PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Rojo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Doba Zigi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zigi has chosen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78At8MOt-Qc as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rojo
vs
Zigi

193 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Miguel Rojo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Doba Zigi!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rojo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Zigi is looking to control Rojo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zigi avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zigi manages to get to full guard.
Rojo wants to stand but Zigi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zigi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rojo postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zigi kicks Rojo off and gets to his feet.

A jab-cross combination lands for Rojo and sends Zigi crashing to the mat! Rojo follows him down to the mat - Zigi regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

It looks like Doba Zigi has been cut.
Rojo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Zigi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rojo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rojo seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zigi wants to get back to full guard.
Rojo tries to stand but can't do so whilst Zigi controls his leg.
Zigi is pressing down on Rojo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zigi is trying to keep Rojo in close.
Rojo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zigi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zigi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rojo fails with an attempt to clinch.

Zigi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rojo's half guard.

Zigi is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zigi is taking a breather. Rojo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Zigi works his way into full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zigi lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Doba Zigi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Doba Zigi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice body kick from Zigi.
Zigi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Rojo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zigi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rojo working away.
Zigi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rojo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zigi works his way to full guard. Good work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zigi has his foot on Rojo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rojo works his way back into a safe position though.
Zigi working a defensive guard here.
Zigi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zigi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rojo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rojo postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rojo looking to pass the guard.
Zigi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Doba Zigi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rojo tries to close the distance and clinch but Zigi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Zigi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rojo's guard.
Zigi trying to control the position from guard on top but Rojo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rojo working a defensive guard here.

Zigi stands up from Rojo's guard - Zigi perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rojo wants to clinch up but Zigi keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Rojo scores with a takedown into Zigi's guard.
Zigi is breathing heavily.
Rojo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zigi is keeping the position for now.
Rojo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zigi scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Rojo preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zigi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rojo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rojo trying to control the position from guard on top but Zigi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rojo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zigi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rojo tries to free his leg and advance position but Zigi is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Doba Zigi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Doba Zigi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rojo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zigi is out of range and Rojo settles back down.
Rojo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zigi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rojo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Miguel Rojo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rojo fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rojo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rojo tries to clinch up but Zigi circles away and keeps his distance.
Zigi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rojo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zigi somewhat.
Zigi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rojo swivels and escapes.
Rojo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zigi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rojo throws a leg kick
and Zigi counters with a head kick.

Zigi scores with a takedown into Rojo's guard.
Zigi looking to sit in guard and control but Rojo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rojo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Zigi, up you get!
Rojo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rojo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rojo moves to clinch but Zigi breaks away

and Zigi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zigi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zigi advances to half guard.
Rojo wants to control but Zigi passes into side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojo tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Zigi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rojo is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zigi lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rojo is looking to improve his position but Zigi isn't that keen on the idea.
Rojo wants to hold on but Zigi pushes him away.
Zigi is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rojo can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Zigi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojo tries to lock up and control but Zigi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Miguel Rojo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zigi controlling from mount.
Rojo tries to hold on but Zigi postures up.
Doba Zigi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zigi has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rojo's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Doba Zigi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zigi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Doba Zigi!