PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Estacio da Fonseca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gianfranco Zola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think da Fonseca might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to "Chokechain" - 3oh!3. Zola has chosen Balls to the Wall as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

da Fonseca
vs
Zola

170 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

163 cm
22
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Blaze Ronin Street Gear
Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Estacio da Fonseca!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gianfranco Zola!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Zola. No joy for da Fonseca on that attempt.

Zola has closed the distance and engaged da Fonseca in a clinch.

Zola pulls guard successfully.

da Fonseca 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!
da Fonseca manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

da Fonseca looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
da Fonseca wants to improve his position but Zola is controlling well.
Zola trying to control the pace.

da Fonseca is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Zola pulls his head out easily.
da Fonseca moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
da Fonseca has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Zola has passed into side control.
da Fonseca is looking for a sweep.

Zola looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
da Fonseca is looking to reverse the position.
da Fonseca looks to move to half guard but instead Zola has passed into mount! Damn!
da Fonseca is looking to get to half guard.
da Fonseca is breathing heavily.

That's two 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.
Zola trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zola working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Zola is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but da Fonseca is surviving well by controlling Zola's body position as best he can.
da Fonseca is trying to reverse the position but instead Zola has taken his back - oops!
Zola missing with strikes from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
da Fonseca is really stuck here.
Zola struggling to keep hold of the position.
Zola controls the action.

da Fonseca preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Zola.
da Fonseca tries to escape but Zola has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
da Fonseca is working hard here to advance position.
da Fonseca manages to reverse the position and now he's in Zola's guard. Nice work there by da Fonseca.

da Fonseca thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
da Fonseca postures up and lands a big shot to Zola's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zola avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
da Fonseca pushing down on Zola's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
da Fonseca looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

da Fonseca wants to work for an arm triangle but Zola is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
da Fonseca wants to advance to full mount but Zola doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Zola lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for da Fonseca!
da Fonseca regains half guard.
da Fonseca wants to improve his position but Zola is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gianfranco Zola dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zola checks a low kick from da Fonseca.
Horrible takedown by da Fonseca or perhaps it was just good defense by Zola which made him look bad.

Zola drives through and clinches with da Fonseca against the cage.
da Fonseca goes for a takedown attempt but Zola pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Zola wants to clinch up but da Fonseca keeps it at a distance.
da Fonseca pulls out of a head kick attempt.
da Fonseca circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zola shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zola showed some decent athleticism there.
da Fonseca moves into full guard.

da Fonseca looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zola pushes down on da Fonseca's leg and manages to get into half guard.
da Fonseca is pressing down on Zola's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
da Fonseca manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
da Fonseca lands with some strikes.

da Fonseca is working for a guillotine from mount but Zola frees his head quite easily.
da Fonseca postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zola looks a forlorn figure.
da Fonseca thowing shots but they're missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
da Fonseca looking to ground and pound but Zola is blocking nicely.

da Fonseca goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Zola is on top in guard.

Zola drops back looking for a leg! da Fonseca is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and da Fonseca manages to kick Zola off! Zola jumps back into da Fonseca's guard.

da Fonseca working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zola doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zola manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
da Fonseca throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Zola preventing the sweep.
da Fonseca manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zola manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zola pushes a forearm under da Fonseca's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, da Fonseca is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Gianfranco Zola!
Gianfranco Zola is the new bantamweight champion!