PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Venicius Da Cunha (ranked 5328 p4p, 3385 weight class) and Nikhil Ziskin (ranked 504 p4p, 399 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Da Cunha
vs
Ziskin

185 cm
18
185
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
190
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

Uncle Rufus Clothing .Co
Knock Out Sups

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Venicius Da Cunha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nikhil Ziskin!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Cunha tries to clinch but Ziskin moves out of range.
Da Cunha misses with a shot to the body

and Ziskin counters with a takedown into side control.
Ziskin creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Da Cunha sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Ziskin cracks Da Cunha with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ziskin throws a strike aimed at the side of Da Cunha's head but Da Cunha avoids it well.
Da Cunha takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Ziskin throws a strike aimed at the side of Da Cunha's head but Da Cunha avoids it well.
Ziskin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Da Cunha. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ziskin throws an elbow but Da Cunha slips to the side and avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ziskin lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Da Cunha down.
Ziskin tries to advance to mount but can't.
Da Cunha dodges the ground and pound from Ziskin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziskin working the strikes but Da Cunha uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ziskin winds up and cracks Da Cunha with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Well, if Ziskin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Da Cunha trying to control here.
Ziskin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Da Cunha keeps working.
Ziskin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ziskin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ziskin lands in his opponent's guard.
Ziskin trying to control but Da Cunha is working from the bottom.
Da Cunha working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ziskin.
Ziskin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Da Cunha working for a triangle but Ziskin defends it easily.
Ziskin trying to control the position from guard on top but Da Cunha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziskin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Da Cunha escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ziskin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Da Cunha throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ziskin landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ziskin is working Da Cunha over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ziskin distracts Da Cunha with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ziskin throwing strikes but missing.

Da Cunha had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ziskin defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ziskin trying to control but Da Cunha is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikhil Ziskin dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ziskin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nikhil Ziskin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Da Cunha throws a head kick but Ziskin moves out of range.
Ziskin avoids the body shot from Da Cunha.
A combination from Ziskin does no damage.
Da Cunha throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Ziskin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Da Cunha napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Da Cunha is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ziskin connects with a decent elbow.
Da Cunha tries to buck Ziskin off but Ziskin is having none of it.
Ziskin trying to control the position but Da Cunha is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Cunha is trying to control Ziskin's posture but Ziskin avoids it.
Da Cunha is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ziskin off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ziskin preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Da Cunha.
Da Cunha avoiding Ziskin 's attempts to control his hands.

Da Cunha working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Ziskin rolls, trying to escape but Da Cunha keeps control of the position.

Ziskin is having to fend off submission attempts from Da Cunha, who is looking to sink in the choke. Da Cunha doesn't have the hooks in though and Ziskin manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Da Cunha definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ziskin controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ziskin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Da Cunha has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ziskin has managed to get both his arms back between Da Cunha's legs - danger averted.
Ziskin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ziskin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Da Cunha works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ziskin works over Da Cunha with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziskin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Ziskin is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Da Cunha has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Ziskin is looking to defend but Da Cunha has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Ziskin! Da Cunha pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Ziskin taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Venicius Da Cunha!
Nikhil Ziskin was interviewed post fight and said 'RIGGED'.