PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gunars Zonbergs (ranked 7034 p4p, 3339 weight class) and Zachary Crawford (ranked 258 p4p, 183 weight class). Gunars Zonbergs has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Zonbergs
vs
Crawford

183 cm
18
135
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
130
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gunars Zonbergs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zachary Crawford!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zonbergs rushes Crawford and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Crawford is looking to take this one to the mat.

Zonbergs manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Crawford is looking to stand up but Zonbergs won't let him.

Zonbergs escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Crawford gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zonbergs seems keen to control Crawford's posture.
Zonbergs is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zonbergs holds on and takes a little breather.
Zonbergs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Crawford being controlled here momentarily.
Crawford trying to control the position from guard on top but Zonbergs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zonbergs misses with a head kick.
Crawford goes for a double leg but Zonbergs avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zonbergs continues to drive forward.
Crawford closes the distance looking to clinch
and Zonbergs counters with a stiff right hand.
Zonbergs avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford cracks Zonbergs with an open hand slap.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zonbergs is pressed up against the cage. Crawford has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zonbergs down to the mat. Zonbergs avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gunars Zonbergs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zachary Crawford.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Crawford is trying to pull guard but Zonbergs has him pressed against the cage.
Zonbergs really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zonbergs stalling.

Zonbergs has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Crawford uses from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crawford trying to control but Zonbergs is working from the bottom.
Zonbergs looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Zonbergs wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zonbergs pulls Crawford in close to his closed guard and prevents Crawford from doing any damage or advancing position.
Zonbergs striking off his back but it's not causing Crawford any problems.
Zonbergs trying to keep a closed guard but Crawford is proving a slippery customer.
Zonbergs keeping moving, preventing Crawford from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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.
Zonbergs tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Crawford looking to score a takedown here. Zonbergs is defending well but Crawford drives through and ends up in Zonbergs's guard.
Crawford is working Zonbergs over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Crawford chips away with some ground and pound.
Zonbergs trying to keep a closed guard but Crawford is proving a slippery customer.
Crawford scoring with some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zonbergs lands a decent punch to the body there.
Zonbergs is trying to keep Crawford in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunars Zonbergs dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Crawford gets tackled into the cage by Zonbergs. Zonbergs maintains the clinch.
Crawford wants a takedown but no success here.
Zonbergs keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Crawford's efforts to push away.
Zonbergs comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A shot in the inside from Zonbergs.
Crawford wants to stall.

Zonbergs manages to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Zonbergs manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zonbergs to keep the fight standing.

Zonbergs pulls guard.
Zonbergs is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Crawford wants to control from the top but Zonbergs keeps moving.
Zonbergs throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Crawford wants to control from the top but Zonbergs keeps moving.
Zonbergs is wriggling around but Crawford manages to pass to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zonbergs wants to get back to full guard.
Zonbergs has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Crawford is working away from the top position though.
Zonbergs wants to improve his position but Crawford is controlling well.
Zonbergs is not content to let Crawford control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Crawford is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Crawford wants to control but Zonbergs is keeping him busy.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zonbergs lands a head kick!
Crawford misses with a takedown attempt
and Zonbergs counters with a nice uppercut.
Gunars Zonbergs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zachary Crawford.

Crawford feints and as Zonbergs raises his hands in defense, Crawford changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Zonbergs has his feet on Crawford's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Crawford is breathing heavily.
Crawford scores with a leg kick.
Gunars Zonbergs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crawford fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zonbergs stuffs the takedown attempt from Crawford. Crawford gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zonbergs darts in and clinches Crawford up against the cage.

Zonbergs breaks from the clinch.
Crawford digs a good body shot into Zonbergs's ribs.
Crawford throws a leg kick
and Zonbergs counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Zonbergs gets caught flat footed, as Crawford shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zonbergs has his hands on Crawford's head, controlling the position.

Zonbergs scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Zonbergs closes the distance and pushes Crawford back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunars Zonbergs dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Crawford misses with a few strikes there.
Crawford takes a kick to the side of the head.

Zonbergs gets the takedown into side control.
Crawford is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Crawford is trying to control Zonbergs's posture. Zonbergs takes advantage of the lull and advances to side control. He also appears to have an arm triangle here! Uh oh, big trouble for Crawford! Zonbergs is rotating here... this could be the end... Crawford is out! Zonbergs has ended this one emphatically! Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Gunars Zonbergs!