PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dale McCann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Zidel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zidel has chosen Are You In? - Incubus as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McCann
vs
Zidel

190 cm
19
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

195 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

Just Fight (Everything 7$)
Affordable Quality

GREEN!160

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dale McCann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Zidel!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCann throws out a loose jab but Zidel uses good head movement to avoid it.
McCann throws a nice outside leg kick.
Zidel fails with an attempt to clinch.
McCann looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McCann swings widly with a right hand
and Zidel counters with a nice kick to the body.
Zidel is looking to clinch.
Zidel wants to clinch
and McCann cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McCann fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zidel checks it well.
Zidel throws a head kick that misses.
Zidel slips under a jab from McCann.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCann tries to clinch up.
Zidel wants to clinch up but McCann keeps it at a distance.
Zidel's coach down at Den of Tears (22 coaches, $250 fee) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Zidel's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Zidel fails with an attempt to clinch.
McCann avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McCann lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A jab from McCann does it's job there.
Zidel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zidel tries to clinch up.
McCann's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and McCann duly obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zidel is looking to clinch but McCann is avoiding it.
McCann looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Zidel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McCann manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McCann shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Zidel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McCann keeps the fight on the outside.
Zidel is looking to clinch but McCann is avoiding it.
Zidel is looking to clinch but McCann is avoiding it.
Zidel closes the distance but McCann moves to the side
and McCann counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCann bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Zidel's head.
McCann takes a kick to the side of the head.
McCann looks to land a combination but Zidel avoids it well.
Zidel closes the distance but McCann moves to the side
and McCann counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McCann lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McCann connects with a leg kick. Zidel looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Zidel tries to clinch but fails miserably

and McCann counters by clinching up.
McCann wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCann has had enough of the clinch but Zidel keeps him there for the moment.

McCann breaks the clinch.
Zidel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McCann manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McCann tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zidel was well out of range. Poor timing from McCann.
Zidel tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McCann counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
McCann throws a nice outside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zidel misses with an attempted mid kick.
Zidel darts in trying to clinch

and McCann counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dale McCann dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zidel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCann.
McCann avoids the head kick by Zidel.
Zidel avoids the body shot from McCann.
Paul Zidel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCann connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Zidel throws a head kick that McCann semi-blocks.
McCann on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zidel. Zidel obviously looking to wear him down.
Zidel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McCann swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Zidel counters with a big head kick but McCann shrugs it off.
Zidel tries to clinch up

and McCann moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCann is trying to push Zidel away but Zidel has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zidel misses with a knee strike.
Zidel tries to land a knee to the head but McCann blocks with his arms.
McCann is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zidel unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zidel trying to land knees to the body.
Zidel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McCann has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Zidel breaks from the clinch.
Paul Zidel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A bone on bone clash there as Zidel blocks the leg kick.

McCann forces Zidel back against the cage and clinches.
Zidel will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning McCann up against the cage.
Zidel with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCann breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zidel tries to land a front kick but McCann steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Zidel wants to clinch up but McCann keeps it at a distance.
McCann closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zidel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zidel attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Zidel tries to close the distance and clinch up but McCann swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zidel closes the distance but McCann moves to the side
enabling McCann to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCann has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Zidel.
McCann thows a leg kick but Zidel checks it

and Zidel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zidel.

McCann escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Zidel.
Zidel wants to clinch.
McCann bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Zidel's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zidel takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McCann lands a really nice looking cross but Zidel seems unphased.
Zidel tries to close the distance and clinch but McCann swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zidel pivots, looking for a leg kick but McCann is out of range and Zidel settles back down.
Zidel looks to clinch
and McCann counters with a straight right hand.
Zidel throws a front kick aimed at McCann's knee but McCann avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zidel wants to clinch up but McCann keeps it at a distance.
Zidel moves to clinch but McCann breaks away
and McCann counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zidel's knee momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paul Zidel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McCann circles away from the clinch attempt.
McCann looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McCann jabs Zidel to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Zidel closes the distance but McCann moves to the side
and McCann counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zidel darts in trying to clinch
and McCann counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Good standup being displayed there by McCann as he connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zidel wants to clinch up but McCann keeps it at a distance.
McCann scores with a one two! Zidel had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Paul Zidel has been cut.
Zidel tries to clinch up.
McCann lands with a thumping leg kick.
McCann works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Jab by McCann.
McCann blocks a head kick by Zidel.
McCann jabs Zidel to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Zidel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Decent striking displayed by McCann there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zidel wants to clinch
and McCann counters with a nice uppercut.
Zidel wants to clinch
and McCann counters with a stiff right hand.
McCann lands the left hand.
McCann scores with a jab to the body.
McCann throws a good cross that connects.
Zidel moves to clinch but McCann breaks away
and McCann counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zidel throws a head kick that misses
and McCann counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McCann digs a good body shot into Zidel's ribs.
Zidel tries to close the distance and clinch but McCann swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No joy there for McCann, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zidel throws a head kick but McCann moves out of range.
McCann shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Zidel eats them both and turns towards McCann to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
McCann misses with a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Zidel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zidel wants to clinch but McCann slips to the side
and McCann counters with a nice uppercut.
Zidel wants to clinch
and McCann counters with a slapping leg kick.
McCann shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Zidel eats them both and turns towards McCann to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCann lands a nice hook to Zidel's body. Zidel takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zidel tries to clinch but McCann moves away
and McCann counters with a left to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zidel closes the distance looking to clinch
and McCann counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dale McCann showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McCann 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dale McCann!
An out of breath Dale McCann thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.