambrana misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zambrana misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zambrana blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Meeks.
Zambrana misses with a punch to the body.
Zambrana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zambrana.
Zambrana tries to throw a body punch but Meeks avoids it by throwing Zambrana back against the ropes.
Zambrana blocking some punches.
Zambrana is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Meeks is breathing heavily.
Zambrana lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zambrana cracks Meeks with a nice body shot.
Zambrana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Zambrana.
A short body shot lands from Zambrana as the two fighters clinch.

Zambrana breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zambrana fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Meeks looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zambrana connects with a solid leg kick.
Zambrana stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Meeks drops his hands momentarily and Zambrana takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Zambrana connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meeks wants to clinch.
Zambrana throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Meeks sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Meeks walks into a straight right hand from Zambrana.
Zambrana scores with a nice head shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Meeks.
Zambrana scores with a jab. Meeks acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Zambrana circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Meeks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Meeks moves out of range as Zambrana strikes.
Zambrana swats away the attempt to clinch by Meeks.
Zambrana avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meeks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zambrana is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Meeks.
Zambrana scores with a nice strike.
Zambrana thuds a left hand into Meeks's body.
Meeks looks to land a right hand but Zambrana moved out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Zambrana dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mario Zambrana's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Meeks takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Meeks tries to close the distance and clinch but Zambrana swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Meeks tries to clinch up but Zambrana circles away and keeps his distance.
Zambrana circles away from the clinch attempt.
Meeks doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Meeks throws a head kick that misses.

Meeks fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zambrana, pushing him back against the ropes.
Meeks fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zambrana is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Meeks can do to turn this around?
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Meeks.
Meeks prevents a body shot from Zambrana.
Zambrana tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Meeks's elbow.
Zambrana tries to throw a body punch but Meeks avoids it by throwing Zambrana back against the ropes.
Zambrana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Meeks.
Zambrana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Meeks blocks a body shot from Zambrana.
Buzz Meeks seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Zambrana scores with a nice short uppercut.
Meeks has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Zambrana seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Meeks can turn it around.
Meeks blocking some punches.
Zambrana tries to throw a body punch but Meeks avoids it by throwing Zambrana back against the ropes.
Zambrana tries to throw a body punch but Meeks avoids it by throwing Zambrana back against the ropes.
Meeks misses with some punches.
Zambrana misses with a punch on the inside.
Zambrana scores a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zambrana misses with a hook from the clinch.
Meeks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zambrana blocks an uppercut.
Meeks lands a body shot.
Meeks misses with some punches.
Zambrana lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Meeks.
Meeks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Meeks prevents a body shot from Zambrana.
Meeks struggles to land a body shot inside as Zambrana controls his hands.
Zambrana lands a nice uppercut.
Zambrana looking to throw knees to the head but Meeks is blocking nicely.
A body shot lands from Zambrana.
Zambrana blocks an uppercut.
Meeks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Meeks lands a left hand.
Zambrana works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zambrana.
Meeks working aggressively here.
Zambrana landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zambrana lands a right hand that snaps the head of Meeks backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zambrana digs a right hand into Meeks's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Meeks's gas tank.
Zambrana lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zambrana is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Zambrana lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Meeks or not.
Zambrana lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nice body punch from Zambrana - that landed with a thud.
Meeks takes a knee to the side of the body.

Zambrana manages to break the clinch.
Zambrana bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Meeks's head.
Meeks is looking to clinch but Zambrana is avoiding it.
Zambrana lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Meeks is rocked!
Zambrana connects with a quick right hand that sends Meeks tumbling backwards onto the canvas! As his head bounces into the ropes, it doesn't look good for him beating the count! 3,4,5,6,7 and he's up! No, he's back down again! This one is all over - the referee has called off the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Mario Zambrana!
A pretty intense looking Mario Zambrana took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.