PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Zagorno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and brandon vera (ranked 0 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.

Zagorno
vs
vera

165 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gabriel Zagorno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, brandon vera!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zagorno shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts vera as he jumps to the side.

vera moves into the clinch.

vera wants the takedown. Zagorno is fighting it off but vera persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Zagorno's guard against the cage.
Zagorno controls vera momentarily but vera frees himself.
vera missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

vera drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zagorno manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now vera has Zagorno in his guard.
Zagorno stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. vera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zagorno would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zagorno tries to free his leg and advance position but vera is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zagorno is working hard here to advance position.
vera is trying to control the position but Zagorno postures up.

brandon vera has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Zagorno misses with a takedown attempt - vera sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

vera closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zagorno tries to stall but vera uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Zagorno wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
vera lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Gabriel Zagorno has been cut.

vera pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
vera stuffs the takedown attempt from Zagorno. Zagorno gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Zagorno. That's going to take a lot out of him.

vera closes the distance and pushes Zagorno back into the cage.
Zagorno changes levels and goes for a takedown here. vera fights it off and pushes away nicely.

vera moves into the clinch successfully.
vera is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
vera is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
vera receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Zagorno is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zagorno is fighting off a takedown attempt but vera is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Zagorno to the mat. Zagorno regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Zagorno is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zagorno not landing any meaningful shots this time.
vera wants to improve his position but Zagorno is controlling well.
Zagorno slows the pace down in half guard.
vera is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zagorno wants to control but vera is keeping him busy.

Zagorno stands up out of the half guard.
Zagorno closes the distance looking to clinch

and vera counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

vera jumps guard and drags Zagorno to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
vera keeping full guard, as Zagorno tries to pass.

vera working for a triangle but Zagorno defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

brandon vera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Zagorno's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zagorno shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and vera counters with a low kick, right behind Zagorno 's knee.

Zagorno tries to keep at a distance but vera has taken the fight into the clinch.

vera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

vera scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zagorno is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zagorno is pressing down on vera's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
vera looking to sit in guard and control but Zagorno gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zagorno trying to control the position from guard on top but vera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
vera is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zagorno wants to stand but vera is controlling his posture from full guard.
Zagorno postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now vera is on top in guard.
vera stopping the sweep attempt from Zagorno.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zagorno keeping moving, preventing vera from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by brandon vera.
vera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zagorno as he avoids it easily.
Zagorno misses with a body kick.
Zagorno has his takedown stuffed

and vera counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

vera gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
vera stopping the sweep attempt from Zagorno.
Zagorno keeping moving, preventing vera from controlling successfully.

vera wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Zagorno's closed guard. He's half up but Zagorno has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Zagorno pivots and extends the arm, vera falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Zagorno! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gabriel Zagorno!