PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vincent Nostro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angelo Zed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Angelo Zed will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Nostro
vs
Zed

185 cm
34
198 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

187 cm
25
199 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vincent Nostro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Angelo Zed!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zed throws a wild body kick that Nostro sees coming a mile off.
Zed lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nostro circles away quickly and effectively.
Nostro has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Zed finds it's way round the side to connect with Nostro's head.

It looks like Vincent Nostro has been cut.
Nostro displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zed throws out the jab.
Zed lands a nice hook to Nostro's body. Nostro takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Nostro shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zed manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Nostro wants to pass the guard but Zed is keeping the position.
Nostro trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zed wants to stand up but Nostro is controlling him.
Zed avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zed is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zed is trying to keep Nostro in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Angelo Zed was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Zed throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nostro slips a straight right by Zed.
Nostro fails to land the takedown.
Zed tests Nostro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zed throws a series of punches but Nostro moves out of range.
Nostro drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nostro avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nostro takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Angelo Zed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zed misses with a few strikes there.
Nostro avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zed thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nostro slips a jab from Zed.

Nostro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zed was covering up waiting for the punch and Nostro finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nostro throwing strikes from guard but Zed blocks nicely.
Zed is looking to stand up but Nostro isn't so interested in that idea.
Nostro won't allow Zed to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nostro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nostro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Nostro has gone for a leg lock! Zed slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nostro's guard.
Zed wants to control from the top but Nostro keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nostro had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zed defends it easily.
Zed is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Nostro is looking for a triangle but Zed pushes his legs off easily.
Zed has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nostro is proving hard to escape from.
Nostro lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zed!
Nostro has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nostro lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nostro looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Nostro 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.

Nostro is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Zed can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Zed tries to lock up and control but Nostro gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zed takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Zed tries to lock up and control but Nostro gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Nostro is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Zed has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Zed is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vincent Nostro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vincent Nostro's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zed throws a hook but Nostro blocks it.
Zed's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Zed duly obliges.
Nostro looks for a takedown but Zed sprawls well.
Zed tries to land a front kick but Nostro steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nostro closes the distance and clinches up with Zed, looking for a takedown. Nostro pushes Zed against the cage but Zed circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A thudding body kick lands there by Zed!
Nostro shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zed defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vincent Nostro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zed. Nostro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zed throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Nostro counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nostro.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nostro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zed is looking to stand up but Nostro isn't so interested in that idea.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nostro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zed is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Nostro thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nostro stopping the sweep attempt from Zed.
Zed preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zed keeping full guard, as Nostro tries to pass.
Zed is trying to control the position but Nostro postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nostro advances position into side control!
Zed struggling a bit here.

Nostro is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zed has escaped the position, nice work there.
Zed takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

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

Nostro is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zed is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nostro throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zed takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Nostro is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zed has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nostro in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Zed is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nostro's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zed moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nostro preventing the sweep.
Zed can't keep his opponent in guard - Nostro advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Nostro is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zed is just riding it out for now. Nostro eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nostro uses his free foot to push down on Zed's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Zed.

Nostro is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Zed has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Zed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nostro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nostro looking for a guillotine here but Zed defends easily.
Zed looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nostro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zed gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Nostro dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vincent Nostro's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Zed throws out a leg kick but Nostro moves out of range and Zed only half commits.
Nostro fails with the takedown.
Zed cracks the inside of Nostro's front leg.
Zed pushes Nostro away with a front kick.
Zed swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Nostro counters with a single leg into guard. Zed didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nostro postures up in Zed's guard and throws a big left but Zed blocks it.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zed holds on and takes a little breather.
Nostro preventing the sweep.
Zed avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Zed preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nostro postures up in Zed's guard and throws a big left but Zed blocks it.
Zed avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zed trying to keep a closed guard but Nostro is proving a slippery customer.
Zed avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zed is on top in guard.
Zed wants to control from the top but Nostro keeps moving.
Zed wants to get up but he can't break Nostro's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Nostro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Nostro is working an open guard so Zed takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nostro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Angelo Zed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nostro walks into a stiff left hand from Zed.
Nostro takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zed looks to throw the jab but Nostro is out of range.
Zed misses with an uppercut. Nostro saw that one coming.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nostro is defended easily by Zed.
Nostro fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vincent Nostro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nostro takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zed tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zed darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A big left from Zed misses.

Nice combo by Zed! Oh, that's hurt him - Nostro falls to the canvas and Zed follows him into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zed decides to stand back up. Zed steps back and let's Nostro get back to his feet.
Zed misses with a body kick.
Nostro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zed.
Sloppy strikes from Zed. Those never looked like landing.
A big right from Zed misses.
Zed throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Nostro gets the takedown into side control.

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

Nostro looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nostro tries to advance to mount but Zed denies him.
Sloppy strikes there by Nostro.
Zed tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zed struggling a bit here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Nostro looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Vincent Nostro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nostro controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Angelo Zed comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nostro has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vincent Nostro!
Vincent Nostro decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.