PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Libertad Muerte (ranked 5247 p4p, 5627 weight class) and Chad Zoff (ranked 517 p4p, 533 weight class). Libertad Muerte has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Muerte
vs
Zoff

179 cm
18
160
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
161
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Libertad Muerte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Zoff!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muerte pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zoff throws a head kick that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Muerte on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Muerte connects with a jab.
Muerte lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Zoff displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Muerte throws out the jab.
Zoff wants to counter with a clinch but Muerte pushes him away.
Zoff ducks under a wild hook from Muerte.
Zoff's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Muerte connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zoff scrambles back to his feet.
Muerte misses with a straight right.

Zoff drives through and clinches with Muerte against the cage.
Muerte keeps control of Zoff as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zoff is looking to control Muerte's arms but Muerte gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zoff has his back to the cage.
Muerte tries to pull guard but Zoff won't allow it.

Muerte manages to break the clinch.
Muerte blocks a head kick by Zoff.
The fighters circling - Muerte throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muerte throws a lazy right hand but Zoff sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zoff throws a head kick that misses.
Libertad Muerte is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Muerte throws a shot from downtown. Zoff moves away and avoids it.
Muerte misses with a straight left.
Zoff wants to land a leg kick but Muerte is out of range.
Muerte keeps the fight on the outside.
Muerte is looking to counter punch.
Muerte avoids the head kick by Zoff.

Zoff shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Muerte napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Zoff slows the pace down.
Muerte's coaches at Puncher's Chance Collective have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Muerte is trying to improve his position.
Zoff moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muerte can't do much from the bottom here.
The referee asks Zoff politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Zoff prefers to stall for the moment though.
Muerte tries to buck Zoff off but Zoff is having none of it.

Zoff decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Zoff tries to clinch there but Muerte circles away.
Zoff bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zoff with the counter takedown but Muerte avoids it easily.
Zoff tries a head kick but it misses.
Zoff is looking to clinch but Muerte is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muerte scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Zoff closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Zoff is thwarting Muerte's attempts to control the position.
Muerte tries to roll over but Zoff keeps him under control.
Muerte is trying to maintain the position but Zoff is very close to passing his half guard.
Zoff with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Muerte is trying to maintain the position but Zoff is very close to passing his half guard.
Muerte is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muerte looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Muerte with a hook.
Libertad Muerte seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zoff defending well as Muerte loads up on a big left hand.
Muerte sets himself, and Zoff steps forward looking for the clinch! Muerte avoids it this time.
Muerte fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Muerte scores with a jab to the head.
Muerte lands a jab to Zoff's midsection.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Libertad Muerte dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Muerte misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zoff.
Muerte lands with a hook. Zoff tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Chad Zoff is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Muerte. Zoff does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zoff avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zoff with the counter takedown but Muerte avoids it easily.
Muerte bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A big left from Muerte misses.
Despite the aggression on Zoff's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Muerte scores with a punch to the head.
Muerte misses with an uppercut.
Muerte throws an overhand right that lands on Zoff's shoulder, as Zoff tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muerte throws a looping overhand right but Zoff ducks down to avoid it.
Muerte is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zoff moves out of range of the strikes.
Zoff bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoff throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Muerte scores with a nice right hand.
Muerte avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zoff looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Zoff drives through and clinches with Muerte against the cage.
Muerte is looking to break free of the clinch but Zoff has double underhooks.
Muerte has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zoff keeps control of Muerte as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Muerte's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zoff tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zoff tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zoff fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Muerte avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoff moves to clinch but Muerte breaks away
and Muerte cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Muerte gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Chad Zoff has got the better of the ground game so far.
Muerte controlling Zoff's posture.
Muerte wants to sweep here but Zoff controlling him for the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Muerte is working hard here to advance position.

Zoff gets to his feet - Muerte follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Muerte misses.
Zoff avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Muerte throws a body punch but Zoff moves out of range.
Libertad Muerte is winning the standup battle so far.
Muerte works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zoff closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Muerte throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zoff sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zoff uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Muerte.
Zoff changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Muerte throws an overhand right that lands on Zoff's shoulder, as Zoff tries to avoid the shot.
Zoff slips under a jab.
Muerte throws an overhand right that lands on Zoff's shoulder, as Zoff tries to avoid the shot.
Muerte looks to score with a jab to the body but Zoff is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoff steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Muerte.
Muerte throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zoff gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Muerte.
Muerte lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Zoff with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Muerte to score with a decent uppercut.
Zoff throws a head kick that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zoff fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zoff throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Muerte counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Muerte throws a lazy right hand but Zoff sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Muerte is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zoff can do to turn this around?
Muerte lands a lovely overhand right.
Zoff tries to clinch but Muerte moves out of range.
Muerte was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Libertad Muerte dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zoff tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zoff uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Muerte.
Muerte throws out a loose jab but Zoff uses good head movement to avoid it.
Muerte avoids the head kick by Zoff.
Muerte misses with a hook. Zoff ducked under it nicely.
Despite the aggression on Zoff's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Muerte throws a lazy uppercut

and Zoff counters by clinching up.
Zoff throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Muerte blocks it with crossed arms.
Zoff has Muerte pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Muerte manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Zoff breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zoff walks into a jab.
Muerte misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zoff.
Zoff misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoff takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Muerte connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zoff momentarily.
Muerte lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A head kick misses from Zoff.
Muerte scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Muerte throws an overhand right that lands on Zoff's shoulder, as Zoff tries to avoid the shot.
Zoff keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Muerte.
Zoff tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zoff avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zoff ducks under a wild hook from Muerte.
A jab from Muerte misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoff wants to clinch but Muerte slips to the side
enabling Muerte to counter with a crisp jab.
Muerte misses with an uppercut.
Zoff bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Muerte looks to score with a jab to the body but Zoff is just out of range.
Muerte lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zoff tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Muerte paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zoff takes one on the button.
Zoff moves out of range of the strikes.
Zoff walks into a jab.
Zoff displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Muerte throws out the jab.
Zoff drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Muerte defends it well.

Zoff gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muerte goes for a takedown attempt but Zoff pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Zoff has Muerte up against the cage in a clinch.

Muerte breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Muerte throws a hook to the side of Zoff's head but Zoff sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
No luck for Zoff with that takedown attempt.
Muerte is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Zoff on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Muerte looks to throw the jab but Zoff is out of range.
Zoff walks into a stiff left hand from Muerte.
Chad Zoff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muerte looks to throw the jab but Zoff is out of range.
Zoff fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zoff blocks a jab.
Muerte bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zoff's head backwards.
Zoff misses with a two punch combination.
Zoff on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Muerte misses with an uppercut.
Muerte sets himself, and Zoff steps forward looking for the clinch! Muerte avoids it this time.
A jab from Muerte misses.
Zoff has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zoff throws a head kick that misses.
Muerte is looking to counter punch.
Muerte takes a swing at Zoff's ribcage but misses.
Muerte loads up on a big right hand but Zoff slips the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Libertad Muerte showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Muerte, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Libertad Muerte!