PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Temitope Obama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Zangief (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zangief has chosen We Own It as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Obama
vs
Zangief

196 cm
26
141 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

170 cm
29
148 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Temitope Obama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Travis Zangief!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obama misses with a two punch combination.
Zangief swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Zangief attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Obama blocks a low kick nicely.
Obama looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Zangief tries a head kick but it misses.
Obama is looking for a counter combo.

Obama clinches with his opponent.
Obama blocks an elbow strike.
Obama avoids a wild elbow strike from Zangief.
Obama really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Obama throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zangiefs head.
Zangief misses with a body punch.
Zangief misses with a hook from the clinch.
Obama blocks the elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zangief misses with some punches.
Zangief tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Obama lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zangief backwards.
Obama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zangief is defending well for now.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zangief throws an elbow but misses.
Obama landing knees to the body.
Obama is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zangief is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zangief creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Obama's defenses.
Zangief blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zangief misses with an elbow strike.
Obama gets through Zangief's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zangief wants to break free but Obama has control.
Obama trying to control the position but instead, Zangief has worked for underhooks and has pushed Obama into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Zangief's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Obama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zangief blocks it with crossed arms.
Obama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zangief is defending well for now.
Obama blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zangief told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Zangief lands a left hand.
Zangief misses with some punches.
Zangief lands an uppercut.
Obama lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zangief looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zangief blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zangief is trying to stall.
Zangief lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Obama backwards.

Zangief escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Obama throws a head kick that Zangief semi-blocks.
Obama cracks a nice hook into Zangief's ribs.
Obama moves out of range of the body kick from Zangief.
Zangief lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Obama keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zangief.
Zangief avoids a punch combination nicely.
A clash of legs there as Obama blocks the low kick.
Obama connects with a jab.
Obama throws a series of punches but Zangief moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Obama. Those never looked like landing.
Zangief throws a head kick but Obama moves out of range.
Obama uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zangief.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Zangief lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Obama has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Obama and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Zangief wants to land a leg kick but Obama is out of range.
Zangief drops his hands momentarily and Obama takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Obama lands a body shot.
Zangief smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zangief tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zangief gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Obama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Obama misses with a kick to the body
and Zangief counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zangief throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Obama counters with a one-two to the body.
Obama uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zangief.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zangief tries a head kick but it misses.
Obama connects with a body shot that sends Zangief's belly button to the back.
Zangief has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zangief there as he acknowledges the shot.

Zangief is rocked!
Obama scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Zangief is still on wobbly legs! Can Obama finish him?

Obama clinches up against the cage.
Obama scores a nice knee to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Obama creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Obama lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zangief backwards.
Zangief takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zangief scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obama landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Obama connects with a knee to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Obama - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A short uppercut from Obama.
Obama taking a breather.
Obama pushes Zangief back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zangief misses with an elbow strike.
Obama connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zangief's face.
Obama landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Obama lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zangief backwards.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zangief letting Obama take a breather here.
Obama utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Obama scores with a shoulder strike.
Obama lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Obama throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zangiefs head.
Zangief can't break the clinch.
Zangief throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Obama throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zangiefs head.
Zangief throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zangief trying to stall but Obama improves his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Obama lands a shoulder strike.
Zangief takes a knee right on the jaw!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Obama.
Obama is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Zangief has Obama pushed against the cage.
Obama is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Temitope Obama dominated that round.
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.

Obama scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Obama throws a right hand that Zangief ducks under and follows up with a left that Zangief also avoids with ease.
Obama tries to clinch up.
Zangief tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Some wild striking there from Obama.
Obama rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zangief moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zangief seems to have recovered his senses.
Obama throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zangief on the side of the head.
Temitope Obama is winning the standup battle so far.
Zangief feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Obama's calf.
Obama lands a slapping body shot.
Obama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zangief scores with a jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zangief, right into the meat.
Obama is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good shot there by Obama.
Obama misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zangief checks the leg kick nicely there.
That kick from Zangief tenderised Obama's leg. Obama is trying to keep his angry face on.
Temitope Obama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obama tries to close the distance and clinch but Zangief swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Obama is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zangief can do to turn this around?
Zangief fakes the leg kick and cracks Obama in the body.

Obama clinches up against the cage.
Obama with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zangief misses with a knee strike.
Zangief misses with an elbow strike.
Zangief throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Obama tries to land knees in the clinch but Zangief avoids the damage to the body.
Zangief blocks an uppercut.
Zangief throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zangief takes a knee right on the jaw!
Still in the clinch, Zangief scores with a nice short uppercut.
Obama misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zangief wants to get back to striking at distance but Obama won't allow it.
Zangief blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Zangief breaks from the clinch.
Obama throws a body punch but Zangief moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zangief! But no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Obama takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Zangief circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zangief avoids a kick to the body.

