PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Charles Eric Cheese (ranked 3 p4p, 224 weight class) and Zigor Azarola (ranked 1 p4p, 14 weight class). Cheese's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Midnight NAMBLA. The crowd seem to be enjoying Azarola's choice of entrance music: Million Shattered Swords by Witchrot. 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.

Cheese
vs
Azarola

175 cm
28
135
20 - 6 - 0

160 cm
26
138
15 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Conquer

Conquer
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Charles Eric Cheese!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zigor Azarola!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cheese throws a leg kick but Azarola sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cheese scores with a nice head shot.
Azarola is looking to clinch but Cheese is avoiding it.
Azarola fails with an attempt to clinch.

Azarola has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cheese blocking some punches.
Cheese pushes Azarola back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cheese.
Cheese content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Azarola working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A left hand lands to the body for Azarola.
Cheese really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cheese swings wildly with an uppercut but Azarola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cheese working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Azarola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Cheese.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azarola stalling in the clinch but Cheese improves position.
Cheese working aggressively here.
Cheese throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Cheese.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Azarola takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Azarola lands a hook that snaps the head of Cheese backwards.
Azarola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cheese's elbow.
Azarola lands a nice uppercut.
Cheese working aggressively here.
A bit of stalling here from Azarola.
Nice body punch from Cheese.
Cheese blocking some punches.
Cheese works on Azarola's body with a couple of short punches.
Cheese blocks a body shot from Azarola.
Cheese lands a left hand that snaps the head of Azarola backwards.
Cheese pushes Azarola back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cheese lands a left hand that snaps the head of Azarola backwards.
Cheese gets through Azarola's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Good body shot from Cheese.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azarola fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Azarola blocks a body shot from Cheese.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azarola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Azarola lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Azarola doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cheese softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cheese tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Azarola's elbow.
Cheese lands with a light punch inside.
Azarola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cheese's elbow.
Cheese throws a head punch that misses.
Cheese swings wildly with an uppercut but Azarola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cheese goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Azarola is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cheese misses with some punches.
Azarola blocks a body shot from Cheese.
Azarola throws a punch but it's blocked by Cheese.
Cheese scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cheese swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cheese tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Azarola.
Cheese blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cheese blocks an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Cheese.
Azarola taking a breather.
Azarola scores with a shoulder strike.
I was talking to Cheese's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A right hand to the body from Cheese.
Come on Cheese - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Azarola lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cheese or not.
Cheese misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Azarola.
Cheese swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Cheese.
Nice body punch from Cheese.
Cheese being controlled against the cage.
Azarola stalling in the clinch but Cheese improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Azarola as Cheese tries to tie him up.
Azarola tries to throw a body punch but Cheese avoids it by throwing Azarola back against the cage.
Azarola blocks an uppercut.
Azarola makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Azarola tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Azarola throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azarola doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cheese lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Azarola tries to throw a body punch but Cheese avoids it by throwing Azarola back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Azarola.
Cheese working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cheese misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cheese misses with a hook from the clinch.
Azarola prevents a body shot from Cheese.
Azarola tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cheese throws a punch but it's blocked by Azarola.
A right handed body shot lands from Azarola.
Cheese has a couple of punches blocked by Azarola.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Eric Cheese dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Azarola gets a clinch.
Azarola's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Charles Eric Cheese has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cheese lands a shoulder strike.
Cheese lands a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Cheese fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cheese.
Stalling in the clinch from Cheese.
Cheese tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Azarola's elbow.
Azarola scores with a hook to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cheese.
Azarola throws a head punch that misses.
Cheese lands a left hand.
Azarola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Azarola.
Azarola tries to throw a body punch but Cheese avoids it by throwing Azarola back against the cage.
Azarola goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cheese scores with a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cheese as Azarola tries to tie him up.
Cheese working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azarola is struggling to control the position.
Cheese is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Azarola can do to turn this around?
Azarola swings wildly with an uppercut but Cheese uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azarola goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cheese working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Azarola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cheese's elbow.
Azarola lands a body punch in the clinch.
Azarola lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cheese prevents a body shot from Azarola.

Azarola breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Azarola connects with a leg kick.
Azarola throws a push kick but Cheese slaps the foot to one side.
Cheese checks a low kick from Azarola.
Azarola works over Cheese's head and body with a nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cheese lands a jab to the nose.
Azarola connects with a looping right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cheese scores with the left hand. Azarola knows he should have avoided that one.
Azarola tries to clinch but Cheese moves out of range.
Azarola lands with a nice body kick.

