PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James House (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Zanico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). House kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Instruments of Destruction. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

House
vs
Zanico

173 cm
27
148 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

173 cm
24
143 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Good kicks
Determined

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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James House!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafael Zanico!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Donatello Bradman and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zanico tries to close the distance and clinch but House swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
House is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zanico sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Horrible takedown by House or perhaps it was just good defense by Zanico which made him look bad.

House tries to keep at a distance but Zanico has taken the fight into the clinch.
House is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James House. That's going to take a lot out of him.
House is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zanico gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Zanico works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Zanico wants to pass the guard but House is keeping the position.
Zanico passes easily into side control. Nice work.
House wants to control but Zanico postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zanico tries for a kimura but House is defending well.

Zanico tries for a kimura but House is defending well.
Zanico throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zanico tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Zanico goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, House rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Zanico's guard! Nice work there by House!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
House in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
House trying to control the position from guard on top but Zanico is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zanico is looking to stand up but House isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
House throws a big elbow that misses.
House slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

House working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanico is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zanico manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

House misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice takedown defense from House. No joy for Zanico on that attempt.
Zanico is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rafael Zanico seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zanico tries to close the distance and clinch up but House swats him away and circles back towards the center.
House avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

House gets a takedown into half guard.
House is looking to stall here but Zanico recovers full guard.
House throws a strike but Zanico rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
House is controlling Zanico's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zanico wants to pass the guard but House is keeping the position.
Zanico in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
House not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zanico looking to sit in guard and control but House gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rafael Zanico has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
House trying to control the position from guard on top but Zanico is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of James House.
House fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zanico avoids it really well and circles away.
House shoots in looking for a takedown. Zanico tries to sprawl out of it but House keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zanico 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 James House. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanico tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but House swivels and escapes.
Zanico throws a head kick but House moves out of range.

House shoots in and gets a takedown into Zanico's guard.
House missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
House trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
House postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
House working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
House lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanico is looking to stand up but House isn't so interested in that idea.
House stopping the sweep attempt from Zanico.
House working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
House trying to control the position from guard on top but Zanico is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James House dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zanico drives through and clinches with House against the cage.

Zanico turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Zanico manages to end up in side control.
Zanico working the ground and pound but House is defending the strikes.
House prevents Zanico from improving position.
House can't do much from the bottom here.
Zanico passes to full mount! That's big trouble for House!
Zanico unloads with some shots from mount but House bucks and avoids them well.
House is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
House bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

House is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Zanico is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Zanico has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanico being controlled here momentarily.
House working a defensive guard here.
Zanico looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now House is on top in guard.

House has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Zanico to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! House is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Zanico pulls down on the head and he's put House to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Rafael Zanico!
Rafael Zanico very nearly forgot to thank Hell's Balls Recovery (160) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
67%

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