Obama fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zangief, pushing him back against the cage.
Zangief avoiding damage as Obama throws knees to the body.
Zangief working hard to break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Zangief fails to land.
Obama tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Obama lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zangief backwards.
Obama is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Obama connects with a knee to the head.
Obama holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Temitope Obama has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Still in the clinch, Obama scores with a nice short uppercut.
Obama swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Zangief manages to break the clinch.
Obama walks forward, straight into a front kick from Zangief.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Obama.
Zangief showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Obama.
Obama misses with a double jab.
Zangief looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zangief throws a hook to the side of Obama's head but Obama sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A counter left hand to the body from Obama misses its target.
Obama misses with a head kick.
Zangief loads up on a big right hand but Obama slips the punch.
Obama avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Obama avoids the head kick by Zangief.
Obama moves out of range as Zangief strikes.
Obama scores with a three punch combo!
Zangief lands a glancing blow to the side of Obama's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zangief lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sloppy strikes from Obama. Those never looked like landing.
Zangief slips a jab and a cross from Obama.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zangief avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zangief throws a hook to the side of Obama's head but Obama sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Obama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Obama lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Obama's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zangief under the eye.
Zangief misses with an uppercut. Obama saw that one coming.
Sloppy strikes from Obama. Those never looked like landing.
Obama gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Zangief scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zangief takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Obama is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Obama on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zangief. Zangief obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Obama clinches.
Zangief misses with a hook from the clinch.
Obama scores with a shoulder strike.
Obama trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Temitope Obama dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zangief walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Obama checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Obama swinging wildly here.
Zangief looking to land some kicks to the body here.
As Zangief looks to move away, Obama throws a big counter combo bu Zangief just gets out of the way.
Obama looks to score with a jab to the body but Zangief is just out of range.
Obama tries to clinch but Zangief moves out of range.
Zangief throws a leg kick
enabling Obama to counter with a crisp jab.
Obama jabs at Zangief's body.
Zangief throws a sloppy head kick and Obama moves out of range easily.
Zangief ducks right into an uppercut from Obama.
Some wild striking there from Obama.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Obama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zangief lands a head kick. Obama smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Obama lands with a nice body kick.
Obama throws a quick inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Obama throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zangief takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Obama takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Obama misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Obama moves out of range of the body kick.
A low kick from Zangief is predictable there
and Obama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Obama fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A big left from Zangief misses.
Obama shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Obama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zangief manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zangief misses with a kick to the body.
Obama looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Obama staying out of range there.
Obama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zangief.
Obama throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A punch combination from Obama misses.
Travis Zangief has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obama lands with a nice combination. Zangief backs away looking to recover.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A punch combination from Obama misses.
Obama throws a big shot that misses.
Obama slips under a jab.
Zangief throws a jab when Obama was well out of range.
Zangief turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Zangief cracks Obama with a right hand to the side of the head.
Zangief throws a hook but Obama blocks it.
Zangief avoids the head kick by Obama.

Obama forces Zangief back against the cage and clinches.
Zangief blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Obama taking a breather.
Obama misses with a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Zangief scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zangief throws a punch but it's blocked by Obama.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obama lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zangief backwards.
Obama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zangief has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zangief connects with a nasty looking knee right to Obama's face.
Obama misses with the head strike.
Zangief gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Obama lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zangief can't break the clinch.
Obama lands a shoulder strike.
Obama blocks the elbow strike.
Temitope Obama is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zangief lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Obama blocks an elbow strike from Zangief.
Zangief wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zangief managing to block the knees to the body from Obama.
Obama missing with knees to the body.
A short left from Zangief.
Obama blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zangief.

Obama is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zangief lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Obama backwards.
Oh Obama is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zangief lands a nice elbow.
Obama wants to stall.
A short left from Zangief.
Zangief misses with a hook from the clinch.

Zangief manages to break the clinch.
Some bone on bone action there as Obama checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A head kick misses from Zangief.
Zangief tries to close the distance and clinch but Obama swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zangief misses with an uppercut.
Zangief takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Zangief missing with a left hand there. Obama was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zangief misses with an uppercut. Obama saw that one coming.
Obama fires out a quick counter leg kick but Zangief just manages to avoid it.
Obama checks a leg kick.
Zangief slips a jab and a cross from Obama.
Zangief misses with a head kick.
Obama seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Obama blocks a jab.
Obama blocks a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Travis Zangief.
Well Obama has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Temitope Obama!
Temitope Obama thanked the fans post fight for their support.
The defeated Travis Zangief had this to say: 'Not to take anything away from him, but I was pretty drained from the cut. My body will soon adapt to this and I'll give a better performance next time'.