PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gianfranco Zola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ariel Levin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zola comes to the ring accompanied by Balls to the Wall. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ariel Levin was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Zola
vs
Levin

163 cm
26
142 lbs
19 - 3 - 0

165 cm
26
145 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Syndicate Drugs
Blaze Ronin Reborn

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gianfranco Zola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ariel Levin!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zola thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zola throws a jab but it's blocked by Levin.
Levin slips under a jab.
Zola connects with a looping right hand.
Gianfranco Zola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zola throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Levin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Levin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zola.
Zola lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Levin circles away quickly and effectively.
Zola shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Levin as he avoids it easily.
Levin lands the left hand.
A jab from Zola misses.

Zola closes the distance and pushes Levin back into the ropes.

Levin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zola misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zola misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zola misses with a series of wild punches.
Levin takes a swing at Zola's ribcage but misses.
A big right from Zola misses.
No joy there for Zola, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zola blocks a head kick by Levin.
Zola throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Levin moves out of range of the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A nice inside leg kick there by Levin. That's going to slow Zola down.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Levin - that will leave a mark!
Zola staying out of range there.
Levin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Levin defending well as Zola loads up on a big left hand.
Levin keeps the fight on the outside.
A solid body kick from Levin.
Levin lands with a cross.
Levin keeps the fight on the outside.
Levin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levin looks to land a left hand but Zola moved out of range nicely.
Levin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zola throws out the jab.
Levin misses with a body kick.
Zola misses with a looping left.
The crowd cheers as Zola lands an impressive looking overhand right. Levin doesn't seem phased though.
Zola throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Levin counters with a head kick.
Levin slips a jab from Zola.
Levin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zola.
Zola misses with a body shot
and Levin counters with a body kick.
Levin takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Levin defending well as Zola loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Zola
and Levin counters with a one-two to the body.
Zola throws a shot to the body.
Zola takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Levin moves out of range of the strikes.
Zola throws a sloppy head kick

and Levin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zola won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Levin in side control lands a decent elbow.
Zola is trying to control Levin's posture but Levin avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zola tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zola takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Levin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zola throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Levin lands with a kick to the ribs.
Zola throws out a loose jab but Levin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zola is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Levin.
Levin tries a head kick but it misses.
Zola walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Levin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zola.
Zola gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Levin makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Zola really felt that one!
Crunch! Levin slams his shin into Zola's torso.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Levin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Levin tries for a kimura but Zola is defending well.
Zola is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Levin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Levin throwing shots but Zola is blocking nicely.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Levin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zola is looking to improve his position.
Levin trying to pass the guard but Zola defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zola wants to control but Levin is keeping busy.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Zola is looking to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zola moves out of range of the body kick from Levin.
Zola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Levin moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Levin.
Zola scores with a jab to the head.
Levin swings for the body but Zola moves out of range.
Ariel Levin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Levin motions for Zola to come forward. Levin throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Levin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zola will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Zola connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Levin momentarily.
Levin moves out of range of the strikes.
Zola fails with the takedown
and Levin counters with an inside leg kick.
Levin cracks Zola with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Levin.
Levin plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Zola stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Levin.

Levin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zola is trying to get back to half guard.

Levin is trying to get an arm triangle but Zola is defending well.
Zola tries to bench press Levin off him but Levin keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Levin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Levin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Levin moves away from the strike by Zola.
Levin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zola.
A low kick from Zola misses
letting Levin counter with a right hand.
Zola throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Levin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zola. Levin does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Levin throws a big shot that misses.
Zola misses with an uppercut. Levin saw that one coming.
A low kick from Zola is predictable there
and Levin makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zola closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Zola frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Levin can't escape the position.

Zola goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Levin is on top in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Levin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zola is trying to keep Levin in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levin looking to pass the guard.
Zola looking for a sweep. Not yet Zola, not yet.
Levin lands a couple of elbows.
Levin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Levin preventing the sweep.
Zola is working hard here to advance position.

Levin drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zola looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zola looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zola!
Zola passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Levin!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levin is trying desperately to improve position.
Levin sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Levin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Levin.
Zola trying to control but Levin is working from the bottom.
Levin keeping full guard, as Zola tries to pass.
Zola trying to control but Levin is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zola wants to control from the top but Levin keeps moving.

Levin working for a triangle but Zola defends it easily.

Levin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zola defends it easily.
Levin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Levin keeping moving, preventing Zola from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Ariel Levin just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

A slapping body kick lands there for Levin.
Zola misses with a straight left.
Zola moves out of range of the body kick from Levin.
Zola chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Levin can pounce on him.
Levin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zola.
Levin checks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zola throws a big shot that misses.
Zola loads up on a big right hand but Levin slips the punch.
Levin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zola defending well as Levin loads up on a big left hand.
Levin throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Levin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Levin counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Zola throws a combination that misses

and Levin counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zola's guard now.
Levin preventing the sweep.
Levin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Levin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Levin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levin stands and throws Zola's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Levin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Zola is avoiding damage well.
Zola is trying to get back to half guard.
Levin in side control lands a decent elbow.
Zola taking punishment in the form of punches.
Zola is working to avoid the ground and pound but Levin connects with a decent elbow.
Levin is putting a hurting on Zola here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zola manages to work his way to half guard, despite Levin's best efforts.
Zola wants to improve his position but Levin is controlling well.
Levin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zola with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Levin is looking for a kimura but Zola is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Levin to get the leverage.
Levin is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Zola slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zola working a defensive guard here.
Ariel Levin has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Levin postures up in Zola's guard and throws a big left but Zola blocks it.
Zola manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Zola takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Levin wants to escape the position.

Zola working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Levin is doing well to defend. Zola seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Levin is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Gianfranco Zola!