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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yayi Zinsou (ranked 763 p4p, 1807 weight class) and Naiki Nekele (ranked 116 p4p, 263 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 199 cm
41
273
36 - 45 - 0 |
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210 cm
40
275
35 - 29 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 45 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yayi Zinsou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Naiki Nekele!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Chad Campbell and Dean Styles.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zinsou uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nekele.
Nekele tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zinsou was well out of range. Poor timing from Nekele.
The fighters circling - Nekele throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nekele stuffs the takedown.
Zinsou shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nekele pulls Zinsou in close to his closed guard and prevents Zinsou from doing any damage or advancing position.
Zinsou won't allow Nekele to sweep him here.
Zinsou showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zinsou trying to control the position from guard on top but Nekele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nekele is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nekele avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zinsou trying to control the position from guard on top but Nekele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zinsou definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Zinsou throws a big elbow that misses.
Zinsou with a nice head shot there.
Zinsou preventing the sweep.
Zinsou lands a couple of elbows.
Zinsou throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zinsou postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zinsou works over Nekele with some ground and pound from guard.
Zinsou wants to control from the top but Nekele keeps moving.
Zinsou working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zinsou throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zinsou trying to control the position from guard on top but Nekele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nekele pulls Zinsou in to control the position.
Zinsou stopping the sweep attempt from Nekele.
Nekele wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nekele looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zinsou is one step ahead there.
Zinsou is stalling in the full guard.
Nekele lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Nekele wants to pass the guard but Zinsou is keeping the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou wants to stand but Nekele is controlling the position.
Nekele trying to control the position from guard on top but Zinsou is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zinsou wants to get back to his feet but Nekele is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Zinsou looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zinsou is working hard here to advance position.
Zinsou wants to get back to his feet but Nekele is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Zinsou is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nekele won't allow Zinsou to sweep him here.
Nekele stands up out of Zinsou's guard for a moment - Zinsou manages to land a nice upkick.
Nekele pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zinsou is keeping the position for now.
Nekele preventing the sweep.
Zinsou might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zinsou trying to keep a closed guard but Nekele is proving a slippery customer.
Nekele slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zinsou looking for a sweep. Not yet Zinsou, not yet.
Zinsou is looking to stand up but Nekele isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Zinsou keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nekele's corner calls for a 1-2. Nekele obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
It looks like Yayi Zinsou has been cut.
Zinsou uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nekele.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nekele. Zinsou does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nekele leaves Zinsou with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nekele has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Zinsou is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Zinsou shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nekele but Nekele pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yayi Zinsou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nekele scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nekele throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice shot lands for Nekele.
Zinsou drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Naiki Nekele will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yayi Zinsou's cut.
That's time! Zinsou's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Zinsou closes the distance and clinches up with Nekele, looking for a takedown. Zinsou pushes Nekele against the cage but Nekele circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zinsou misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nekele scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zinsou doesn't seem bothered though.
Zinsou shoots in looking for a takedown but Nekele manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zinsou's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nekele throws out a counter right but Zinsou avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yayi Zinsou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nekele circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nekele swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zinsou shoots in for a takedown but Nekele shows good takedown defense.
Zinsou drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zinsou trying to control but Nekele is working from the bottom.
Zinsou working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zinsou landing with the ground and pound.
Zinsou trying to control the position from guard on top but Nekele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zinsou working some strikes from top position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nekele seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Zinsou postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nekele holds on and takes a little breather.
Nekele utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nekele is trying to keep Zinsou in close.
Zinsou works over Nekele with some ground and pound from guard.
Nekele tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zinsou is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nekele looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zinsou accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nekele wants to sweep but no luck.
Nekele seems keen to control Zinsou's posture.
Zinsou trying to control but Nekele is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nekele controlling the position.
Nekele tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zinsou in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zinsou lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zinsou lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zinsou loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zinsou trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nekele trying to keep a closed guard but Zinsou is proving a slippery customer.
Nekele working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zinsou.
