PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pope Callixtus (ranked 1126 p4p, 1075 weight class) and Giancarlo Zuniga (ranked 88 p4p, 84 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Callixtus
vs
Zuniga

167 cm
26
140
5 - 2 - 0

173 cm
26
135
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pope Callixtus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Giancarlo Zuniga!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Dirk Anderson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Callixtus darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Zuniga is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zuniga manages to get to full guard.
Zuniga is trying to control the position but Callixtus postures up.
Callixtus's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Zuniga has his hands on Callixtus's head, controlling the position.

Callixtus postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zuniga is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Callixtus, into his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuniga is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuniga trying to control but Callixtus is working from the bottom.
Zuniga looking to sit in guard and control but Callixtus gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Callixtus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zuniga has his hands on Callixtus's head, controlling the position.
Callixtus definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Zuniga trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zuniga wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Zuniga is trying to keep Callixtus in close.
Callixtus trying to control but Zuniga is working from the bottom.
Zuniga looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Zuniga is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Let's hope that Zuniga has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Callixtus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zuniga swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Callixtus trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuniga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Giancarlo Zuniga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Zuniga gets caught napping as Callixtus dives in and scores a takedown. Zuniga manages to retain guard.
Callixtus trying to control but Zuniga is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuniga pulls Callixtus in to control the position.
Zuniga is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zuniga controlling Callixtus's posture.
Zuniga is continuing to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Callixtus wants to clinch up but Zuniga keeps it at a distance.
Zuniga steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Callixtus.

Callixtus fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zuniga, pushing him back against the cage.
Callixtus goes for a takedown attempt but Zuniga pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Zuniga moves into the clinch.
Zuniga tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Callixtus wants to take the fight to the mat but Zuniga manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Zuniga blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Callixtus has picked Zuniga up - he's going for a ride! Callixtus dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Callixtus wants to control but Zuniga is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zuniga wants to get back to full guard.
Zuniga trying to hold on to Callixtus's head to control him but Callixtus postures up.
Zuniga is trying is best to control the position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zuniga uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Callixtus.

Zuniga has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zuniga looking to slow down the pace here.

Callixtus has picked Zuniga up - he's going for a ride! Callixtus dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Callixtus trying to mount his opponent but Zuniga defends it.
Callixtus not doing much here.
Zuniga is trying is best to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuniga is trying to maintain the position but Callixtus is very close to passing his half guard.
Zuniga moves into full guard.
Zuniga working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callixtus trying to control but Zuniga is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zuniga working a defensive guard but Callixtus manages to pass into side control anyway.
Callixtus tries to move into full mount but can't pass Zuniga's legs.
Zuniga keeping his opponent close.
Callixtus is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Zuniga will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zuniga can't do much from the bottom here.

Callixtus tries for a kimura but Zuniga is defending well.
Callixtus controls the position.
What's Zuniga going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

Callixtus is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zuniga has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus tries to advance to mount but can't.
Zuniga is looking for a sweep.
Pope Callixtus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Callixtus wants to control but Zuniga is keeping him busy.
Callixtus moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Zuniga tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zuniga sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zuniga is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Callixtus's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Callixtus's back!

Callixtus showing good submission defense here.
Callixtus trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Zuniga tries to get the hooks in deep but Callixtus pushed the leg off.

Callixtus showing good submission defense here.
Zuniga trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Zuniga keeps control of the position as Callixtus tries to break free.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
I would not like to be Callixtus right now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Giancarlo Zuniga will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Zuniga clinches.

Callixtus is trying to trip Zuniga. He has hold of a leg but Zuniga is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Callixtus persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Zuniga is trying to keep Callixtus in close.
Callixtus looking to pass the guard.
Zuniga is trying to keep Callixtus in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuniga is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Zuniga keeping moving, preventing Callixtus from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuniga controlling Callixtus's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Zuniga fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Callixtus, pushing him back against the cage.
Callixtus tries to work over Zuniga's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zuniga displaying some good clinch control by pressing Callixtus up against the cage.

Callixtus works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Zuniga looking to control.
Callixtus sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Zuniga is trying to control the position but Callixtus postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus advances to half guard.

Callixtus is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zuniga moves into full guard.
Zuniga pulls Callixtus in close to prevent any damage.
Callixtus tries to free his leg and advance position but Zuniga is retaining full guard.
Zuniga is trying to keep Callixtus in close.
Zuniga looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus looking to sit in guard and control but Zuniga gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Callixtus controlling Zuniga's posture.
Zuniga trying to control but Callixtus is working from the bottom.
Zuniga is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Callixtus keeping full guard, as Zuniga tries to pass.
Zuniga trying to control the position from guard on top but Callixtus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zuniga stopping the sweep attempt from Callixtus.

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.
Zuniga tries to free his leg and advance position but Callixtus is retaining full guard.
Zuniga is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Callixtus throws out a loose jab but Zuniga uses good head movement to avoid it.

Zuniga closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zuniga.
Zuniga blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Callixtus turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Zuniga is not content to let Callixtus control the position.

Callixtus is trying to get an arm triangle but Zuniga is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Callixtus wants to control but Zuniga is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pope Callixtus showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Callixtus has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pope Callixtus!