PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Remi Daucourt (ranked 1755 p4p, 172 weight class) and Philip Ziskie (ranked 2079 p4p, 195 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Philip Ziskie was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Daucourt
vs
Ziskie

168 cm
20
148 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

173 cm
20
156 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Sportivité

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Remi Daucourt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Philip Ziskie!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Hugh Johnson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ziskie misses with an uppercut.
Daucourt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ziskie.
Ziskie throws a jab but it's blocked by Daucourt.
Daucourt takes a swing at Ziskie's ribcage but misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ziskie! But no joy.
Daucourt misses the jab.
Ziskie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Daucourt.
Ziskie misses with a looping left.
Ziskie throws a hook but Daucourt blocks it.
Daucourt swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Daucourt has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Ziskie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Daucourt moves away.
Ziskie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Daucourt.
Ziskie ducks under a wild hook from Daucourt.
A slow jab from Ziskie misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daucourt misses with a looping right.
Daucourt defending well as Ziskie loads up on a big left hand.
Ziskie listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Daucourt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ziskie.
Daucourt was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ziskie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ziskie. Daucourt does a little dance to reset his feet.
Daucourt waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ziskie.
Daucourt missing with a left hand there. Ziskie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ziskie now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A big left from Ziskie misses.
Daucourt misses with a looping right.
Ziskie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Daucourt ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ziskie moves away.
Daucourt shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ziskie as he avoids it easily.
Ziskie lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Daucourt catches Ziskie with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ziskie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Daucourt.
Ziskie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big left from Ziskie misses.
Daucourt swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ziskie swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Daucourt tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ziskie was well out of range. Poor timing from Daucourt.
The fighters circling - Ziskie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Good standup being displayed there by Ziskie as he connects with a hook.
Ziskie scores with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ziskie loads up on a big right hand but Daucourt slips the punch.
Daucourt misses with a looping left.
Daucourt avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ziskie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Daucourt moves away.
Daucourt misses with a straight left.
Ziskie fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Daucourt looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ziskie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Daucourt.
Ziskie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Daucourt moves away.
Daucourt appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Daucourt throws a hook but Ziskie avoids it easily.
Daucourt takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Daucourt misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ziskie.
Ziskie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Daucourt moves away.

Daucourt fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ziskie to the ground. Daucourt is now in Ziskie's guard.
Daucourt seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Ziskie looking for a guillotine here but Daucourt defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Daucourt avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Daucourt looking to pass the guard.
Ziskie keeping moving, preventing Daucourt from controlling successfully.

Daucourt got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ziskie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Daucourt has managed to get both his arms back between Ziskie's legs - danger averted.
Daucourt is pushing down on Ziskie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ziskie is fighting to maintain full guard but Daucourt has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Daucourt wants to take a breather but Ziskie is having none of it.
Daucourt trying to mount his opponent but Ziskie defends it.
Daucourt trying to control the action but Ziskie is working from the bottom.

Ziskie actively working from the bottom here.
Daucourt wants to take a breather but Ziskie is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Daucourt is thwarting Ziskie's attempts to control the position.

Daucourt is looking for a kimura but Ziskie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Daucourt to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philip Ziskie dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Daucourt closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ziskie to the mat! Ziskie manages to get full guard.
Daucourt stopping the sweep attempt from Ziskie.

Ziskie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Daucourt defends well.
Daucourt trying to control but Ziskie is working from the bottom.
Our spies down at at Big Bear Fight Factory inform us that Ziskie has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Daucourt advances to half guard.
Ziskie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Daucourt works his way into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daucourt trying to control the position but Ziskie is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziskie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Daucourt's best efforts.
Daucourt controlling the pace.
Ziskie is not content to let Daucourt control the position.
Daucourt is taking a breather. Ziskie 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.
Ziskie manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ziskie wants to improve his position but instead Daucourt has moved into half guard.

Daucourt is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ziskie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Daucourt is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Daucourt seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ziskie for as long as he can get away with.

Daucourt avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ziskie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Daucourt defends it easily.
Daucourt trying to control the position from guard on top but Ziskie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Daucourt looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Ziskie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Daucourt defends it easily.
Ziskie keeping moving, preventing Daucourt from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Daucourt is stalling in the full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Daucourt is pushing down on Ziskie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ziskie is fighting to maintain full guard but Daucourt has managed to sneak the leg through.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Daucourt in particular looking to stall.
Daucourt trying to control from Ziskie's half guard. Ziskie has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ziskie keeping moving, preventing Daucourt from controlling successfully.
Ziskie wants to get back to his feet but Daucourt is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remi Daucourt dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ziskie checks a leg kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ziskie.
Ziskie blocks a low kick nicely.
Nice cross by Ziskie.
Daucourt shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ziskie looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Daucourt thows a left - swing and a miss!
Philip Ziskie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ziskie connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Daucourt is rocked!
Ziskie connects with a nice looking jab.
Oh Daucourt is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Daucourt looks for a takedown but Ziskie sprawls well.
Ziskie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ziskie throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ziskie misses with a hook. Daucourt ducked under it nicely.
Daucourt shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ziskie but Ziskie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Daucourt seems to have got his legs back now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Remi Daucourt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Daucourt throws a jab when Ziskie was well out of range.
Ziskie lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Daucourt at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ziskie misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Daucourt shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Daucourt not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Ziskie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Remi Daucourt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Daucourt trying to control the position from guard on top but Ziskie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Daucourt pushing down on Ziskie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Daucourt is trying to work for a kimura but Ziskie is defending well.
Ziskie wants to improve his position but Daucourt is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziskie trying to hold on to Daucourt's head to control him but Daucourt postures up.
Daucourt trying to pass the guard but Ziskie defending well.
Daucourt wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ziskie keeps working.

Ziskie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Daucourt pulls his head out easily.
Daucourt is thwarting Ziskie's attempts to control the position.
Daucourt is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziskie trying to control but Daucourt postures up.
Daucourt uses his free foot to push down on Ziskie's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ziskie.

Daucourt looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Ziskie tries to improve his position but instead Daucourt has taken his back!

Ziskie is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Ziskie is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Daucourt has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Ziskie prevents Daucourt from getting a body triangle.
Ziskie rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Daucourt is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ziskie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Daucourt tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ziskie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ziskie manages to get to full guard.
Daucourt trying to control but Ziskie is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Philip Ziskie.
I think Ziskie 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Philip Ziskie!