PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alejandro Zapata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Daw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zapata comes to the cage accompanied by Tres Delinquentes. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zapata
vs
Daw

191 cm
24
218 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

190 cm
31
212 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alejandro Zapata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve Daw!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daw misses with a body shot
and Zapata counters with a two punch combo.
Daw connects with a high kick.
Zapata shoots for a takedown but Daw saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Daw tries to clinch up but Zapata circles away and keeps his distance.
Daw tries a low kick but Zapata avoids it.
Daw pushes Zapata away with a front kick.
Zapata lands with a good body shot.
Zapata throws a nice looking combination but Daw bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Daw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Donk. Zapata catches Daw right on the button with a cross.
Zapata misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata throws a low kick but Daw moves out of range easily.
Good shot there by Zapata.
Zapata misses with the combination.
Daw avoids the body shot from Zapata.
Daw connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Daw keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zapata.
Zapata scores with a nice head shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zapata is defended easily by Daw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daw is looking to score with low kicks.
Daw throws a right hand that misses
and Zapata counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A chopping leg kick lands by Daw.
Daw throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Daw digs a good hook to Zapata's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Daw takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Daw has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zapata digs a right hand into Daw's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Daw's gas tank.
Zapata letting Daw take a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daw misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zapata.
Daw throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zapata blocks it with crossed arms.
Daw just leaning against Zapata, taking a breather.
Zapata missing with knees to the body.
Daw is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Zapata can't find room to land a body shot as Daw controls the action.

Zapata decides to pull guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Daw avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Daw trying to control the position from guard on top but Zapata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zapata wants to sweep but no luck.
Zapata trying to keep a closed guard but Daw is proving a slippery customer.
Daw trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zapata's guard.

Zapata has an active guard here but Daw has managed to pass into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zapata actively working from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zapata tries to roll over but Daw keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alejandro Zapata will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Daw lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zapata's sensitive parts.
Zapata lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Daw circles away quickly and effectively.
Daw misses with a body shot.
Zapata swings widly with a right hand
and Daw counters with a nice leg kick.
Daw slips a straight right by Zapata.
A head kick misses from Daw.
Daw leaves Zapata with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zapata misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata jabs Daw to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Zapata misses with a body punch
and Daw counters with a head kick.
Daw throws a shot from downtown. Zapata moves away and avoids it.
Daw throws a body punch but Zapata moves out of range.
Zapata closes this distance looking for a takedown but Daw circles away.
Zapata swings for the body but Daw moves out of range.
Steve Daw is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Zapata looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Daw!
Daw tries to hold on but Zapata pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Daw can do anything to dispel that myth.

Zapata jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Daw manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daw stops Zapata from passing to mount.
Zapata misses with the ground and pound.

Zapata is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Daw knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zapata happy to just control the position for now.
Daw really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zapata. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Zapata thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata is looking to take a break and control but Daw is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Daw is looking for a sweep.

Zapata working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Zapata trying to control the action but Daw is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zapata tries for a kimura but Daw is defending well.

Zapata swings around for an armbar but Daw sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Zapata's guard.

Zapata working for a triangle but Daw defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zapata throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Zapata 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!

Zapata does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Zapata thows a body shot but no joy.
Daw keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zapata.
Zapata scores with a jab.
Daw tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Daw tries to clinch up but Zapata circles away and keeps his distance.
Zapata throws a combination that misses
and Daw counters with a low kick, right behind Zapata 's knee.
Daw tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daw comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Daw. That snapped Zapata's head back.
Daw throws a sloppy head kick and Zapata moves out of range easily.
Daw lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Daw defending well as Zapata loads up on a big left hand.
Steve Daw seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zapata shoots in for a takedown but Daw shows good takedown defense.
Daw bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zapata. Daw does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zapata lands with a thumping leg kick.
Steve Daw has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Zapata as he connects with a hook.
Zapata misses with an uppercut.
Zapata steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Daw.
Zapata throws a right hand that Daw ducks under and follows up with a left that Daw also avoids with ease.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zapata. Daw does a little dance to reset his feet.
Daw finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zapata shoots in but no luck this time.
A slow jab from Zapata misses its intended target.
Daw lands with a nice body kick.
Daw wants to clinch up but Zapata keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daw scores with a jab.
Zapata throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circling - Zapata throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A big right from Zapata misses.
Daw connects with a solid leg kick.
Zapata throws a big shot that misses.
Zapata checks a leg kick nicely.
Alejandro Zapata is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Daw misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zapata ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Daw moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zapata shoots in looking for a takedown. Daw tries to sprawl out of it but Zapata keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Daw manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Zapata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Daw as Zapata shoots in.
Daw tries to clinch up.
Daw tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Zapata is able to avoid easily.
Daw takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Daw slips a jab from Zapata.
Daw misses with the combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Daw comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zapata 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alejandro Zapata!
Alejandro Zapata took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.