PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zippy Ziggy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Vilatori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Vilatori's choice of entrance music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYVP8NxljS0&feature=related. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ziggy
vs
Vilatori

176 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zippy Ziggy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Vilatori!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Felipe Paraventi and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vilatori shoots in for a double leg but Ziggy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vilatori is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ziggy tries for a takedown but Vilatori circles away easily

and Vilatori counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ziggy!
Ziggy is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Vilatori trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ziggy is desperately trying to improve his position but Vilatori has a good base and remains in mount.
Ziggy wants to control but Vilatori is having none of it.
Ziggy keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Vilatori working the ground and pound effectively.
Vilatori lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziggy is working to get back to half guard.
Vilatori raining down shots from the mount!
Vilatori working Ziggy over with strikes here.
Ziggy can't escape the position.
Vilatori trying to control but Ziggy is having none of it.
Ziggy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vilatori controlling from mount.
Vilatori looks gassed!
Ziggy gets back to half guard.
Ziggy is looking to control Vilatori's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ziggy avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziggy wants to improve his position but Vilatori is controlling well.
Ziggy slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ziggy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vilatori passes into half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Vilatori tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ziggy knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ziggy wants to improve his position but Vilatori is controlling well.
Ziggy won't allow Vilatori to pass to mount.
Ziggy wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ziggy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Vilatori counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vilatori has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Ziggy is trying to keep an underhook but Vilatori manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Ziggy wants to control but Vilatori is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Vilatori decides to return to a standing position.

Vilatori shoots in and bounces Ziggy off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Vilatori must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ziggy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vilatori slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ziggy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vilatori not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ziggy doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ziggy is working an open guard so Vilatori takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Vilatori shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ziggy manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vilatori tries to reverse the position but Ziggy maintains control.
Vilatori is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Vilatori really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ziggy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vilatori regains half guard.
Vilatori moves into full guard.
Vilatori is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ziggy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vilatori is keeping the position for now.
Ziggy preventing the sweep.

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

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

Vilatori fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ziggy doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Vilatori counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Vilatori avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ziggy keeping full guard, as Vilatori tries to pass.
Ziggy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Vilatori wants to control but Ziggy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vilatori is pressing down on Ziggy's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vilatori not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vilatori looking for a sweep. Not yet Vilatori, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziggy being controlled here momentarily.
Vilatori looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ziggy wants to control from the top but Vilatori keeps moving.

Vilatori pushes Ziggy off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ziggy fails with the takedown

and Vilatori counters with a shoot takedown. Ziggy fights it but they end up in guard.
Vilatori trying to control the position from guard on top but Ziggy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vilatori is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Vilatori wants to pass the guard but Ziggy is keeping the position.
Ziggy is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vilatori stays in close to Ziggy's body and controls the position.
Vilatori postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ziggy controls Vilatori momentarily but Vilatori frees himself.
Vilatori controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Vilatori wants to get up but he can't break Ziggy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ziggy keeping full guard, as Vilatori tries to pass.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ziggy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Vilatori counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ziggy's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zippy Ziggy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vilatori misses with a takedown

and Ziggy counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vilatori trying to hold on to Ziggy's head to control him but Ziggy postures up.
Vilatori tries to roll over but Ziggy keeps him under control.
Vilatori is doing well to control the position and prevent Ziggy from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vilatori tries to roll over but Ziggy keeps him under control.
Ziggy lands with a punch from half guard.
Vilatori wants to get back to full guard.

Ziggy is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vilatori.
Ziggy is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ziggy manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziggy punching from the bottom.
Ziggy wants to get back to full guard.
Ziggy trying to hold on to Vilatori's head to control him but Vilatori postures up.
Vilatori tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ziggy knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Vilatori is thwarting Ziggy's attempts to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vilatori lands with a slapping head kick.
Ziggy with a poor takedown
and Vilatori counters with a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Vilatori scores a takedown into full mount!
Vilatori trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ziggy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Vilatori showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Vilatori looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ziggy!
Ziggy is looking to improve his position but Vilatori isn't that keen on the idea.
Vilatori dominating with strikes here.
Ziggy sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vilatori is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Rafael Vilatori has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ziggy landing small, sideways elbows.
Vilatori is trying to control the action in half guard but Ziggy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ziggy trying to hold on to Vilatori's head to control him but Vilatori postures up.
Ziggy slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Vilatori takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vilatori wants to pass the guard but Ziggy is keeping the position.
Ziggy throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ziggy looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Vilatori is defending well. Ziggy quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Vilatori has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Ziggy celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Zippy Ziggy!