PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Zanico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Enitan Olufunmilola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Olufunmilola is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Chase The Devil. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Zanico
vs
Olufunmilola

173 cm
25
143 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

160 cm
34
143 lbs
23 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafael Zanico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Enitan Olufunmilola!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zanico shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Olufunmilola pinned against the cage. Olufunmilola gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Olufunmilola shoots in but Zanico avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Olufunmilola fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zanico avoids it really well and circles away.
Olufunmilola shoots in for a double leg but Zanico sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rafael Zanico has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Enitan Olufunmilola.
Olufunmilola looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice sprawl there from Zanico as Olufunmilola shoots in.
Zanico throws a head kick that misses.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zanico enables Olufunmilola to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zanico manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Olufunmilola trying to control the position from guard on top but Zanico is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zanico looking for a sweep. Not yet Zanico, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanico bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Olufunmilola's guard.
Zanico slips nicely into half guard.
Zanico tries to pass to full mount but Olufunmilola defends it.

Zanico is working for a kimura but Olufunmilola is defending it quite comfortably.
Zanico will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Zanico wants to work for an arm triangle but Olufunmilola is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zanico prevents Olufunmilola from standing back up.

Zanico is working for a kimura but Olufunmilola is defending it quite comfortably.
Olufunmilola wants to improve his position but Zanico is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zanico seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Olufunmilola is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zanico's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zanico's back!
Zanico is trying to escape under a series of strikes and manages to escape from Olufunmilola 's hooks.
Olufunmilola controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zanico can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olufunmilola looking to control but Zanico is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zanico is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zanico avoids a series of strikes thrown by Olufunmilola.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Olufunmilola lands a nice shot to the head.
Olufunmilola trying to control but Zanico is having none of it.
Zanico is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Olufunmilola can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zanico is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Olufunmilola working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enitan Olufunmilola dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Olufunmilola tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zanico paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Olufunmilola shoots for a double leg takedown but Zanico sprawls well. He's pushed Olufunmilola's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zanico is looking to clinch but Olufunmilola is avoiding it.
Zanico looks to clinch
and Zanico takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Olufunmilola fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Olufunmilola bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zanico keeps the fight on the outside.
Zanico throws a head kick that misses

and Olufunmilola counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zanico won't be happy with that.
Zanico is trying to improve his position.
Olufunmilola advances to mount.
Enitan Olufunmilola has got the better of the ground game so far.
Olufunmilola controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olufunmilola misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Zanico sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Olufunmilola works his way into side control.
Zanico is trying to work for a sweep but Olufunmilola has mounted him!
Zanico has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Olufunmilola throwing damaging strikes from the back! Zanico could be in trouble here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Olufunmilola is persistently looking for the submission but Zanico is defending it well.

Olufunmilola working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
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!
Zanico avoids the strikes from Olufunmilola.

Olufunmilola is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Zanico has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olufunmilola doesn't have the hooks in and Zanico manages to turn into his guard.
Olufunmilola working a defensive guard here.
Zanico stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Olufunmilola swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zanico is working hard here to advance position.

Olufunmilola looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanico missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zanico won't allow Olufunmilola to get back to his feet.
Olufunmilola looking to control.

Zanico thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Olufunmilola keeping full guard, as Zanico tries to pass.
Olufunmilola wants to sweep but no luck.
Zanico tries to free his leg and advance position but Olufunmilola is retaining full guard.
Olufunmilola manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Olufunmilola wants to control the pace but Zanico is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enitan Olufunmilola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zanico.
Zanico closes the distance looking to clinch
and Olufunmilola counters with a big head kick but Zanico shrugs it off.
Zanico fails with an attempt to clinch.
Olufunmilola shoots for a double leg takedown but Zanico sprawls well. He's pushed Olufunmilola's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Olufunmilola fails to land the takedown.
Olufunmilola wants to clinch.
Zanico keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rafael Zanico has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Enitan Olufunmilola.

Olufunmilola drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Olufunmilola tries to move into full mount but can't pass Zanico's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Zanico's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zanico is trying to get back to half guard.
Zanico sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Olufunmilola moves nicely into side control.
Zanico stops Olufunmilola from passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Olufunmilola passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Zanico!
Zanico is squirming around, avoiding Olufunmilola's attempts to control the action.
Zanico regains half guard.
Olufunmilola frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Zanico is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Olufunmilola is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Zanico has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Zanico!
Zanico looking to pass the guard.
Rafael Zanico has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Olufunmilola trying to strike off his back.
Zanico postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zanico looking to pass the guard.
Olufunmilola is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanico trying to move into half guard but instead Olufunmilola has managed to sweep!
Olufunmilola looking to sit in guard and control but Zanico gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zanico looking to pass the guard.
Olufunmilola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Olufunmilola bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zanico's guard.
Zanico keeping moving, preventing Olufunmilola from controlling successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Olufunmilola got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zanico has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Olufunmilola has managed to get both his arms back between Zanico's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Enitan Olufunmilola.
Well Olufunmilola has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Enitan Olufunmilola!
A very excited looking Enitan Olufunmilola made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.