PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Cicero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Zebub (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Cicero might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Woke Up This Morning . Zebub has chosen Death March as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cicero
vs
Zebub

162 cm
29
158 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

178 cm
29
162 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ Red Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Cicero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bill Zebub!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Bruno Hogan and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cicero leaves Zebub with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Cicero. Those never looked like landing.
Cicero misses with a double jab.
Cicero throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Zebub counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Cicero uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Cicero throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zebub.
Zebub with a poor takedown
and Cicero counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zebub's knee momentarily.
Zebub looks gassed!
Cicero looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cicero swinging wildly here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cicero throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zebub.
Zebub closes the distance and clinches up with Cicero, looking for a takedown. Zebub pushes Cicero against the cage but Cicero circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Paul Cicero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Zebub.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Cicero. Those never looked like landing.
Zebub shoots and misses
and Cicero counters with a three punch combo that has Zebub backing up. Zebub nods at Cicero to acknowledge the strikes.
Zebub shoots and misses
and Cicero counters with a series of strikes. Zebub will be more careful next time no doubt.
Bill Zebub seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cicero fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zebub takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cicero will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cicero swinging wildly here.
Zebub cracks Cicero with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Zebub shoots in for a takedown but Cicero shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cicero misses with a two punch combination.
Zebub fails with the takedown
and Cicero counters with a low kick, right behind Zebub 's knee.
Cicero throws a right and a left that Zebub avoids nicely.
Cicero looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cicero swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zebub swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No luck for Zebub with that takedown attempt.
Cicero lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zebub circles away quickly and effectively.
Zebub has his takedown stuffed

and Cicero counters with a shoot takedown. Zebub fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cicero cracks Zebub with a solid left hand.

Zebub looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cicero stands up over Zebub, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cicero with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cicero scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zebub thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Cicero keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zebub's head.
Cicero wants to get up but he can't break Zebub's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cicero accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cicero stands up over Zebub, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Zebub is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cicero in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cicero preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cicero connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cicero's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cicero lands a couple of digs.
Cicero is working Zebub over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cicero is stalling in the full guard.
Cicero postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cicero is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cicero distracts Zebub with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cicero throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zebub works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zebub preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cicero works over Zebub with some ground and pound from guard.
Cicero is in close to Zebub's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cicero postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cicero wants to control from the top but Zebub keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Cicero dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zebub throws a right hand that Cicero ducks under and follows up with a left that Cicero also avoids with ease.
Cicero throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Zebub gets a takedown into half guard.

Cicero kicks off Zebub and gets to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Cicero.
Cicero looks to land a combination but Zebub avoids it well.
Sloppy strikes from Zebub. Those never looked like landing.

Zebub bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Zebub is breathing heavily.

Cicero explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cicero misses with a few strikes there.
Cicero misses with a wild combination.
Some bone on bone action there as Zebub checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Zebub misses with a takedown attempt
and Cicero counters with a left and a right that stings Zebub.
Sloppy strikes from Cicero. Those never looked like landing.
Cicero throws a leg kick but Zebub moved away.
Zebub throws a series of punches but Cicero moves out of range.
Cicero throws a nice looking combination but Zebub bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cicero throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cicero stuffs the takedown attempt from Zebub. Zebub gets slowly back to his feet.
Zebub fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Paul Cicero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Zebub.
Cicero lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zebub circles away quickly and effectively.
Zebub shoots in for a takedown but Cicero shows good takedown defense.
Cicero cracks the inside of Zebub's front leg.
Zebub misses with a takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Cicero throws a nice looking combination but Zebub bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zebub showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cicero.
Zebub throws a right hand that Cicero ducks under and follows up with a left that Cicero also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cicero fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch combination from Cicero misses.

Zebub drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zebub stops Cicero from standing up.
Zebub passes into half guard.
Zebub thows a huge punch but Cicero dodges it nicely.

Cicero pushes Zebub off and gets back to his feet.
Cicero stuffs the takedown attempt from Zebub. Zebub gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zebub avoids the head kick by Cicero.
Zebub with a poor takedown
and Cicero counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zebub throws a leg kick
and Cicero counters with a good low kick that Zebub was not able to check.
Cicero rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zebub moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cicero throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zebub shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cicero as he jumps to the side.
Cicero scores with a nice body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zebub shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cicero but Cicero pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Paul Cicero will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cicero will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zebub looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Paul Cicero is winning the standup battle so far.
Some wild striking there from Cicero.
A combination from Cicero does no damage.
Paul Cicero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zebub misses with a takedown attempt
and Cicero counters with a series of strikes. Zebub will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cicero throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zebub fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cicero avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cicero misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cicero throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zebub.
Zebub is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cicero sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Paul Cicero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Zebub.
Cicero lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zebub circles away quickly and effectively.
Cicero throws a nice looking combination but Zebub bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cicero leaves Zebub with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zebub with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cicero counters with a two punch combo.
Cicero buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cicero showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zebub.
Bill Zebub has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Cicero. Those never looked like landing.
Cicero throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zebub misses with a double jab
and Cicero counters with a thumping low kick.
Zebub has a takedown stuffed.
Cicero throws a series of punches but Zebub moves out of range.
Cicero lands a leg kick that knocks Zebub off balance momentarily.
Cicero misses with a series of wild punches.
Cicero 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cicero slips a jab and a cross from Zebub.
Cicero misses with a wild combination.
Cicero pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cicero avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zebub fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cicero scores with a leg kick.
Cicero keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cicero throws a right and a left that Zebub avoids nicely.
Cicero misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cicero misses with the combination.
Sloppy strikes from Cicero. Those never looked like landing.
Cicero throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cicero fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zebub has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zebub lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Paul Cicero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zebub looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cicero is fending him off so far but Zebub persists. Nope, Cicero circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Cicero showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cicero has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Cicero!