PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Zanico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rey Bautista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bautista is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ladies and Gentlemen. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Rey Bautista enters the cage!

Zanico
vs
Bautista

173 cm
24
143 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

170 cm
27
158 lbs
9 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafael Zanico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rey Bautista!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Bautista misses.
Zanico fails with a takedown attempt.
Zanico misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zanico tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Bautista makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zanico looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bautista scores with a jab. Zanico acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bautista scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Bautista jabs at Zanico's body.
Zanico is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zanico tries to clinch but Bautista moves out of range.
Zanico shoots in but no luck this time.
Bautista misses with a straight left.
Rafael Zanico seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bautista swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zanico.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Zanico. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice shot by Bautista.
A telegraphed right hand from Zanico misses the target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zanico looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A telegraphed right hand from Zanico misses the target.
Zanico tries to clinch there but Bautista circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zanico looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zanico moves to clinch but Bautista breaks away
letting Bautista counter with a right hand.
Zanico tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice takedown defense from Bautista. No joy for Zanico on that attempt.
Bautista swats away the attempt to clinch by Zanico.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bautista misses with an uppercut. Zanico saw that one coming.
Zanico throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bautista's waist but Bautista gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zanico off to one side.
Zanico closes the distance but Bautista moves to the side
and Bautista counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Bautista lands the left hand.
Nice shot by Bautista.
Bautista swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bautista moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Bautista lands a nice hook to Zanico's body. Zanico takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zanico takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bautista circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zanico fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rey Bautista is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bautista closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bautista.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Bautista as Zanico shoots in.
Bautista defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zanico.
Bautista connects with the punch.
Zanico tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zanico takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Zanico tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bautista paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zanico tries to close the distance and clinch but Bautista swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bautista lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Zanico gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Bautista is trying to break the clinch but Zanico is controlling him.
Zanico is looking to take this one to the mat.
Bautista gets underhooks to prevent Zanico's takedown attempt.
Bautista tries to break the clinch but Zanico is controlling the position.

Bautista jumps guard and drags Zanico to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bautista keeping full guard, as Zanico tries to pass.
Bautista looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zanico is one step ahead there.
Bautista keeping moving, preventing Zanico from controlling successfully.
Bautista keeping full guard, as Zanico tries to pass.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bautista wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zanico advances to half guard.
Zanico missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rey Bautista dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zanico takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bautista lands with a nice combination. Zanico backs away looking to recover.
Zanico tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bautista manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bautista lands a jab to the head.
Bautista fails to land with a series of punches.
Zanico shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zanico fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zanico shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bautista but Bautista pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bautista lands a jab to Zanico's midsection.
Bautista moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Zanico needs to keep his hands up - Bautista had a free shot at his head there.
Bautista lands with a shot to the body.
Rafael Zanico is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zanico on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zanico tries to close the distance and clinch but Bautista swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanico tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bautista counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A head kick misses from Zanico.
Bautista lands with an overhand left.
Zanico with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bautista to score with a decent uppercut.
Zanico tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bautista leaves Zanico with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Zanico. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zanico has Bautista up against the cage in a clinch.
Bautista is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zanico to keep the fight standing.
Bautista works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bautista goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bautista is trying to break the clinch but Zanico is controlling him.

Bautista is fighting off a takedown attempt but Zanico is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Bautista to the mat. Bautista regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Zanico looking to pass the guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bautista is pulling down on Zanico's head to control his posture.
Bautista keeping full guard, as Zanico tries to pass.
Bautista trying to keep a closed guard but Zanico is proving a slippery customer.
Zanico won't allow Bautista to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rey Bautista has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Zanico has closed the distance and engaged Bautista in a clinch.

Zanico breaks the clinch.
Bautista swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Donk. Bautista catches Zanico right on the button with a cross.
Bautista throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zanico.
Zanico displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bautista throws out the jab.

Zanico closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bautista's guard.
Zanico trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zanico stands and throws Bautista's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Zanico works to advance to full mount. Bautista defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Bautista wants to control but Zanico is having none of it.

Zanico working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Bautista turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Zanico off and cradles Bautista's limp body as Zanico celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Rafael Zanico!
Rafael Zanico gave a mention to Hell's Balls Recovery (160) in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).