PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stevie Hanselman (ranked 2643 p4p, 2022 weight class) and Mirko Zoccato (ranked 199 p4p, 157 weight class). Mirko Zoccato acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Hanselman
vs
Zoccato

167 cm
19
141
2 - 1 - 0

167 cm
29
145
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Stevie Hanselman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mirko Zoccato!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zoccato misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Zoccato shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hanselman manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hanselman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zoccato stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hanselman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hanselman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hanselman keeping full guard, as Zoccato tries to pass.
Zoccato won't allow Hanselman to get back to his feet.
Hanselman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zoccato is one step ahead there.
Zoccato throwing strikes from guard but Hanselman blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanselman seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hanselman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zoccato is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoccato trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanselman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zoccato is standing up over Hanselman. Hanselman looks to escape but Zoccato dives into side control.
Hanselman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hanselman wants to control but Zoccato postures up.
Hanselman is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Hanselman's coaches at Soul Supremacy Rio have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Zoccato has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Zoccato thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Zoccato is looking to take a break and control but Hanselman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hanselman holds on to Zoccato's head and controls the position momentarily.
Hanselman dodges the ground and pound from Zoccato.
Hanselman is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoccato wants to control but Hanselman is keeping him busy.
Zoccato working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hanselman wants to control but Zoccato postures up.
Hanselman is pushing Zoccato's head away, looking to escape. Zoccato manages to hold on to the position though.
Zoccato wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hanselman keeps working.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hanselman is looking to regain half guard here but Zoccato keeps moving and retains side control.
Zoccato moves into full mount!
Zoccato tries to control but Hanselman wriggling away.
Hanselman is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanselman slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Zoccato is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zoccato trying to control the action but Hanselman is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanselman is trying to get back to full guard.

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

Zoccato is working for a kimura but Hanselman is defending it quite comfortably.
Hanselman is trying to stand.
Zoccato throwing shots but Hanselman is blocking nicely.
Hanselman trying to control but Zoccato postures up.
Hanselman desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Zoccato is looking to take a break and control but Hanselman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Zoccato seems to be looking for submissions.
Hanselman wants to control but Zoccato is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hanselman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Zoccato won't allow Hanselman to sweep him here.
Hanselman is trying to control the position but Zoccato postures up.
Zoccato trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanselman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanselman wants to sweep but no luck.
Zoccato slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zoccato trying to control the action but Hanselman is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
An elbow from Zoccato crashes against the mat.
Hanselman wants to get back to his feet but Zoccato drags him back down.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Zoccato dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hanselman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zoccato tries to avoid it but Hanselman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zoccato to the ground. Zoccato escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zoccato shoots for a double leg takedown but Hanselman sprawls well. He's pushed Zoccato's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zoccato fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hanselman avoids it really well and circles away.
Hanselman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zoccato looks for a takedown but Hanselman sprawls well.
Stevie Hanselman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mirko Zoccato.
Hanselman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zoccato defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hanselman is defended easily by Zoccato.
Hanselman fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hanselman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Zoccato's guard.
Hanselman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hanselman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Zoccato had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hanselman defends it easily.

Zoccato is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hanselman is aware though and is defending well.

Zoccato is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hanselman landing some decent shots from guard.
Zoccato manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hanselman manages to get himself to full guard.

Hanselman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zoccato is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanselman trying to keep a closed guard but Zoccato is proving a slippery customer.
Zoccato won't allow Hanselman to get back to his feet.
Hanselman wants to sweep but no luck.
Zoccato postures up.
Zoccato wants to pass the guard but Hanselman is keeping the position.
Zoccato is still trying to improve position.
Zoccato scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zoccato stops Hanselman from standing up.
Hanselman trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Zoccato lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoccato passes Hanselman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zoccato has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hanselman working to try and regain half guard.
Zoccato can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hanselman is looking to escape.
Hanselman is trying desperately to improve position.
Hanselman has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
A lull in the action here.
Zoccato gets his hands free as Hanselman looks to control.
Zoccato trying to control momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanselman is in bad spot here.
Hanselman staying busy and making it hard for Zoccato to control.
Zoccato lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Zoccato.
Hanselman tries to roll but Zoccato sticks to his back.

Zoccato tightening his grip on Hanselman, looking for the choke.
Well, with Zoccato on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Hanselman is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Hanselman is trying to stand back up.
Hanselman trying to control the position but Zoccato manages to sink in the hooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zoccato is looking for the choke from the back position but Hanselman is controlling his hands well.
Hanselman tries to escape the position.
Zoccato is looking to control Hanselman but Hanselman is wriggling around and keeping busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Zoccato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hanselman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zoccato circles away.
Zoccato is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Zoccato tries for a takedown but Hanselman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hanselman shoots in for a double leg but Zoccato sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zoccato with the counter takedown but Hanselman avoids it easily.
Hanselman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zoccato sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hanselman somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stevie Hanselman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hanselman misses with a takedown

and Zoccato counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hanselman keeping moving, preventing Zoccato from controlling successfully.
Hanselman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanselman throws a big elbow that misses.
Hanselman scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zoccato looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoccato controls Hanselman momentarily but Hanselman frees himself.
Hanselman works over Zoccato with some ground and pound from guard.

Zoccato has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hanselman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zoccato has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hanselman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zoccato not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mirko Zoccato has got the better of the ground game so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zoccato is on top in guard.

Hanselman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are battling for position here. Zoccato manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoccato working a defensive guard but Hanselman passes into half guard.
Hanselman working over Zoccato with some ground and pound. Zoccato looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hanselman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Zoccato makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zoccato.
Zoccato controls Hanselman momentarily but Hanselman frees himself.
Zoccato thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Hanselman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hanselman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zoccato swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Zoccato looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zoccato is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoccato tries to free his leg and advance position but Hanselman is retaining full guard.
Zoccato throwing strikes from guard but Hanselman blocks nicely.
Hanselman wants to stand but Zoccato is controlling the position.
Hanselman looking to control but Zoccato passes into half guard.
Zoccato is trying to control. Hanselman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hanselman is looking for a sweep. Zoccato is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zoccato works his way into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanselman tries to improve his position but instead Zoccato has taken his back!
Hanselman is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Hanselman trying to control but not successfully.
Zoccato has the hooks in. Hanselman is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Zoccato lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Hanselman takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Hanselman has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Zoccato looking to break Hanselman's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Hanselman remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Zoccato will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Zoccato controls the position.
Stevie Hanselman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
You can see the frustration on Hanselman's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Zoccato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zoccato has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mirko Zoccato!