PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andru Albrecht (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Zavala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Albrecht comes to the cage accompanied by No Sunshine by DMX. On his way into the cage it seems that Andru Albrecht has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Andru Albrecht seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Albrecht
vs
Zavala

188 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
181 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

9mm Semtex Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andru Albrecht!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Victor Zavala!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Dean Styles and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zavala misses with a wild combination.
No joy there for Zavala, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Albrecht will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Albrecht blocks a head kick by Zavala.
Nice sprawl there from Zavala as Albrecht shoots in.

Albrecht closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zavala did well to prevent Albrecht getting side control.
Albrecht tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zavala knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Zavala wants to get back to full guard.
Zavala is controlling Albrecht's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Albrecht prevents Zavala from improving his position.
Zavala trying to control but Albrecht postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zavala throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Albrecht seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Albrecht knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zavala on the ground.
Zavala throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Zavala wants to get back to full guard.

Zavala has one foot on Albrecht's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nice jab there from Albrecht.
Zavala stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andru Albrecht. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Albrecht circles away from the clinch attempt.
Albrecht lands a nice shot that snaps Zavala's head back.
Albrecht looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Albrecht scores a takedown into full mount!
Zavala is working to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Albrecht avoids the attempt from Zavala to control.
Zavala manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Zavala landing small, sideways elbows.
Zavala is staying active underneath Albrecht, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zavala is looking to improve his position.
Zavala looks gassed!
Zavala is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Albrecht seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Zavala flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Zavala is looking to control Albrecht's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zavala avoid being mounted?

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Albrecht shoots in for a takedown but Zavala shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zavala tries a head kick but it misses.

Albrecht shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Albrecht is taking a breather. Zavala says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zavala tries to roll over but Albrecht keeps him under control.
Albrecht wants to pass the guard but Zavala is defending well.
Albrecht tries to stand but can't do so whilst Zavala controls his leg.

Zavala is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Albrecht pulls his head out easily.
Zavala is trying to get back to full guard.
Albrecht controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zavala misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zavala moves in looking to clinch but Albrecht pushes him off.
Albrecht blocks a head kick by Zavala.
Albrecht fails with a takedown attempt.
Albrecht shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zavala pinned against the cage. Zavala gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Albrecht bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Zavala gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Albrecht wants to advance to full mount but Zavala doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zavala is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Albrecht is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Albrecht won't allow Zavala to sweep him here.
Zavala not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Albrecht feints and as Zavala raises his hands in defense, Albrecht changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zavala keeping moving, preventing Albrecht from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zavala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Albrecht trying to control the position from guard on top but Zavala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zavala has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Zavala will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Albrecht tries to free his leg and advance position but Zavala is retaining full guard.
Albrecht is working hard here to advance position.
Zavala has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Albrecht tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zavala swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andru Albrecht. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Albrecht shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Zavala shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Zavala tries to control but Albrecht wriggling away.
Zavala throwing strikes here but Albrecht is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Albrecht tries to hold on but Zavala postures up.
Zavala wants to control the pace but Albrecht is squirming around nicely.
Zavala controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zavala breaks from Albrecht's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Zavala looking to control but Albrecht is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Albrecht tries to hold on but Zavala postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zavala can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Albrecht is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Victor Zavala will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Albrecht moves out of range of the strikes.
Albrecht fails with a takedown attempt.
Zavala scores with a three punch combo!
Victor Zavala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Albrecht fails with the takedown
and Zavala counters with a nice low kick that buckles Albrecht's knee momentarily.
Albrecht keeps the fight on the outside.

Albrecht tries to keep at a distance but Zavala has taken the fight into the clinch.

Zavala breaks from the clinch.
Albrecht doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zavala counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andru Albrecht. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zavala.
Zavala lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Andru Albrecht seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zavala connects with a right hand. Albrecht shakes it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zavala is looking to clinch but Albrecht is avoiding it.
Zavala throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Albrecht throws a sloppy head kick
and Zavala counters with a nice low kick that buckles Albrecht's knee momentarily.
Zavala throws a head kick that misses.
A jab from Zavala does it's job there.
A punch combination from Zavala misses.
Zavala rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Albrecht moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zavala misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Albrecht rushes Zavala and presses him up against the cage.

Albrecht has hold of one of Zavala's legs. Zavala is fighting the takedown attempt but Albrecht gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Albrecht got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zavala has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Albrecht has managed to get both his arms back between Zavala's legs - danger averted.

Albrecht avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Albrecht stopping the sweep attempt from Zavala.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zavala is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Albrecht stopping the sweep attempt from Zavala.
Albrecht looking to pass the guard.
Albrecht postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Albrecht stopping the sweep attempt from Zavala.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Albrecht postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Albrecht closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zavala is looking for a sweep.
Albrecht controls the position from side control.
Zavala is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Albrecht's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zavala misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zavala trying to control from the bottom.
Zavala moves into full guard.
Albrecht wants to control from the top but Zavala keeps moving.

Zavala had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Albrecht defends it easily.
Albrecht pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zavala is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Zavala really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Albrecht with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zavala counters with a head kick. That will keep Albrecht thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Albrecht shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zavala manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Zavala controls Albrecht momentarily but Albrecht frees himself.
Albrecht trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zavala lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Albrecht!
Zavala wants to control the pace but Albrecht is squirming around nicely.
Zavala fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zavala tries to control but Albrecht wriggling away.
Albrecht tries to lock up and control but Zavala gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Albrecht squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Zavala wants to control the pace but Albrecht is squirming around nicely.
Albrecht really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Zavala trying to control but Albrecht is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zavala putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Zavala can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Albrecht is looking to escape.
Zavala landing punches.
Andru Albrecht overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zavala tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zavala trying to control but Albrecht is having none of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Victor Zavala just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zavala doesn't manage to clinch there - Albrecht circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Albrecht scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zavala doesn't seem bothered though.
Zavala tries to clinch but Albrecht is having none of it.
Zavala fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Albrecht drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zavala tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Albrecht tries to free his leg and advance position but Zavala is retaining full guard.

Zavala working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Albrecht doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Albrecht manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Albrecht's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Albrecht is fighting to break Zavala's control of his arms but Zavala is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Zavala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Andru Albrecht will probably get the nod.
That's time! Albrecht's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zavala misses with a jab, cross combination.

Albrecht shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Albrecht was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Zavala tries to lock up and control but Albrecht gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Albrecht working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Zavala is working to get back to half guard.
Zavala tries to hold on but Albrecht pushes him away.
Albrecht lands a big elbow.
Albrecht looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Albrecht prevents Zavala from getting the reversal.
Albrecht takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Zavala is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zavala is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Albrecht controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two 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.
Albrecht looking to control but Zavala is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zavala is trying desperately to improve position.
Albrecht is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Zavala is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Albrecht takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Albrecht tries to control but Zavala wriggling away.
Zavala is looking to get to half guard.
Albrecht controlling his opponent.
Zavala is looking to get to half guard.
Zavala tries to hold on but Albrecht pushes him away.
Zavala is trying to escape the mount.

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.
Albrecht controlling the pace for now.
Zavala tries to hold on but Albrecht postures up.
Albrecht controlling the pace for now.
Albrecht tries to control but Zavala wriggling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee stands the fighters back up. Andru Albrecht just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Horrible takedown by Zavala or perhaps it was just good defense by Albrecht which made him look bad.

Zavala forces Albrecht back against the cage and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andru Albrecht showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Albrecht 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 48:47
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 48:47
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andru Albrecht!
Andru Albrecht is the new middleweight champion!