Zinsou won't allow Nekele to sweep him here.
Zinsou showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zinsou preventing the sweep.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nekele looking to control.
Zinsou wants to control from the top but Nekele keeps moving.
Zinsou cracks Nekele with a solid left hand.
Zinsou trying to control but Nekele is working from the bottom.
Zinsou with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zinsou wants to pass the guard but Nekele is keeping the position.
Zinsou trying to control but Nekele is working from the bottom.
Zinsou working some strikes from top position.
Zinsou throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nekele works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zinsou with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nekele looking to control.
Nekele looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nekele trying to control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou wants to control from the top but Nekele keeps moving.
Zinsou is really struggling to control Nekele but he's trying to hold on to the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nekele is on top in guard.
Zinsou is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Yayi Zinsou overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zinsou not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zinsou prevents Nekele from improving his position.
Zinsou missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zinsou scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zinsou working over Nekele with some ground and pound. Nekele looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nekele is positioning himself well to prevent Zinsou advancing to mount.
Zinsou working the head and body with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Yayi Zinsou dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Yayi Zinsou's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Nekele tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zinsou was well out of range. Poor timing from Nekele.
Nekele scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zinsou doesn't seem bothered though.
Nekele throws a jab when Zinsou was well out of range.
Zinsou keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nekele.
Zinsou tries to counter with a takedown but Nekele is quick to defend against it.
Zinsou tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nekele manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nekele is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Zinsou has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nekele.
Nekele finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zinsou attempts a counter takedown but Nekele avoids it well and moves away.
Zinsou is looking to clinch.
Nekele flicks out a counter leg kick but Zinsou steps away.
Zinsou throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zinsou with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nekele counters with a straight right hand.
A big left from Zinsou misses.
Nekele swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zinsou.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zinsou ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice uppercut there from Nekele.
Nekele listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Zinsou walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zinsou shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zinsou showed some decent athleticism there.
Nekele is pressing down on Zinsou's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zinsou connects with a couple of short punches.
Zinsou trying to control but Nekele is working from the bottom.
Zinsou stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nekele swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zinsou scoring with some ground and pound.
Zinsou working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zinsou postures up and lands a big shot to Nekele's brow.
Zinsou cracks Nekele with a solid left hand.
Zinsou wants to control from the top but Nekele keeps moving.
Zinsou lands a couple of elbows.
Zinsou postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zinsou trying to control but Nekele is working from the bottom.
Nekele is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zinsou accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zinsou trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zinsou won't allow Nekele to sweep him here.
Nekele trying to control the position.
Zinsou makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nekele takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zinsou trying to control the position from guard on top but Nekele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zinsou lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zinsou is pushing down on Nekele's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nekele is fighting to maintain full guard but Zinsou has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nekele blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zinsou.
Nekele is refusing to be controlled, as Zinsou sits in half guard.
Zinsou throwing shots but Nekele is blocking nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nekele does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zinsou throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nekele is trying to get back to full guard.
Zinsou is keen to just control but Nekele is a slippery customer.
Zinsou seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nekele is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zinsou stalling.
Zinsou takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zinsou trying to pass the guard but Nekele defending well.
Zinsou sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nekele defending well though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zinsou in particular looking to stall.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zinsou performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nice strikes from Zinsou there.
Nekele is rocked!
Zinsou wants to control but Nekele is keeping him busy.
Nekele wants to get back to full guard.
Zinsou wants to take a breather but Nekele is having none of it.
Nekele taking some punishment here, with Zinsou in his half guard.
Zinsou throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zinsou is trying to control the action in half guard but Nekele is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nekele is trying to maintain the position but Zinsou is very close to passing his half guard.
Nekele is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zinsou scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nekele is still in real trouble! Can Zinsou finish him?
Zinsou sitting in half guard here. He lands a big elbow that has hurt Nekele! Oh, Nekele is in big trouble! Zinsou lands more strikes and the ref dives in to save him! The fight is over!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Yayi Zinsou!
Yayi Zinsou was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
52% |
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