PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zen Zelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piotr Vengeance (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Zelli
vs
Vengeance

189 cm
24
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zen Zelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Piotr Vengeance!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zelli throws a series of punches but Vengeance moves out of range.
Vengeance misses with a takedown attempt
and Zelli counters with a stiff right hand.
Zelli fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vengeance shoots and misses
and Zelli counters with a one-two to the body.
A nice combination there by Zelli.
Vengeance fails with the takedown
and Zelli counters with a straight right hand.
Zen Zelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piotr Vengeance.
Vengeance with a poor takedown
and Zelli counters with a one-two to the body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vengeance.
You can see the frustration on Zelli's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zelli gets back to half guard.
Vengeance thows a huge punch but Zelli dodges it nicely.
Vengeance wants to control but Zelli is keeping him busy.
Vengeance controlling the pace.
Vengeance prevents Zelli from standing back up.
Vengeance trying to control from half guard but Zelli is working away.

That's two 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.
Zelli is trying to maintain the position but Vengeance is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vengeance has his takedown stuffed
and Zelli counters with a one-two to the body.
A left lands for Zelli.
Zelli keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Zelli throws a right hand that Vengeance ducks under and follows up with a left that Vengeance also avoids with ease.
Zelli throws a right and a left that Vengeance avoids nicely.
Vengeance misses with a takedown
and Zelli counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Vengeance with a poor takedown
and Zelli counters with a left and a right that stings Vengeance.
Vengeance looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vengeance doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Zelli counter with a right hand.
Zelli displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Zelli scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A combination from Zelli does no damage.
Vengeance tries for a takedown but Zelli circles away easily
and Zelli counters with a one-two to the body.
Vengeance tries for a takedown but Zelli circles away easily
and Zelli counters with a two punch combo.
Zen Zelli is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zelli moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Vengeance 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Zelli throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zelli throws a series of punches but Vengeance moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zelli throws a right and a left that Vengeance avoids nicely.
A left lands for Zelli.
Vengeance has his takedown stuffed
and Zelli counters with a straight right hand.
Zelli lands a head shot.
Zelli fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zelli lands a nice looking body shot.
Zelli scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Zelli throws a series of punches but Vengeance moves out of range.
Zelli scores with a crisp jab that stopped Vengeance in his tracks.
Vengeance with a poor takedown
and Zelli counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zelli throws a right hand that Vengeance ducks under and follows up with a left that Vengeance also avoids with ease.
A right-left combo lands from Zelli.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zen Zelli dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zelli will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vengeance fails with the takedown
and Zelli counters with a three punch combo that has Vengeance backing up. Vengeance nods at Zelli to acknowledge the strikes.
Zelli throws out a powerful jab.
Vengeance takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Vengeance takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zelli.
Zelli lunges at Vengeance with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Vengeance's hand.
Vengeance doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Zelli counter with a right hand.
Zelli lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vengeance circles away quickly and effectively.
Vengeance takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Vengeance is breathing heavily.
Vengeance doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zelli cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zen Zelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piotr Vengeance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zelli pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Vengeance back to the cage. Zelli follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Zelli lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vengeance circles away quickly and effectively.
Vengeance showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zelli.
Zelli scores with a hook.
Vengeance misses with a left hand
and Zelli counters with a two punch combo.
Vengeance misses with an uppercut
and Zelli counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zelli throws a right and a left that Vengeance avoids nicely.
Vengeance gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zelli counters with a nice uppercut.
Zelli works over Vengeance's head and body with a nice combination.
Vengeance misses with a right hand
and Zelli cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zelli is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vengeance with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zelli counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sloppy strikes from Zelli. Those never looked like landing.
Zelli lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Zelli lands a jab to Vengeance's midsection.
Zelli comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zen Zelli is winning the standup battle so far.
Zelli throws a right hand that Vengeance ducks under and follows up with a left that Vengeance also avoids with ease.
Zelli rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vengeance moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A right-left combo lands from Zelli.
Zelli bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Vengeance's head backwards.
Zelli looks to land a combination but Vengeance avoids it well.
Zelli fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Vengeance has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Zelli throws a right hand that Vengeance ducks under and follows up with a left that Vengeance also avoids with ease.
Zelli scores with the left hand. Vengeance knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vengeance has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vengeance there as he acknowledges the shot.
Vengeance takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zelli is working the combinations to good effect here.
Zelli dips to his left and cracks Vengeance with an uppercut!
Vengeance with a poor takedown
and Zelli counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Vengeance takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zelli misses with a few strikes there.
Vengeance on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Zelli lands with a nice body punch.
Zelli is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zelli throws a left and a right that both miss

and Vengeance counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zelli!
Zelli tries to reverse the position but Vengeance maintains control.
Zelli slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vengeance is looking to pass Zelli's guard but actually Zelli recovers to full guard.
Vengeance trying to control but Zelli is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vengeance keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zelli's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zen Zelli 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. This is the final round!

Vengeance decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Vengeance thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zelli's head.
Vengeance thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zelli's head.
Vengeance wants to control but Zelli is keeping him busy.
Vengeance not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Still in half guard, Vengeance seems content to control.
Zelli pushes Vengeance off looking to stand but Vengeance dives back in and keeps control.
Vengeance throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zelli avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vengeance.
Vengeance is looking to advance position but Zelli won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zelli is looking to control Vengeance's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zelli avoid being mounted?
Vengeance stops Zelli from getting back to his feet.
Vengeance has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vengeance stalling.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vengeance shoots and misses
and Zelli counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two 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.

Vengeance closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zelli's guard.
Vengeance postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zelli knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vengeance on the ground.
Zelli avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vengeance throws a big right hand that misses.
Zelli utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zelli has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Vengeance trying to control but Zelli is working from the bottom.
Piotr Vengeance has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vengeance in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vengeance seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zelli scores with a one two! Vengeance had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Vengeance fails with the takedown
and Zelli connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zen Zelli is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Vengeance misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Zelli to counter with a crisp jab.
Zen Zelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piotr Vengeance.
Zelli misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vengeance takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Zelli pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Vengeance back to the cage. Zelli follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Vengeance doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zelli counters with a left and a right that stings Vengeance.
Vengeance misses with a takedown
and Zelli counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zelli throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zen Zelli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zelli's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Zelli duly obliges.
Zelli wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

And that's the end of the fight!
Piotr Vengeance comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zelli 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zen Zelli!