PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Philip Ziskie (ranked 1196 p4p, 1563 weight class) and Desmond Fairbanks (ranked 77 p4p, 98 weight class). Desmond Fairbanks has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ziskie
vs
Fairbanks

173 cm
30
149
20 - 15 - 0

173 cm
36
142
30 - 26 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Altitude Clothing

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 20 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Philip Ziskie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Desmond Fairbanks!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Alyssa Summers and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fairbanks throws the left hand but Ziskie avoids the punch easily.
Fairbanks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It looked like Ziskie wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Fairbanks walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ziskie.
Fairbanks uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ziskie.
Ziskie on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Fairbanks. Fairbanks obviously looking to wear him down.
Fairbanks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ziskie.
Fairbanks looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ziskie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fairbanks takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Fairbanks's coach down at Tōshi was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Fairbanks's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Fairbanks takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nice jab there from Ziskie.
A jab from Ziskie misses.
Ziskie throws out a loose jab but Fairbanks uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ziskie throws a hook to the side of Fairbanks's head but Fairbanks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fairbanks throws a hook but Ziskie avoids it easily.
Ziskie is looking to counter with a body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ziskie misses with a lunging right hand
and Fairbanks makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Ziskie really felt that one!
Ziskie scores with a leg kick.
Fairbanks connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ziskie's hands.
Fairbanks throws a right and a left that Ziskie avoids nicely.
It looked like Ziskie was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Fairbanks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairbanks scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Fairbanks swings widly with a right hand
and Ziskie counters with a good low kick that Fairbanks was not able to check.
Fairbanks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fairbanks takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fairbanks moves away from the strike by Ziskie.
A left lands for Fairbanks.
Fairbanks throws a leg kick that misses.
Fairbanks scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ziskie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fairbanks sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fairbanks swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Fairbanks falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ziskie counters with a straight right hand.
Fairbanks throws a lazy uppercut
and Ziskie counters with a good, hard body kick but Fairbanks shrugs it off.
Ziskie feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Fairbankss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fairbanks takes one to the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Ziskie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziskie connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Fairbanks throws a hook but Ziskie avoids it easily.
Fairbanks darts in trying to clinch
and Ziskie finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Fairbanks lands with an overhand left.
Ziskie connects with a single shot there.
Ziskie misses with a looping left.
Good standup being displayed there by Fairbanks as he connects with a hook.
Ziskie connects with a solid leg kick.
Fairbanks swings widly with a right hand
and Fairbanks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Fairbanks moves into the clinch.
Fairbanks tries to throw a body punch but Ziskie avoids it by throwing Fairbanks back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Fairbanks misses with the head strike.
Fairbanks lands with a light punch inside.
Ziskie pushes Fairbanks back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ziskie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ziskie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ziskie scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Fairbanks fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ziskie on the side of the head.
Ziskie looks to land a left hand but Fairbanks moved out of range nicely.
A slow jab from Ziskie misses its intended target.
Fairbanks rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Fairbanks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fairbanks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Ziskie wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Desmond Fairbanks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ziskie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fairbanks.
Ziskie's jab looks to have found its range, popping Fairbanks under the eye.
Ziskie connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Fairbanks momentarily.
Ziskie tries to land a leg kick but Fairbanks saw it coming and moves away.
Decent striking displayed by Fairbanks there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Fairbanks 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 Ziskie has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ziskie and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ziskie swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ziskie slips under a jab from Fairbanks.
Fairbanks cracks Ziskie with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Ziskie is rocked!

It looks like Philip Ziskie has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fairbanks misses with an uppercut.
Oh Ziskie is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fairbanks lands a nice looking body kick.
BOOM! Fairbanks lands a beautiful left hook that drops Ziskie. Ziskie tries to recover but Fairbanks is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Ziskie lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:12 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Desmond Fairbanks!
A less than humble Desmond Fairbanks misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.