PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ziskie (ranked 709 p4p, 153 weight class) and Maurice Tillet (ranked 112 p4p, 20 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Maurice Tillet was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Ziskie
vs
Tillet

187 cm
28
186
17 - 7 - 1

178 cm
28
191
16 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Mike Ziskie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maurice Tillet!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ziskie manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Tillet on his heels. He'll look to pass Tillet's guard now, I'm sure.

Tillet is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ziskie is aware though and is defending well.
Ziskie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tillet swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tillet throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tillet is trying to keep Ziskie in close.
Ziskie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tillet swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ziskie trying to control the position from guard on top but Tillet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tillet throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ziskie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Tillet avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab from Tillet misses.
Ziskie appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tillet throws a body shot but no joy.
Ziskie dodges the punch combination from Tillet.
Ziskie changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Good work by Tillet as he checks the leg kick.
Ziskie slips a straight right by Tillet.
Tillet throws a shot from downtown. Ziskie moves away and avoids it.
Ziskie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tillet.
Tillet misses with a double jab.
Ziskie avoids the body shot from Tillet.
Tillet lands a body shot.
Tillet tries to bum rush Ziskie with a series of wild strikes but Ziskie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tillet is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ziskie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Tillet closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ziskie to the mat! Ziskie manages to get full guard.
Tillet throws a big right hand that misses.
Tillet must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tillet trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ziskie controlling Tillet's posture.
Tillet makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tillet with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tillet trying to control but Ziskie is working from the bottom.
Ziskie looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ziskie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziskie wants to sweep here but Tillet controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tillet accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tillet postures up in Ziskie's guard and throws a big left but Ziskie blocks it.
Tillet is fighting to break Ziskie's control of his arms but Ziskie is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ziskie keeping moving, preventing Tillet from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tillet throws an overhand right that lands on Ziskie's shoulder, as Ziskie tries to avoid the shot.
Ziskie slaps away a takedown attempt from Tillet, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Ziskie moves into the clinch successfully.

Ziskie is trying to trip Tillet. He has hold of a leg but Tillet is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ziskie persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziskie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tillet throwing short punches from the bottom.
Ziskie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ziskie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Tillet wants to improve his position but Ziskie is controlling well.
Tillet keeps trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ziskie trying to control from half guard but Tillet is working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Maurice Tillet will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ziskie gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ziskie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tillet gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tillet prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ziskie goes for a takedown attempt but Tillet pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Ziskie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheers as Tillet lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ziskie doesn't seem phased though.
Tillet takes a swing at Ziskie's ribcage but misses.
Tillet slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tillet swings for the body but Ziskie moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tillet takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nice takedown defense from Ziskie. No joy for Tillet on that attempt.
Ziskie just misses with a punch to the body.
Tillet throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ziskie counters with a single leg into guard. Tillet didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ziskie passes Tillet's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziskie takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tillet tries to roll over but Ziskie keeps him under control.
Ziskie is thwarting Tillet's attempts to control the position.
Ziskie is trying to control the action in half guard but Tillet is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ziskie looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ziskie is trying to control. Tillet wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mike Ziskie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tillet moves into full guard.
Ziskie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tillet's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ziskie moves into full mount! Tillet won't be happy about that!
Tillet stops Ziskie from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Tillet really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ziskie looking to control but Tillet is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ziskie controlling his opponent.
Ziskie wants to take Tillet's back here but Tillet is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Tillet is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tillet gets back to half guard.
Tillet has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Tillet won't allow Ziskie to pass to mount.
Tillet tries to get to full guard but Ziskie has control of the leg.
Ziskie trying to control the action but Tillet is working from the bottom.
Ziskie trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ziskie is looking to take a break and control but Tillet is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ziskie sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ziskie is keen to just control but Tillet is a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ziskie wants to clinch up but Tillet keeps it at a distance.
Maurice Tillet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big left from Tillet misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Ziskie dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ziskie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tillet but Tillet pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tillet throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Tillet shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Tillet was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Tillet laying and praying for a moment but Ziskie takes advantage and regains half guard.

Tillet seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ziskie tries to get to full guard but Tillet has control of the leg.

Tillet is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ziskie sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziskie is concentrating on defense, preventing Tillet from advancing position.
Ziskie is pressing down on Tillet's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tillet landing some decent shots from guard.

Tillet stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Ziskie has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Tillet manages to get his head free but now Ziskie has transitioned to an armbar! Tillet grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Ziskie! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mike Ziskie!
A victorious Mike Ziskie thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.