PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Zanico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barkadio Corleone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Zanico
vs
Corleone

173 cm
20
143 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
132 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafael Zanico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Barkadio Corleone!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Skip Squint and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zanico tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Corleone manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zanico pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Corleone gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zanico counters with a nice body kick.
Corleone doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zanico counters with a big head kick but Corleone shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zanico throws a jab when Corleone was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanico throws a head kick that half lands.
Corleone misses with a takedown attempt
and Zanico counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rafael Zanico has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barkadio Corleone.
Corleone fails with the takedown
and Zanico counters with a big head kick but Corleone shrugs it off.
Zanico stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zanico misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Corleone blocks a head kick by Zanico.
Zanico misses with a head kick.
Zanico misses the shot to the body.
Corleone fails with the takedown
and Zanico counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Corleone misses with a shot to the body
and Zanico counters with a big head kick but Corleone shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corleone swings widly with a right hand
and Zanico counters with an outside leg kick.
Rafael Zanico is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zanico throws a sloppy head kick and Corleone moves out of range easily.
Corleone drops his hands momentarily and Zanico takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Corleone slips a jab from Zanico.
Barkadio Corleone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Corleone misses the body punch
and Zanico connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four 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.
Zanico connects with a crisp jab.
Corleone closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Zanico throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Corleone throws a head kick that misses
and Zanico counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zanico tries a head kick but it misses.
Zanico misses with a hook. Corleone ducked under it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Zanico dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zanico jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zanico misses with a head kick.
Zanico throws a head kick that misses.
Zanico throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Corleone's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Corleone swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zanico.
Zanico lands a head kick. Corleone smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Zanico is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanico tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Corleone was well out of range. Poor timing from Zanico.
Corleone gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zanico counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zanico misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Corleone.
Corleone shoots and misses
and Zanico counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Zanico throws a sloppy head kick and Corleone moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Corleone has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Corleone closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zanico's guard.
Zanico wants to stand and escape but Corleone is having none of it.
Corleone stopping the sweep attempt from Zanico.
Corleone controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Barkadio Corleone wasn't active enough on the ground.
Corleone with a poor takedown
and Zanico counters with a nice leg kick.
Rafael Zanico has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barkadio Corleone.
Corleone needs to keep his hands up - Zanico had a free shot at his head there.
Zanico swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four 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 combination from Zanico does no damage.
Zanico throws a head kick that half lands.
Zanico tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Corleone doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zanico cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Corleone keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Zanico dominated that second round.
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!

A head kick misses from Zanico.
Zanico throws an overhand right that lands on Corleone's shoulder, as Corleone tries to avoid the shot.
Corleone tries to clinch but Zanico moves away
and Zanico counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Corleone misses with a combination
and Zanico counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Corleone shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corleone controlling the pace.
Zanico regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Corleone.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Corleone avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Corleone looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Barkadio Corleone.
Corleone ducks under a wild hook from Zanico.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanico tries to clinch but Corleone moves out of range.
Corleone shoots and misses
and Zanico counters with a flying knee. Nice.

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.
Zanico throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Corleone.
Corleone shoots and misses
and Zanico counters with a good low kick that Corleone was not able to check.
Corleone tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Corleone looks to land a left hand but Zanico moved out of range nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Corleone gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zanico counters with a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Zanico showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zanico, 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Zanico!