PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rob Mills (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Zal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rob Mills has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mills
vs
Zal

175 cm
30
142 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

170 cm
28
152 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Mills!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Zal!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Alyssa Summers and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mills delivers a nice body kick.
Zal leaves Mills with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mills looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A little jabbing left from Zal on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mills fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zal takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mills goes for a double leg but Zal avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zal continues to drive forward.
Zal is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Mills. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zal misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zal jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mills.
Zal throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mills throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zal is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Mills with a body shot.
Mills wants to clinch
and Zal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mills takes a jab right on the kisser.
Mills doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zal counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mills misses with a two punch combination.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zal! But no joy.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mills.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zal is trying to improve his position.
Zal wants to get back to his feet.
Mills controls the position.
Zal is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mills has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mills is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Zal's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mills wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zal keeps working.
Zal wants to control but Mills postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mills looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mills tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zal swivels and escapes.
Zal swats away the attempt to clinch by Mills.
Zal let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Zal lands with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mills shoots in but Zal avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mills closes the distance and clinches up with Zal, looking for a takedown. Mills pushes Zal against the cage but Zal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zal looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mills fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zal.
Rob Mills seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mills fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zal, pushing him back against the cage.
Mills can't get the takedown.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zal tries to circle away but Mills has him pinned against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Zal dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mills gets a double leg takedown into Zal's guard.
Zal is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Mills dives into side control.

Mills decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mills.

Mills closes the distance and pushes Zal back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mills breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mills wants to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Zal on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mills misses with a takedown
and Zal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zal misses with a lunging right hand
and Mills counters with a nice uppercut.
Zal leaves Mills with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zal swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mills moves in looking to clinch but Zal pushes him off.
Zal looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zal takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Mills tries to clinch there but Zal circles away.
Zal looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mills is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zal sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zal appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Mills. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mills looking to score a takedown here. Zal is defending well but Mills drives through and ends up in Zal's guard.
Zal wants to stand up but Mills is controlling him.
Mills stays in close to Zal's body and controls the position.

Mills gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Mills tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zal swivels and escapes.
It seemed like Zal was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mills throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Zal's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mills takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nick Zal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mills ducks under a wild hook from Zal.
Mills moves in looking to clinch but Zal pushes him off.
Zal appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Mills closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zal circles away.
Zal throws out a counter right but Mills avoids it with no problem.
Mills with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zal counters with a nice body shot.
Mills tries to clinch but Zal moves out of range.
Mills slips under a jab from Zal.
A thudding body kick lands there by Mills!
Zal takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Mills.
Zal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zal swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mills uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zal.
Mills tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mills is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mills tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nick Zal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mills is looking to clinch.
Mills looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zal is fending him off so far but Mills persists. Nope, Zal circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Mills dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mills throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zal counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mills misses with a head kick.
Mills changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zal tries to avoid it but Mills manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zal to the ground. Zal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zal swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Mills looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zal wants to stand up but Mills is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mills stands and steps away. Zal gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Zal circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mills misses with a few strikes there.
Zal swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Danga de danga de dang - Mills scores with a four punch combination!
Zal throws a one two combo.
Mills closes the distance and clinches up with Zal, looking for a takedown. Mills pushes Zal against the cage but Zal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mills shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zal defends it nicely.
It seemed like Zal was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Mills. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mills keeps Zal at a distance using the push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zal leaves Mills with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mills slips under a jab.
Zal scores with a nice right hand.
Zal leaves Mills with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Mills forces Zal back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Mills manages to break the clinch.
Mills tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mills shoots in for a double leg but Zal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
As Mills backs off Zal throws a huge counter combo but Mills manages to avoid it all.
Mills closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zal circles away.
Zal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zal misses with a straight left.
Mills shoots in for a double leg but Zal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zal doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zal fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mills misses with a takedown attempt - Zal sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zal throws out a counter right but Mills avoids it with no problem.
Mills ducks under a wild hook from Zal.
Zal lands a glancing blow to the side of Mills's head.
Zal scores with a jab.
Mills has his takedown stuffed
and Zal counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mills fails with a takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zal! But no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Zal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zal has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Zal!