PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mario Zivko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremy Stapleton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Stapleton's choice of entrance music: Stick To Your Guns - Against Them All. Jeremy Stapleton told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Zivko
vs
Stapleton

187 cm
23
221 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

194 cm
20
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conquer
Heisenberg

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mario Zivko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeremy Stapleton!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zivko takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

It looks like Mario Zivko has been cut.
Stapleton scores with a nice head shot.
Zivko gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Zivko misses with a low kick.
Zivko throws a sloppy head kick and Stapleton moves out of range easily.
Zivko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zivko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zivko checks a low kick from Stapleton.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zivko.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice uppercut lands for Zivko. That snapped Stapleton's head back.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zivko.
Stapleton paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Stapleton feints a jab promting Zivko to slip. Stapleton then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Zivko slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Zivko misses with a hook. Stapleton ducked under it nicely.
Good exchange - Stapleton coming out on top.
Stapleton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zivko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stapleton scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stapleton throws a hook but Zivko avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Zivko.
Stapleton misses the shot to the body.
Stapleton misses with a wild combination.
Stapleton listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Stapleton tests Zivko's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stapleton misses with a body shot.
Zivko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zivko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Good leg kick by Stapleton there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Stapleton throws a big shot that misses.
Stapleton steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zivko.
Stapleton blocks a head kick by Zivko.
Zivko takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stapleton misses with a left hand
and Zivko counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stapleton lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Zivko throws a right hand that Stapleton ducks under and follows up with a left that Stapleton also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Stapleton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stapleton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zivko.
Stapleton jabs at Zivko's body.
Zivko on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Stapleton misses with an uppercut. Zivko saw that one coming.
Zivko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stapleton.
Zivko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stapleton.
Zivko misses with a combination
and Stapleton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zivko has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Stapleton finds it's way round the side to connect with Zivko's head.

Mario Zivko's cut is getting worse.
Stapleton misses with a low kick.
Stapleton throws a looping overhand right but Zivko ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Zivko misses its intended target.
Zivko throws a head kick but Stapleton moves out of range.
Stapleton misses with a low kick.
Nice uppercut there from Stapleton.
Stapleton blocks a jab.
Stapleton throws a combination. Zivko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Stapleton connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Stapleton is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Zivko had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Stapleton misses with the combination.
Zivko takes a swing at Stapleton's ribcage but misses.
Stapleton moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A left lands for Zivko.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zivko throws a body punch but Stapleton moves out of range.
Zivko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stapleton.
Stapleton darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A punch combination from Zivko misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zivko tries a head kick but it misses.
Stapleton blocks the body kick.
Stapleton slips under a jab.
Zivko throws a head kick that misses.
Zivko connects with a body shot.
Stapleton loads up on a big right hand but Zivko slips the punch.
Zivko takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Stapleton scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Mario Zivko's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zivko.
Stapleton throws a hook to the side of Zivko's head but Zivko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zivko takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Zivko misses the jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stapleton throws a big shot that misses.
Zivko misses with a wild body shot.
Stapleton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stapleton scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Stapleton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mario Zivko's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zivko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stapleton throws a low kick but Zivko moves out of range easily.
Stapleton scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Stapleton works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Stapleton throws a series of punches but Zivko moves out of range.
Zivko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stapleton.
Stapleton has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Zivko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zivko lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Zivko.

It looks like Jeremy Stapleton has been cut.
Stapleton takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Zivko digs a good hook to Stapleton's body.
Stapleton throws a series of punches but Zivko moves out of range.
Zivko throws a right hand that Stapleton ducks under and follows up with a left that Stapleton also avoids with ease.
Stapleton cracks Zivko with a right hand to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab by Stapleton.
Stapleton scoring well with a low kick there.
Zivko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stapleton manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stapleton takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Stapleton slips a straight right by Zivko.
Zivko takes a swing at Stapleton's ribcage but misses.

Zivko clinches up with Stapleton and pushes him back against the cage.
Zivko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zivko lands a left hand that snaps the head of Stapleton backwards.
Zivko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Zivko looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Zivko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
I was talking to Zivko's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zivko.
A short right from Stapleton on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Stapleton as the two fighters clinch.
Zivko trying to stall but Stapleton improves his position.
Zivko throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stapleton managing to block the knees to the body from Zivko.
Stapleton is trying to push Zivko away but Zivko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Stapleton digs a right hand into Zivko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zivko's gas tank.
Stapleton is trying to push Zivko away but Zivko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stapleton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stapleton doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zivko trying to stall but Stapleton improves his position.
Stapleton is trying to break free.
Stapleton has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Zivko seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Stapleton can turn it around.
Stapleton misses with a punch to the body.
Stapleton takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zivko misses with a knee strike.
Stapleton wants to get back to striking at distance but Zivko won't allow it.
Stapleton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stapleton misses with a body punch.
Zivko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stapleton takes a knee to the side of the body.
Stapleton managing to block the knees to the body from Zivko.
Stapleton tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zivko's elbow.
Stapleton misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stapleton misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stapleton lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zivko prevents a body shot from Stapleton.
Zivko looking to throw knees to the head but Stapleton is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zivko lands a nice elbow.
Stapleton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zivko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stapleton lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zivko stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Zivko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stapleton.
Stapleton misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stapleton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stapleton lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zivko backwards.
Zivko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stapleton is defending well for now.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stapleton.
Zivko scores with a knee to the head.
Zivko trying to land knees to the body.
Stapleton presses Zivko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stapleton holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Zivko just leaning against Stapleton, taking a breather.
Zivko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zivko taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Stapleton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Zivko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stapleton's brow.
Stapleton can't find room to land a body shot as Zivko controls the action.
Zivko blocks a body shot from Stapleton.
Zivko missing with knees to the body.
Stapleton tries a body shot but Zivko blocks it.
Zivko prevents a body shot from Stapleton.
Stapleton lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Stapleton is trying to force a seperation but Zivko has the dominant position.
Zivko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stapletons head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Zivko lands a hook that snaps the head of Stapleton backwards.

Stapleton is rocked!

That has opened up Jeremy Stapleton's cut even more.
Zivko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Stapleton is still on wobbly legs! Can Zivko finish him?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zivko creates some distance and fires off a vicious elbow that drops Stapleton! He pounces and finishes the fight with more strikes! Nice KO for Zivko.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mario Zivko!
Mario Zivko spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.