PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paulius Zurauskas (ranked 2515 p4p, 1970 weight class) and Banana Republic (ranked 296 p4p, 249 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zurauskas
vs
Republic

195 cm
27
239
7 - 7 - 0

191 cm
29
270
12 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Paulius Zurauskas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Banana Republic!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Republic slips a jab from Zurauskas.
It seemed like Republic was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Zurauskas throws a poor cross that misses
letting Republic counter with a right hand.
Paulius Zurauskas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zurauskas misses with an uppercut
and Republic counters with a nice uppercut.
Zurauskas swings widly with a right hand
and Republic counters with a right hand to the body.
Zurauskas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Republic counter with a right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Zurauskas misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zurauskas connects with a good right hand that stumbles Republic. Republic circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Zurauskas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Republic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Republic! But no joy.
Zurauskas lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Zurauskas misses.
Zurauskas throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like Banana Republic has been cut.
Zurauskas throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Republic counters with a nice uppercut.
Donk. Zurauskas catches Republic right on the button with a cross.
Zurauskas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Republic.
Republic looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zurauskas swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Republic counters with a stiff right hand.
Zurauskas swings widly with a right hand
and Republic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Republic closes the distance and clinches.
Zurauskas tries to break free but Republic pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zurauskas blocks an uppercut.
Republic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Republic tries to land a knee to the head but Zurauskas blocks with his arms.
Republic prevents a body shot from Zurauskas.
Zurauskas swings wildly with an uppercut but Republic uses good head movement to avoid it.

Zurauskas breaks the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donk. Zurauskas catches Republic right on the button with a cross.
Zurauskas has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Deathsquad in the buildup to the fight.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zurauskas. That's going to slow Republic down.
Zurauskas lands a jab to Republic's midsection.
Zurauskas misses with an uppercut. Republic saw that one coming.
Zurauskas misses with a hook
and Republic counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Republic slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Republic defending well as Zurauskas loads up on a big left hand.
Zurauskas throws a poor cross that misses
and Republic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zurauskas misses with a lunging right hand
and Republic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zurauskas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Republic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Republic tries to counter by closing the distance.
Republic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zurauskas on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A slow jab from Zurauskas misses its intended target.
Zurauskas lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Republic avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Republic! But no joy.
Zurauskas scores with a nice right hand.
Zurauskas swings widly with a right hand
and Republic counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab from Zurauskas misses.
A little jabbing left from Republic on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Zurauskas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Republic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Republic tries to clinch but Zurauskas is having none of it.
Republic slaps away a takedown attempt from Zurauskas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Banana Republic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Banana Republic's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zurauskas attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Republic throws out a counter right but Zurauskas avoids it with no problem.
Zurauskas scores with a nice head shot.
Zurauskas wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A jab lands there for Zurauskas.
A telegraphed right hand from Zurauskas misses the target.
Zurauskas looks to land a combination but Republic avoids it well.
Republic doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Republic takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Zurauskas swats away the attempt to clinch by Republic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zurauskas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Republic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Republic takes a jab right on the kisser.
Zurauskas misses with a jab to the body
and Zurauskas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zurauskas lands a right hook to the body.
Zurauskas dips to his left and cracks Republic with an uppercut!
Zurauskas missing with a left hand there. Republic was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zurauskas throws a right hand that misses
and Republic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zurauskas swings away with a body shot that misses
and Republic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Republic might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Republic moves away from the strike by Zurauskas.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Zurauskas here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Zurauskas misses with an uppercut
and Republic counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Zurauskas misses with a hook
and Republic counters with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Republic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Republic tries to move into range but Zurauskas moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Zurauskas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Republic slips under a jab.
Republic let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Zurauskas misses with a hook
and Republic counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zurauskas throws an off balance right hand

and Republic counters by clinching up.

Republic breaks from the clinch.
Zurauskas fails with a takedown attempt.
Republic looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zurauskas throws a lazy uppercut
and Republic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Republic ducks under a wild hook from Zurauskas.
Republic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zurauskas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Republic ducks under a wild hook from Zurauskas.
Republic walks into a left hand.
Republic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zurauskas.
Zurauskas misses the jab.
Republic doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Zurauskas swings away with a body shot that misses
and Republic counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Zurauskas throws a poor cross that misses
and Republic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Republic moves away from the strike by Zurauskas.
Paulius Zurauskas is winning the standup battle so far.
Zurauskas misses with a shot to the body
enabling Republic to counter with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Republic fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paulius Zurauskas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Banana Republic'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. This is the final round!

Zurauskas connects with a body shot that sends Republic's belly button to the back.
Zurauskas tests Republic's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zurauskas throws a hook to the side of Republic's head but Republic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zurauskas throws a lazy uppercut
letting Republic counter with a right hand.
Zurauskas throws a hook but Republic avoids it easily.
Republic tries to counter with a clinch but Zurauskas shakes him off and moves away.
Zurauskas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Republic takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Republic checks a leg kick.
Republic doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zurauskas misses with a leg kick
and Republic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zurauskas throws an overhand right that lands on Republic's shoulder, as Republic tries to avoid the shot.
Zurauskas misses with a body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Republic! But no joy.
Zurauskas tries to close the distance and clinch but Republic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Republic checks a leg kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Republic! But no joy.
Zurauskas swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Republic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zurauskas throws a poor cross that misses
and Republic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zurauskas misses with a hook.
A little jabbing left from Republic on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Republic slips a jab from Zurauskas.
A little jabbing left from Republic on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Republic ducks under a wild hook from Zurauskas.
Zurauskas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Republic! But no joy.
A swing and a miss from Zurauskas.

Republic gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Republic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Republic closes the distance and clinches.
Zurauskas can't find room to land a body shot as Republic controls the action.

Zurauskas manages to break the clinch.

Republic has closed the distance and engaged Zurauskas in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Republic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zurauskas throws a hook to the side of Republic's head but Republic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Republic is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Zurauskas with a body shot.
Zurauskas cracks Republic with an open hand slap.
A nice leg kick from Zurauskas, right into the meat of the thigh.
Republic takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zurauskas throws a poor cross that misses
and Republic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zurauskas throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Republic counters with a straight right hand.

Republic has Zurauskas up against the cage in a clinch.
Republic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zurauskas's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zurauskas is trying to force a seperation but Republic has the dominant position.
Zurauskas avoids the elbow strike from Republic, against the cage.
Republic has a couple of punches blocked by Zurauskas.
Zurauskas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Republic backwards.
Republic lands a shoulder strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Republic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zurauskas misses with an uppercut
and Republic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zurauskas throws the left hand but Republic avoids the punch easily.
Republic tries to counter by closing the distance.
Zurauskas throws a low kick but Republic moves out of range easily.
Republic looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Zurauskas misses with an uppercut. Republic saw that one coming.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Republic! But no joy.
A low kick from Zurauskas is predictable there
and Republic counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Banana Republic.
I think Republic has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Banana Republic!
A less than humble Banana Republic misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.