PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between William Zai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Formula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Formula has chosen Barbie girl as his entrance music. The key to victory for William Zai has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Zai
vs
Formula

197 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

195 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, William Zai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Keith Formula!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Formula shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Formula showed some decent athleticism there.
Formula trying to advance position but Zai counters by regaining guard.
Formula stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zai working a defensive guard here.
Formula pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zai is keeping the position for now.
Zai wants to stand but Formula is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Formula advances to half guard.
Zai pushes Formula off looking to stand but Formula dives back in and keeps control.

Formula wants to work for an arm triangle but Zai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Formula wants to control but Zai is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zai wants to get back to his feet.
Zai wants to control but Formula is keeping busy.

Formula is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zai is breathing heavily.
Formula prevents Zai from improving his position.
Formula is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Formula prevents Zai from standing back up.

Formula is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zai doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Formula.
Zai is trying to maintain the position but Formula is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Zai manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Zai is looking to clinch.
Zai wants to clinch up but Formula keeps it at a distance.

Formula shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Formula was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Formula can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zai is looking to escape.
Formula landing strikes from the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zai is working to get back to half guard.
Formula fails to take his opponent's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zai is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Formula has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Zai's face.
Formula mounts Zai! Really nice guard pass there!
Formula controlling the pace for now.

Formula has hold of Zai's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Zai manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Formula looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Zai has given up his back here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Formula has good solid back control here.

Formula is looking for the choke from the back position but Zai is controlling his hands well.
Zai is trying to get back to his feet but Formula has full control of the position and if anything, Zai has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Zai rolls, trying to escape but Formula keeps control of the position.
Formula lands punches and elbows.
Formula is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Formula controlling well, preventing Zai from escaping the position.

Formula is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Zai has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Zai is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Formula gets his way!

Formula is persistently looking for the submission but Zai is defending it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Formula dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight stays on the outside here - Zai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Formula shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Formula lands a heavy elbow.
Formula moves to take his opponent's back.
Zai is trapped and Formula is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Formula trying to control.
Formula scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Formula lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

Zai showing good submission defense here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Formula sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Zai taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Keith Formula!