PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Osmany Pizziconi (ranked 5701 p4p, 6384 weight class) and Zaire Buceba (ranked 581 p4p, 615 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pizziconi
vs
Buceba

186 cm
19
180
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
175
0 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Osmany Pizziconi!
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, Zaire Buceba!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Buceba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pizziconi swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Pizziconi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Buceba throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pizziconi postures up.
Buceba is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pizziconi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pizziconi forces his way into half guard.

Pizziconi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Buceba is just riding it out for now. Pizziconi eventually gives up the hold.

Pizziconi is looking for a kimura but Buceba is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pizziconi to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Buceba is defending against the submission attempts here by Pizziconi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pizziconi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Pizziconi is looking for a kimura but Buceba is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pizziconi to get the leverage.

Buceba looking for submissions off his back.
Pizziconi works his foot free and advances to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Buceba can do anything to dispel that myth.

Pizziconi is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Buceba to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Buceba shrugs it off.
Buceba is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pizziconi looking to control but Buceba is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Pizziconi controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pizziconi is landing with some decent strikes but Buceba is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pizziconi looking to finish Buceba with some ground and pound. This is bad for Buceba!
Buceba throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Pizziconi wants to control the pace but Buceba is squirming around nicely.
Pizziconi lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Buceba hang on?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pizziconi controlling the pace for now.
Buceba tries to lock up and control but Pizziconi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pizziconi controlling the pace for now.
Buceba flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Buceba tries to hold on but Pizziconi postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buceba working to try and regain half guard.

Pizziconi looking to secure an arm triangle but Buceba defends it well.

Pizziconi working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Buceba looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Pizziconi! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Osmany Pizziconi!
After the fight, Osmany Pizziconi was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.