PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gray Pleman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alejandro Zapata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Zapata's choice of entrance music: Tres Delinquentes. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Pleman
vs
Zapata

190 cm
23
193 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

191 cm
23
218 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

Milwaukee's Best 159's - $69

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gray Pleman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alejandro Zapata!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Trevor Gratis and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pleman slips a straight right by Zapata.
Zapata slips a straight right by Pleman.
Pleman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zapata was well out of range. Poor timing from Pleman.
A slow jab from Zapata misses its intended target.
Pleman doesn't manage to clinch there - Zapata circles away.
Pleman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zapata sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pleman somewhat.
Pleman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Pleman pushes Zapata up against the cage in a clinch.
Pleman has had enough of the clinch but Zapata keeps him there for the moment.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zapata.
Pleman being controlled against the cage.
Zapata pushes Pleman back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata pressing his opponent against the cage.
Zapata tries a body shot but Pleman blocks it.
A right hand to the body from Zapata.
Pleman avoids the elbow strike from Zapata, against the cage.
Zapata lands a nice uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Zapata.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Zapata.
Pleman blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pleman letting Zapata take a breather here.
Zapata misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zapata working aggressively here.
Zapata scores with a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zapata tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pleman is trying to force a seperation but Zapata has the dominant position.
Zapata stalls.
Pleman has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zapata is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Zapata lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pleman backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zapata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pleman is looking to clinch.
Pleman catches Zapata with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Pleman on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zapata. Zapata obviously looking to wear him down.
Pleman wants to clinch.
Pleman tries for a takedown but Zapata sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gray Pleman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pleman looks to clinch
and Zapata counters with a three punch combo that has Pleman backing up. Pleman nods at Zapata to acknowledge the strikes.
Pleman doesn't manage to clinch there - Zapata circles away.
Zapata misses with a wild body shot.
Zapata tries to clinch but Pleman moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pleman misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Zapata does it's job there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zapata stuffs the takedown attempt from Pleman. Pleman gets slowly back to his feet.
Pleman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zapata.
Zapata scores with a nice right hand.
Pleman ducks under a wild hook from Zapata.
Zapata is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pleman.
Zapata circles away from the clinch attempt
and Zapata counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Zapata dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pleman jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Pleman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zapata sprawls well. Zapata wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pleman gets slowly back to his feet.

Pleman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Zapata not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pleman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zapata missing with a left hand there. Pleman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pleman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata misses the shot to the body.
Pleman is looking to clinch.
Gray Pleman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zapata throws a body punch but Pleman moves out of range.
Pleman throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zapata.
Pleman swings for the body but Zapata moves out of range.

Pleman pushes Zapata up against the cage in a clinch.
Pleman's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zapata misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pleman is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zapata is keeping busy.
Zapata can't find room to land a body shot as Pleman controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Zapata.
A right handed body shot lands from Zapata.
Zapata tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pleman's elbow.

Pleman wants the takedown. Zapata is fighting it off but Pleman persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Zapata's guard against the cage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Zapata looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pleman passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zapata is trying to maintain the position but Pleman is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata is looking to improve his position.
Zapata trying to control here.
Pleman passes into side control, despite Zapata's attempt to control the position.

That's four 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.
Zapata is not content to let Pleman control the position.
Zapata is letting Pleman control him for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Pleman dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Pleman is looking to clinch.
Pleman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pleman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pleman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zapata manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pleman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zapata manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Good standup being displayed there by Pleman as he connects with a hook.
Zapata misses with a hook. Pleman ducked under it nicely.
Pleman shoots in for a takedown but Zapata shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zapata blocks a jab.
Pleman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zapata throws out the jab.
Pleman tries to close the distance and clinch but Zapata swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata missing with a left hand there. Pleman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pleman throws a jab when Zapata was well out of range.
Pleman throws a combination that misses
and Zapata cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zapata on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zapata is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pleman.

Zapata clinches.
Zapata misses with a punch to the body.
Zapata misses with a punch to the body.

Pleman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pleman swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Zapata throws a hook to the side of Pleman's head but Pleman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pleman misses with a wild body shot.
Pleman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zapata circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zapata looks to land a combination. Pleman sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zapata throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pleman sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pleman is looking to clinch.
Zapata moves out of range as Pleman strikes.
Pleman misses with a low kick.
Pleman is looking to clinch but Zapata is avoiding it.
Zapata tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zapata lands with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata misses with a hook. Pleman ducked under it nicely.
Nice straight punches there by Zapata. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zapata.
Zapata throws a low kick but Pleman moves out of range easily.
Zapata lands a right hook to the body.
Alejandro Zapata is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Zapata clinches with his opponent.
Zapata softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Zapata fails to land.
Pleman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zapata pressing his opponent against the cage.

Pleman has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Zapata is trying to keep an underhook but Pleman manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zapata wants to get back to full guard but Pleman has passed into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zapata is not content to let Pleman control the position.
Zapata regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alejandro Zapata comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zapata has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alejandro Zapata!
Alejandro Zapata really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.