PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pepper James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Zombo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

James
vs
Zombo

185 cm
28
200 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

191 cm
20
210 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pepper James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Erik Zombo!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James looks to clinch
and Zombo counters with a right hand to the body.
Zombo lands a body shot.
Zombo closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Zombo lands the left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zombo as he avoids it easily.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

James shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. James showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
James wants to stand but Zombo has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
James throwing shots but Zombo is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

James looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zombo gets full guard.

James drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zombo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now James has Zombo in his guard.
Zombo forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to get to full guard but Zombo has control of the leg.

Zombo decides to stand and escape the position.
Zombo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zombo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zombo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Zombo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throws a nice looking combination but Zombo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
James is looking to clinch but Zombo is avoiding it.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zombo.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zombo defends it nicely.
Zombo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. James doesn't seem bothered though.
James takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zombo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down James rather than just go for the knockout.
A combination from Zombo does no damage.
Zombo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from Zombo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zombo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
James throws a right hand that Zombo ducks under and follows up with a left that Zombo also avoids with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James misses the shot to the body.

James decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Zombo uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
James makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James scoring with some ground and pound.
James won't allow Zombo to sweep him here.
Zombo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Zombo 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.

Zombo just misses with a punch to the body.
Zombo misses the shot to the body.
Zombo slips under a jab from James.
A jab from Zombo does it's job there.
James on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
James throws a body punch but Zombo moves out of range.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.
James wants to clinch.
James tries to land a leg kick but Zombo saw it coming and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throws a right hand that Zombo ducks under and follows up with a left that Zombo also avoids with ease.
Zombo tries to bum rush James with a series of wild strikes but James uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pepper James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zombo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Erik Zombo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zombo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James tries to clinch but Zombo is having none of it.
James misses with a few strikes there.
Zombo takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
James lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zombo connects with a body shot.
James takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
James wants to clinch up but Zombo keeps it at a distance.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James tries to clinch
and Zombo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
James throws a push kick but Zombo slaps the foot to one side.
James tries to close the distance and clinch but Zombo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zombo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. James looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zombo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zombo lands a jab to the head.
James misses with a series of wild punches.
Erik Zombo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zombo.
Zombo cracks James with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Zombo throws a one two combo.
Zombo works James's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throws a leg kick but Zombo sees it coming and checks it nicely.

James rushes Zombo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zombo has him pressed against the cage.

James manages to break the clinch.
Zombo misses with a body shot.
Zombo throws a nice looking combination but James bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zombo circles away from the clinch attempt.
James falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zombo counters with a two punch combo.
James throws a series of punches but Zombo moves out of range.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zombo as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zombo just misses with a punch to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Zombo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zombo listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Zombo throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
A punch combination from Zombo misses.
Zombo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Zombo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by James as he connects with a hook.
Zombo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A punch combination from James misses.
Zombo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Zombo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Zombo misses with a series of wild punches.
Zombo throws a one two combo.

Zombo lands a left and a right that send James crashing to the mat, dazed. Zombo thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

James is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James misses with a wild combination.
Oh James is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
James tries to clinch up.
James seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd cheers as Zombo lands an impressive looking overhand right. James doesn't seem phased though.
Zombo swats away the attempt to clinch by James.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zombo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A jab from James misses.
Zombo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zombo keeps the fight on the outside.
James misses with a combination
and Zombo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Zombo drops James with a beautiful combination! James stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Zombo is looking for the KO!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

James gets a clinch.
James misses with a punch on the inside.

James breaks from the clinch.
Zombo digs a good hook to James's body.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Zombo.
Zombo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Erik Zombo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zombo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zombo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
Zombo looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
James throws a front kick aimed at Zombo's knee but Zombo avoids it well.
Zombo scores with a nice right hand.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.
James tries to land a leg kick but Zombo saw it coming and moves away.
Zombo lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
James has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zombo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zombo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but James moves away.
James loads up on a big right hand but Zombo slips the punch.
James is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Zombo.
Zombo connects with a body shot.
Zombo lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
James moves in looking to clinch but Zombo pushes him off.
Zombo scores with a shot to the body.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zombo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zombo lands a head shot.
James tries to clinch but Zombo moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zombo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zombo wants it to stay on the feet.
James on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
James feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zombo's calf.
Zombo misses the shot to the body.
James misses with a few strikes there.
James connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zombo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from James.
Zombo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James takes a shot right to the bread basket.
James misses with a two punch combination.
Pepper James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zombo looks to land a combination. James sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Zombo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zombo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Zombo!