PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Clark Zapata (ranked 4077 p4p, 4072 weight class) and Him Himmm (ranked 293 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zapata
vs
Himmm

173 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Clark Zapata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Him Himmm!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Joseph Jones and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Himmm stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Himmm wants it to stay on the feet.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Himmm has eaten all the pies!
Zapata drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Zapata avoids the head kick by Himmm.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Himmm.
Himmm pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zapata looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Himmm is fending him off so far but Zapata persists. Nope, Himmm circles away and we're back to standing.
Zapata shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Himmm but Himmm pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clark Zapata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zapata tries to clinch but Himmm is having none of it.
Himmm replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Zapata blocks it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zapata.

Himmm clinches up with Zapata and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Himmm's efforts to push away.
Zapata tries to score a body lock takedown but Himmm shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Himmm throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Himmm presses Zapata against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Zapata is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Himmm is defending well.
Himmm is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zapata prevents a takedown attempt there.
Himmm content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Himmm keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zapata's efforts to push away.
Zapata wants to take the fight to the mat but Himmm manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Himmm lands a nice shot to the body.
Himmm on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Himmm presses Zapata against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Himmm gets control of Zapata's arms and successfully pulls guard. Himmm will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Zapata is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Zapata will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zapata throws an elbow that misses. Himmm uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zapata's guard. Nice move by Himmm!

Himmm passes Zapata's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Himmm seems content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zapata pushes Himmm off looking to stand but Himmm dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Himmm.

Himmm stands up and beckons Zapata to join him on the feet.
Zapata is trying hard to land a takedown here. Himmm sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zapata is breathing heavily.
A jab from Himmm misses.
Himmm shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zapata sprawls well. Zapata wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Himmm gets slowly back to his feet.
Zapata has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zapata misses with a takedown attempt - Himmm sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Himmm fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Zapata was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Himmm keeps the fight on the outside.

Himmm clinches with his opponent.
Zapata is trying to pull guard but Himmm has him pressed against the cage.
Zapata is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Himmm is defending well.

Himmm drags the fight down to the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Himmm doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Himmm is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Himmm striking off his back but it's not causing Zapata any problems.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Himmm tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zapata defends well and Himmm ends up having to push Zapata into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Zapata shoots in for a takedown but Himmm shows good takedown defense.
Himmm shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zapata as he avoids it easily.
Zapata swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zapata misses with a takedown attempt

and Himmm counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Himmm.
Zapata is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clark Zapata. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Himmm jumps guard and drags Zapata to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Zapata knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Himmm on the ground.
Himmm is controlling Zapata's posture.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Himmm working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zapata doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zapata manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Himmm keeping moving, preventing Zapata from controlling successfully.
Himmm has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Himmm bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zapata's guard.

Himmm stays in close to Zapata's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Himmm throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zapata works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Himmm sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Zapata throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Himmm is stalling in the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Himmm with the counter takedown but Zapata avoids it easily.
Zapata darts in looking for a takedown but Himmm gets double underhooks and turns Zapata into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Himmm successfully pulls guard.
Himmm bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zapata's guard.

Himmm controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Himmm works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zapata tries to get to full guard but Himmm has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Himmm works his foot free and advances to mount.
Zapata is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Himmm lands a big shot there that rocks Zapata but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Himmm looking to control and managing it successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Himmm thowing shots but they're missing.
Zapata holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Himmm tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Him Himmm showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zapata tries a head kick but it misses.
Himmm changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Zapata connects with a jab.
Zapata works the jab nicely.
Himmm throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Himmm shoots in looking for a takedown but Zapata manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Himmm's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zapata shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Himmm counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Himmm.
Zapata has Himmm pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Himmm manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Himmm holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zapata stalling against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Himmm drags the fight down to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Himmm manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Zapata drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Himmm gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clark Zapata. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Himmm ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Himmm no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Himmm has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Himmm is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Himmm sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zapata defending well though.
Him Himmm has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Himmm thows a huge punch but Zapata dodges it nicely.
Himmm throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Himmm works his foot free and advances to mount.
Himmm has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Himmm takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Zapata wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Himmm.
Zapata is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Himmm looking to control and managing it successfully.
Zapata blocking the ground and pound.
Zapata 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.
Zapata can't escape the position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Himmm controlling the positon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Himmm tightening his grip on Zapata, looking for the choke.

Himmm is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Himmm looking to break Zapata's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Zapata remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Himmm will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Clark Zapata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Him Himmm is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Himmm controlling from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Him Himmm comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Himmm 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Him Himmm!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Him Himmm!
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight for Him Himmm!

Him Himmm wins by unanimous decision!
In defeat, Clark Zapata stepped up to the mic, saying 'I will learn from this.'.