PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Slick Sanchez (ranked 5949 p4p, 3158 weight class) and Akoni Zidane (ranked 267 p4p, 171 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sanchez
vs
Zidane

161 cm
19
135
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
139
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Paradise Supplements
REDEMPTION ink

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Slick Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Akoni Zidane!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez throws a body shot but no joy.
Sanchez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Sanchez takes the fight into the clinch.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Zidane has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Zidane manages to break the clinch.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt.
Zidane shoots in looking for a takedown but Sanchez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zidane's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zidane.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez shoots in looking for a takedown but Zidane manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sanchez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zidane is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slick Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zidane tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zidane dodges the punch combination from Sanchez.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez pushes Zidane up against the cage in a clinch.
Sanchez taking a breather.

Zidane breaks the clinch.

Sanchez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zidane, pushing him back against the cage.

Zidane jumps guard.
Sanchez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zidane seems keen to control Sanchez's posture.
Sanchez preventing the sweep.
Zidane is pulling down on Sanchez's head to control his posture.
Zidane is trying to keep Sanchez in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Zidane is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez trying to control but Zidane is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zidane closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zidane lands in his opponent's guard.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zidane.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zidane makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zidane is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Sanchez working for a triangle but Zidane defends it easily.
Zidane lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Zidane is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Zidane is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sanchez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sanchez has escaped and now he's on top!

Zidane has a closed guard, preventing Sanchez from standing up.
Sanchez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zidane on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sanchez controlling from the top position.

Zidane working for a triangle but Sanchez defends it easily.
Sanchez trying to control but Zidane is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zidane is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Akoni Zidane will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A combination from Zidane does no damage.
Sanchez throws a sloppy head kick and Zidane moves out of range easily.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses.
Zidane moves out of range of the leg kick from Sanchez.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sanchez is trying to pull guard but Zidane has him pressed against the cage.

Zidane pulls guard.
Sanchez is looking to stand up but Zidane won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zidane is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Zidane keeps moving.
Sanchez controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zidane trying to control the position.
Sanchez is fighting to break Zidane's control of his arms but Zidane is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sanchez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanchez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zidane is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zidane blocks a head kick by Sanchez.
Zidane is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Sanchez rushes Zidane and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sanchez is trying to break free.

That's two 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.
Sanchez struggles to land a body shot inside as Zidane controls his hands.
Zidane is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zidane tries to work over Sanchez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Zidane manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zidane looking to control.
Sanchez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Zidane is retaining full guard.
Zidane is pulling down on Sanchez's head to control his posture.
Sanchez looking to sit in guard and control but Zidane gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sanchez wants to control but Zidane passes easily into half guard.
Akoni Zidane has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanchez wants to control but Zidane passes into side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zidane has an Americana. Sanchez didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Zidane is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Zidane hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Akoni Zidane!
Akoni Zidane made sure to mention his sponsor, Paradise Supplements in his post fight interview.