Azarola drives through and clinches with Cheese against the cage.
Azarola slowing the pace effectively.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cheese creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cheese is leaning against Azarola and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Cheese taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Cheese lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Azarola backwards.
Cheese blocks a body shot from Azarola.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cheese as Azarola tries to tie him up.
Cheese just leaning against Azarola, taking a breather.
A short uppercut from Cheese.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Azarola as Cheese tries to tie him up.
Azarola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Azarola.
Cheese misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Azarola misses with a punch to the body.
Cheese swings wildly with an uppercut but Azarola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azarola tries to throw a body punch but Cheese avoids it by throwing Azarola back against the cage.
Cheese lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nice body punch from Cheese - that landed with a thud.
Cheese misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cheese lands a right hand that snaps the head of Azarola backwards.

Azarola escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cheese attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Cheese is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Azarola.
Cheese misses with an uppercut
and Azarola counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azarola rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cheese moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cheese misses with a right hand
and Azarola counters with a stiff right hand.
Azarola lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azarola wants to clinch.
Cheese misses with a leg kick
letting Azarola counter with a right hand.
Zigor Azarola seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Azarola getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Azarola misses with a leg kick
and Cheese counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Azarola loads up on a big right hand but Cheese slips the punch.
An inside leg kick lands from Azarola.
Cheese throws a sloppy body shot
and Azarola counters with a three punch combo that has Cheese backing up. Cheese nods at Azarola to acknowledge the strikes.
Cheese connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Azarola momentarily.
Cheese throws the left hand but Azarola avoids the punch easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Charles Eric Cheese will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A jab from Azarola finds it's way through Cheese's defenses.
Cheese tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Azarola was well out of range. Poor timing from Cheese.
Azarola now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Azarola checks the leg kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Azarola! But no joy.
Cheese checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Cheese throws a jab but it's blocked by Azarola.
Azarola looks to clinch
and Azarola takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Azarola misses with a straight left.
Azarola lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cheese tries to land a front kick but Azarola steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cheese throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Azarola misses the target.
Azarola wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Azarola dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Azarola throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheese throws a front kick aimed at Azarola's knee but Azarola avoids it well.
Azarola throws a nice outside leg kick.
Azarola lands a body shot.
Azarola slips a jab from Cheese.
Azarola fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cheese with a nice cross.
Azarola misses with a straight left.

Cheese clinches with his opponent.
Azarola tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cheese throws a punch but it's blocked by Azarola.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cheese.
Cheese fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Azarola being controlled against the cage.
Cheese swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cheese.
Azarola lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cheese looking to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cheese.
Cheese misses with some punches.
Cheese throws a head punch that misses.
Azarola misses with a punch on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cheese lands a right hand that snaps the head of Azarola backwards.
Azarola lands a body punch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cheese.
Azarola fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cheese misses with a punch to the body.
Cheese blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cheese lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cheese blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheese misses with a short punch on the inside.
Azarola doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cheese trying to stall but Azarola improves his position.
Cheese tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cheese controlling the action here for a moment.
Azarola misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Azarola misses with a punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Cheese.
Azarola misses with a punch on the inside.
Azarola throws a head punch that misses.
Cheese misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Azarola trying to control the position but instead, Cheese has worked for underhooks and has pushed Azarola into the cage.
Cheese misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cheese blocks an uppercut.
Cheese lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cheese can't find room to land a body shot as Azarola controls the action.
Cheese working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cheese lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Azarola lands a hook to the side of the head.
Azarola tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The referee is keeping an eye on Azarola - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cheese prevents a body shot from Azarola.
Azarola has a couple of punches blocked by Cheese.
Azarola letting Cheese take a breather here.
Azarola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cheese looking to stall.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Azarola as Cheese tries to tie him up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Charles Eric Cheese did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cheese misses with a hook to the body
and Azarola counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cheese misses with a left hand
and Azarola counters with a nice uppercut.

