PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zickan Zeilist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Fernando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zeilist
vs
Fernando

186 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zickan Zeilist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fred Fernando!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernando changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zeilist tries to avoid it but Fernando manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zeilist to the ground. Zeilist escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Zeilist looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zeilist is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Zeilist slips a nice elbow through Fernando's hands, connecting with Fernando's forehead.

Zeilist stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Fernando to get to his feet.
Fernando has his takedown stuffed

and Zeilist counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Zeilist not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Fernando 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.
Zeilist works over Fernando with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernando controls Zeilist momentarily but Zeilist frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeilist pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fernando is keeping the position for now.
Zeilist controlling from the top position.
Zeilist looking to sit in guard and control but Fernando gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Fernando wants to control from the top but Zeilist keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zeilist trying to keep a closed guard but Fernando is proving a slippery customer.
Zeilist managing to control the position.
Fernando landing with the ground and pound.
Fernando must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zeilist striking off his back.
Fernando wants to control from the top but Zeilist keeps moving.
Fernando prevents Zeilist from getting back to his feet.
Fernando wants to control from the top but Zeilist keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeilist tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zeilist lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Fernando!
Fernando tries to hold on but Zeilist pushes him away.

Fernando defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Zeilist.
Zeilist is breathing heavily.
Zeilist pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Zeilist wants to control the pace but Fernando is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fernando wants to control but Zeilist is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernando really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Zeilist landing punches.
Fernando is squirming around, avoiding Zeilist's attempts to control the action.
Fernando tries to lock up and control but Zeilist gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zeilist has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Fernando's face.
Fernando is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zickan Zeilist dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zeilist feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Fernando is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zeilist controls from within his opponent's guard.

Fernando has an active guard here but Zeilist has managed to pass into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Fernando is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeilist scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Zeilist postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Fernando to stand up.

Fernando clinches up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fernando.
Fernando tries to break the clinch but Zeilist is controlling the position.
A bit of stalling here from Fernando.
Fernando is looking to break free of the clinch but Zeilist has double underhooks.
Zeilist taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Fernando successfully pulls guard.
Zeilist wants to control from the top but Fernando keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zeilist's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zeilist passes into half guard.
Fernando is not content to let Zeilist control the position.
Zeilist working the head and body with strikes.
Zeilist working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zeilist performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Zeilist working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zickan Zeilist overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fernando is trying to stand up here but Zeilist is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeilist is taking a breather. Fernando says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Zeilist is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Fernando working to try and regain half guard.
Zeilist landing strikes from the mount and Fernando is in trouble!
Zeilist can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fernando is looking to escape.
Zeilist with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zeilist looking to control and managing it successfully.
Fernando wants to hold on but Zeilist pushes him away.
Fernando in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Zeilist landing strikes, looking to finish!
Zeilist avoids the attempt from Fernando to control.
Zeilist lands with some strikes.
Zeilist looking to control but Fernando is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zickan Zeilist dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Fernando throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Zeilist closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fernando to the mat! Fernando manages to get full guard.
Fernando controlling the position.
Fernando has momentary wrist control but Zeilist slips an elbow through the middle.
Fernando is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fernando is tying to control. Zeilist wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zeilist manages to get to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zeilist controls Fernando momentarily but Fernando frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernando wanted to stand there but Zeilist had control of the position.
Zeilist looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fernando is one step ahead there.
Zeilist is working hard here to advance position.
Fernando loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zeilist manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fernando manages to get himself to full guard.
Fernando pulls Zeilist in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Zeilist decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Fernando, up you get!
Fernando misses with a takedown

and Zeilist counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Zeilist 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.
Zeilist wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fernando keeps working.
Zeilist tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fernando knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Fernando is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zeilist scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeilist thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zeilist is tying to control. Fernando wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zeilist uses his free foot to push down on Fernando's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Fernando.
Zeilist trying to control but Fernando is having none of it.
Zeilist cracks Fernando with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Zeilist landing strikes, looking to finish!
Zeilist with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Fernando tries to lock up and control but Zeilist gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Fernando is in all sorts of trouble here.
Fernando tries to hold on but Zeilist postures up.
Fernando is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Fernando tries to hold on but Zeilist postures up.
Fred Fernando has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fernando can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zickan Zeilist showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zeilist, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zickan Zeilist!