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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Morris McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven NZonzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 173 cm
27
169 lbs
17 - 10 - 0 |
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176 cm
25
160 lbs
7 - 1 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Morris McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steven NZonzi!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
NZonzi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt McDonald.
NZonzi moves into the clinch.
McDonald tries to work over NZonzi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
NZonzi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
NZonzi missing with knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, NZonzi just misses with a elbow thrown towards McDonald's brow.
NZonzi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McDonald is defending well for now.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
NZonzi misses with a knee strike.
NZonzi throws a knee to the head but misses.
NZonzi scores a nice knee to the body.
NZonzi scores a nice knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A frustrated look appears on McDonald's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McDonald successfully pulls guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
NZonzi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
NZonzi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald moves out of range as NZonzi strikes.
NZonzi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
McDonald fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
NZonzi is looking to clinch.
Steven NZonzi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McDonald looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
NZonzi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McDonald.
NZonzi works his way to full guard. Good work.
McDonald throwing strikes from guard but NZonzi blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald stopping the sweep attempt from NZonzi.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
NZonzi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McDonald pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. NZonzi is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McDonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
NZonzi wants to sweep but no luck.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McDonald drops back, looking for a kneebar! NZonzi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. NZonzi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from NZonzi!
McDonald tries to improve position but can't.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald manages to work his way to half guard, despite NZonzi's best efforts.
NZonzi is trying to control the action in half guard but McDonald is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
NZonzi prevents McDonald from improving his position.
McDonald moves into full guard.
McDonald has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
McDonald tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. NZonzi manages to get himself to full guard.
NZonzi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
NZonzi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McDonald in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McDonald trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McDonald trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McDonald throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as NZonzi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McDonald postures up in NZonzi's guard and throws a big left but NZonzi blocks it.
McDonald postures up and lands a big shot to NZonzi's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Steven NZonzi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!
NZonzi misses with a body kick.
NZonzi closes the distance and clinches.
NZonzi connects with a knee to the head.
McDonald blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McDonald tries to pull guard but NZonzi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
NZonzi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McDonald.
NZonzi connects with a knee to the head.
McDonald avoiding damage as NZonzi throws knees to the body.
McDonald pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McDonald misses with the combination.
NZonzi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McDonald tries to bum rush NZonzi with a series of wild strikes but NZonzi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
NZonzi tries to clinch but McDonald is having none of it.
NZonzi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McDonald.
Morris McDonald is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
NZonzi works the jab nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
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!
A jab from NZonzi finds it's way through McDonald's defenses.
McDonald is rocked!
That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Oh McDonald is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
NZonzi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McDonald to score an easy takedown into full guard.
McDonald seems to have got his legs back now.
NZonzi is controlling McDonald's posture.
NZonzi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McDonald has gone for a leg lock! NZonzi slips out almost immediately though and dives into McDonald's guard.
McDonald looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
NZonzi pushing down on McDonald's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to maintain the position but NZonzi is very close to passing his half guard.
McDonald manages to get to full guard.
McDonald looking for submissions from the bottom but instead NZonzi passes into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McDonald is looking to improve his position.
McDonald moves into full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
NZonzi would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
McDonald trying to keep a closed guard but NZonzi is proving a slippery customer.
McDonald throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
NZonzi won't allow McDonald to sweep him here.
McDonald escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. NZonzi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McDonald wants to sweep here but NZonzi controlling him for the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
NZonzi trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.
McDonald is striking but NZonzi is not phased and passes to half guard.
NZonzi is pressing down on McDonald's thigh, looking to free his foot. McDonald is holding on for now.
Morris McDonald overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McDonald is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McDonald punching from the bottom.
McDonald moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Steven NZonzi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
NZonzi cracks McDonald with a right hand to the side of the head.
Steven NZonzi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A right-left combo lands from McDonald.
NZonzi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
NZonzi looks to land a left hand but McDonald moved out of range nicely.
McDonald moves out of range as NZonzi strikes.
NZonzi tries to close the distance and clinch but McDonald swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
NZonzi wants to clinch.
McDonald stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
McDonald connects with the punch.
NZonzi scores with a three punch combo!
McDonald thows a body shot but no joy.
NZonzi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDonald misses with a series of wild punches.
NZonzi loads up on a big right hand but McDonald slips the punch.
NZonzi throws a hook but McDonald avoids it easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
NZonzi dodges the punch combination from McDonald.
McDonald drives through with a takedown into NZonzi's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
NZonzi has momentary wrist control but McDonald slips an elbow through the middle.
NZonzi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McDonald stopping the sweep attempt from NZonzi.
NZonzi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McDonald.
NZonzi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
NZonzi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McDonald.
Morris McDonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steven NZonzi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McDonald loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
NZonzi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McDonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
NZonzi looking to control.
McDonald with a nice head shot there.
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!
McDonald postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! NZonzi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of McDonald, into his guard.
NZonzi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to control the position from the bottom.
NZonzi wants to pass the guard but McDonald is keeping the position.
McDonald is striking but NZonzi is not phased and passes to half guard.
McDonald punching from the bottom.
McDonald is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McDonald misses with some strikes from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McDonald.
McDonald 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.
McDonald looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but NZonzi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McDonald wants to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with NZonzi in particular looking to stall.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Morris McDonald.
I think NZonzi 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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven NZonzi!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Steven NZonzi made sure he mentioned Prestige Nutrition (160!), along with how happy he was to win his fight.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
78% |
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