Cheese pushes Azarola up against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Azarola doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cheese misses with a short punch on the inside.
Azarola swings wildly with an uppercut but Cheese uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cheese lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cheese throws a punch but it's blocked by Azarola.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azarola works on Cheese's body with a couple of short punches.
Azarola blocking some punches.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cheese - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cheese tries to work over Azarola's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cheese lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheese's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cheese lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Azarola scores with a nice short uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Cheese.
Cheese tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Azarola's elbow.
Azarola blocks a body shot from Cheese.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Cheese tries a body shot but Azarola blocks it.
Azarola throws a head punch that misses.
Cheese misses with the head strike.
Cheese misses with the head strike.
Azarola swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Azarola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cheese's elbow.
A short left from Azarola.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cheese.
Cheese blocking some punches.
A short left from Cheese.
Cheese lands a hook that snaps the head of Azarola backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cheese throws a head punch that misses.
Cheese swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Azarola lands a right hand.
Azarola working aggressively here.
Cheese misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Cheese fails to land.
Cheese misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cheese blocks an uppercut.
Cheese working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cheese throws a punch but it's blocked by Azarola.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Cheese has a couple of punches blocked by Azarola.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Azarola.
Azarola tries to throw a body punch but Cheese avoids it by throwing Azarola back against the cage.
Cheese tries to work over Azarola's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azarola prevents a body shot from Cheese.
Cheese tries a body shot but Azarola blocks it.
A body shot lands from Azarola.
Cheese misses with some punches.
Cheese stalling in the clinch but Azarola improves position.
Azarola blocks an uppercut.
Azarola's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cheese digs a right hand into Azarola's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Azarola's gas tank.
Azarola blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cheese misses with some punches.
Azarola misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Azarola blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Azarola.
Cheese throws a punch but it's blocked by Azarola.
Cheese throws a punch but it's blocked by Azarola.
A head punch on the inside from Azarola fails to land.
A short uppercut from Azarola.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cheese misses with a punch to the body.
Cheese swings wildly with an uppercut but Azarola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azarola scores with a shoulder strike.
Azarola avoiding damage.
Azarola digs a right hand into Cheese's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cheese's gas tank.
Azarola trying to stall but Cheese improves his position.
Cheese works on Azarola's body with a couple of short punches.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cheese throws a punch but it's blocked by Azarola.
Cheese tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Azarola tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Azarola lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cheese has a couple of punches blocked by Azarola.
Azarola doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Azarola presses Cheese against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cheese digs a right hand underneath Azarola's ribcage. Azarola let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cheese blocks an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Charles Eric Cheese will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cheese misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Azarola counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zigor Azarola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cheese steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Azarola. That one must have hurt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Azarola. That's going to slow Cheese down.
The fighters circling - Azarola throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cheese takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Azarola misses with a straight right.
It looked like Cheese wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cheese misses with a left hand
and Azarola counters with a nice leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Azarola.
Azarola uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cheese.
Azarola doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donk. Cheese catches Azarola right on the button with a cross.
Cheese throws a low kick but it's checked well by Azarola.

Cheese takes the fight into the clinch.
Cheese makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheese misses with a hook from the clinch.
Azarola lands a right hand.
Cheese has a couple of punches blocked by Azarola.
Cheese fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Azarola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Azarola lands a nice uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Azarola.
Cheese can't find room to land a body shot as Azarola controls the action.
Azarola pressing his opponent against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Azarola.
Cheese lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cheese tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Azarola's elbow.
Azarola tries to work over Cheese's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Azarola lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azarola lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cheese lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Azarola backwards.
Cheese misses with a hook from the clinch.
Azarola makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azarola lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cheese - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Azarola works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cheese swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cheese misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cheese takes a shot to the head.
Cheese lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Azarola blocking some punches.
Azarola makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cheese taking a breather.
Azarola lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cheese throws a head punch that misses.
Azarola tries to work over Cheese's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheese tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cheese taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Azarola blocking some punches.
Cheese blocking some punches.
Azarola manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Cheese misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cheese.
Cheese lands a hook to the side of the head.
Azarola misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Azarola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cheese scores with a shot to the side of Azarola's head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cheese as Azarola tries to tie him up.
Azarola trying to stall but Cheese improves his position.
Cheese lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Azarola.
Cheese scores with a shoulder strike.
Cheese tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cheese lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cheese blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short uppercut from Cheese.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cheese throws a punch but it's blocked by Azarola.
Azarola fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Azarola content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Azarola lands with a short shot to the head.
Azarola lands a nice shot to the body.
Azarola doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Azarola wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Azarola lands a body shot.
Azarola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cheese's elbow.
Azarola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cheese's elbow.
Azarola swings wildly with an uppercut but Cheese uses good head movement to avoid it.
Charles Eric Cheese is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Azarola tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zigor Azarola.
I think Cheese 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 49:46
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 49:46
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charles Eric Cheese!
Charles Eric Cheese retains his bantamweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Charles Eric Cheese thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.