PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jermaine Gersham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Zbichowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gersham might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Scorpions - Rock you like a hurricane. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gersham
vs
Zbichowski

187 cm
18
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
19
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jermaine Gersham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Robert Zbichowski!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, John Mangel and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gersham tries to clinch up but Zbichowski circles away and keeps his distance.
Gersham displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zbichowski.
Gersham tries to clinch up.
Zbichowski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gersham bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zbichowski's head backwards.
Gersham misses with a wild body shot.
Gersham pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gersham moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zbichowski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zbichowski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gersham throws a leg kick which misses Zbichowski's front leg but catches the back leg as Zbichowski tries to avoid it.
Zbichowski looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gersham doesn't manage to clinch there - Zbichowski circles away.

Zbichowski scores with a takedown into Gersham's guard.
Gersham is trying to keep Zbichowski in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zbichowski passes Gersham's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gersham wants to get back to full guard.
Gersham on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gersham tries to get out of the position.

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.
Gersham keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Zbichowski slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gersham tries to roll over but Zbichowski keeps him under control.
Zbichowski blocks the strikes from Gersham.
Gersham wants to control but Zbichowski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gersham defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zbichowski.
Gersham paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Jermaine Gersham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Gersham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gersham wants to clinch up but Zbichowski keeps it at a distance.
Gersham misses with a few strikes there.

Gersham clinches up with Zbichowski and pushes him back against the cage.
Gersham unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zbichowski lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gersham connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zbichowski's face.

It looks like Robert Zbichowski has been cut.
Gersham working Zbichowski over with knees to the body.
Gersham landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gersham leaning against his opponent.
Gersham with a knee to the head.
Gersham is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gersham unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zbichowski lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gersham using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Gersham lands a good knee to the midsection. Zbichowski won't want to take too many of those.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gersham working Zbichowski over with knees to the body.
Gersham lands a good knee to the midsection. Zbichowski won't want to take too many of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gersham with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gersham lands a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Gersham obliges.
Gersham lands a knee to the head.
Gersham controlling the action here for a moment.
Gersham scores a nice knee to the body.
Gersham landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Jermaine Gersham has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Zbichowski can't get the takedown.
The referee calls for Gersham to work.
Gersham lands a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Gersham obliges.
Gersham content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gersham connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zbichowski's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zbichowski tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gersham smiles and moves away.
Jermaine Gersham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Zbichowski.
Gersham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zbichowski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gersham fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gersham fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gersham tries to close the distance and clinch but Zbichowski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Gersham gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zbichowski takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gersham unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Gersham is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zbichowski can do to turn this around?
Gersham using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gersham landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gersham lands a good knee to the midsection. Zbichowski won't want to take too many of those.
Gersham tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zbichowski tries for a takedown but Gersham manages to get underhooks.
Gersham prevents Zbichowski from breaking the clinch.
Gersham is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gersham lands a nice knee to the body.
Gersham connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zbichowski's face.
Gersham landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gersham is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zbichowski is defending well for now.
Gersham connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zbichowski's face.
Gersham is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zbichowski is defending well for now.
Zbichowski changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gersham fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gersham fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Gersham throws a right hand that Zbichowski ducks under and follows up with a left that Zbichowski also avoids with ease.
Gersham thows a body shot but no joy.

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.
Gersham misses with a hook. Zbichowski ducked under it nicely.

Gersham rushes Zbichowski and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gersham is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gersham missing with knees to the body.
Gersham working Zbichowski over with knees to the body.
Gersham scores a nice knee to the body.
Gersham lands a good knee to the midsection. Zbichowski won't want to take too many of those.
Gersham tries a knee to the head but Zbichowski blocks it.
Zbichowski tries for a takedown but Gersham manages to get underhooks.
Gersham using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zbichowski has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gersham with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zbichowski drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gersham dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Gersham tries a knee to the head but Zbichowski blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermaine Gersham dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Robert Zbichowski's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zbichowski shoots in but Gersham avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gersham tries to clinch up but Zbichowski circles away and keeps his distance.
Zbichowski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gersham tries to clinch but Zbichowski moves out of range.
Gersham is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gersham tries to clinch but Zbichowski is having none of it.
A combination from Gersham does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gersham tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zbichowski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zbichowski shoots in but no luck this time.
Jermaine Gersham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Zbichowski.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gersham lands with a kick to the temple. Zbichowski shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Gersham is looking to clinch.
Zbichowski swats away the attempt to clinch by Gersham.
Gersham smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zbichowski keeps the fight on the outside.
Jermaine Gersham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gersham clinches with his opponent.
Gersham is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gersham working Zbichowski over with knees to the body.
Gersham landing knees to the head.
Zbichowski takes a knee to the side of the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zbichowski drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gersham is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gersham crunches a lovely knee into Zbichowski's ribcage.
Gersham putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zbichowski in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gersham landing knees to the head.
Gersham lands a good knee to the midsection. Zbichowski won't want to take too many of those.
Gersham landing knees to the body.
Zbichowski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gersham using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zbichowski on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zbichowski throws an elbow but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Gersham obliges.
Zbichowski avoiding damage as Gersham throws knees to the body.
Zbichowski wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gersham scores with a knee to the head.
Gersham landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gersham missing with knees to the body.
Zbichowski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gersham takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Gersham working Zbichowski over with knees to the body.
Gersham is stalling here.
Gersham tries a knee to the head but Zbichowski blocks it.
Zbichowski managing to block the knees to the body from Gersham.
Gersham tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zbichowski avoids it.
Gersham is pressed up against the cage. Zbichowski has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gersham down to the mat. Gersham avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gersham.
Zbichowski bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Gersham gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gersham with a knee to the head.
Gersham lands a knee to the head.
Zbichowski avoiding damage as Gersham throws knees to the body.
Zbichowski jumps guard but Gersham stands there with Zbichowski around his waist. Zbichowski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gersham utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Gersham landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Jermaine Gersham is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gersham has Zbichowski pressed against the cage, preventing Zbichowski from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gersham unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Gersham landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gersham crunches a lovely knee into Zbichowski's ribcage.
Robert Zbichowski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gersham managing to block the knees to the body from Zbichowski.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jermaine Gersham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gersham, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:25
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:25
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jermaine Gersham!