PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rich Zaiou (ranked 6540 p4p, 429 weight class) and Thip Top (ranked 4556 p4p, 354 weight class). Zaiou comes to the cage accompanied by Plug Walk - Rich The Kid. Rich Zaiou has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zaiou
vs
Top

169 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rich Zaiou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Thip Top!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Top tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zaiou moves out of range as Top throws a body kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Top.
Zaiou loads up on a big right hand but Top slips the punch.
Zaiou throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A punch combination from Zaiou misses.
Top takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Thip Top seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Top throws a quick inside leg kick.
Top lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Top tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Zaiou is able to avoid easily.
Zaiou throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Top counters by moving into the clinch.
Top lands a nice elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Top lands a damaging elbow.
Top lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Rich Zaiou has been cut.
Top gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Top creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zaiou's defenses.
Top looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Zaiou takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zaiou takes an elbow to the forehead.
Top lands an elbow inside that Zaiou shrugs off.
Zaiou jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Top walks away with a smile on his face. Zaiou gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Top throws a leg kick but Zaiou sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zaiou is looking to counter punch.
Top misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Top.
Zaiou throws an off balance right hand
and Top counters with a slapping leg kick.
Top misses with a low kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Top.
Top fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zaiou.

Top has Zaiou up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zaiou takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zaiou tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Top smiles and moves away.
Top throws a nice inside leg kick.
Thip Top is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Top tenderised Zaiou's leg. Zaiou is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zaiou just misses with a punch to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Top.
Zaiou waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Top.
Top uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zaiou.
Zaiou shoots for a takedown but Top saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Zaiou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Top goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Top checks a leg kick.
Top throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
An inside leg kick lands from Top.
Top scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Top 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 Zaiou has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Zaiou and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Zaiou throws the left hand but Top avoids the punch easily.
Good exchange - Zaiou coming out on top.
Top wants to slow Zaiou down by chopping away at his legs.
Top throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Zaiou stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Top.
Top misses with a low kick.
Zaiou takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Top moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
That kick from Top tenderised Zaiou's leg. Zaiou is trying to keep his angry face on.
Top throws a front kick aimed at Zaiou's knee but Zaiou avoids it well.
Top throws a leg kick but Zaiou sees it coming and checks it nicely.
As Top backs away, Zaiou returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Zaiou stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Top tries to work over Zaiou's front leg with a kick but Zaiou checks it.
It looked like Zaiou was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A solid leg kick lands there for Top.
An inside leg kick from Zaiou misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Top throws a leg kick which misses Zaiou's front leg but catches the back leg as Zaiou tries to avoid it.

Top has taken the fight to the clinch.

Top breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Top takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Top misses with a low kick as Zaiou jumps back.
Zaiou takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Top lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Top avoids the body shot from Zaiou.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Top scores with a leg kick.
Top throws a body kick that misses.
Zaiou misses with a lunging right hand
and Top counters with an inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thip Top dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rich Zaiou's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zaiou throws a body shot but no joy.
Zaiou misses with a hook
and Top counters with a nice leg kick.
Zaiou misses with a jab, cross combination.
Top with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Top throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Top throws a leg kick which misses Zaiou's front leg but catches the back leg as Zaiou tries to avoid it.
Zaiou takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Top thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Zaiou if he has to take too many more of those.
Zaiou swings widly with a right hand
and Top counters with a good low kick that Zaiou was not able to check.
Top throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zaiou.
Zaiou throws a front kick aimed at Top's knee but Top avoids it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zaiou throws a sloppy head kick and Top moves out of range easily.
Top connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zaiou is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Top scores with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Top closes the distance and clinches.
Top lands an elbow just above Zaiou 's eye.
Top comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Top gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Top lands an elbow just above Zaiou 's eye.
Top lands an elbow that stopped Zaiou in his tracks for a moment.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Top.
Zaiou jumps guard but Top stands there with Zaiou around his waist. Zaiou gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Top taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Top creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zaiou's defenses.
Zaiou tries to pull guard but Top forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zaiou takes an elbow to the temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Top lands an elbow inside.
Top lands a damaging elbow.
Zaiou jumps guard but Top stands there with Zaiou around his waist. Zaiou gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Zaiou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Top comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Top lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Top lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zaiou takes an elbow to the temple.
Top lands an elbow that stopped Zaiou in his tracks for a moment.
Top lands a damaging elbow.

Zaiou is rocked!
Zaiou takes an elbow to the temple.
Oh Zaiou is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Zaiou ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Zaiou no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zaiou looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Top stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zaiou swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zaiou can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Top controls the pace.
Zaiou seems to have got his legs back now.

Zaiou is looking for a triangle here but Top uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Top has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Top 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 Zaiou's shoulder. That is not cool.
Zaiou tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zaiou gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zaiou looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zaiou moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Zaiou had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Top defends it easily.

Zaiou is looking for a triangle here but Top uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Top remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Top decides to stand up, so the ref orders Zaiou to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Top on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Top pushes Zaiou up against the cage in a clinch.
Top lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Zaiou tries to pull guard but Top won't allow it.
Top lands an elbow inside.
Zaiou will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Top lands a damaging elbow.
Top lands a damaging elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaiou jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Top walks away with a smile on his face. Zaiou gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Top thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Zaiou if he has to take too many more of those.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Top clinches.
Top lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Top lands an elbow inside.
Top gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Top lands a nice elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thip Top showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rich Zaiou's cut.
That's time! Zaiou's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Top closes the distance and pushes Zaiou back into the cage.
Zaiou fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thip Top seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Top lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zaiou jumps guard but Top stands there with Zaiou around his waist. Zaiou gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zaiou jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Top walks away with a smile on his face. Zaiou gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Zaiou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Zaiou crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Top - the referee stops the clock and Zaiou gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Top. Zaiou manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Zaiou misses the shot to the body.
Top scores with a leg kick.
Top lands with a kick to the ribs.
Zaiou has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaiou misses with a body shot
and Top counters with a nice leg kick.
Top fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zaiou has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Top connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaiou tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Top moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Top lands with a slapping head kick.
Top fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zaiou.
Top chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Top with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Top closes the distance and pushes Zaiou back into the cage.
Top lands an elbow inside that Zaiou shrugs off.
Top lands an elbow that stopped Zaiou in his tracks for a moment.
Top lands a damaging elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Top lands a nice elbow.

Rich Zaiou's cut is getting worse.
Top lands an elbow inside.
Top comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A bit of stalling here from Top.
Top gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zaiou is pressed against the cage. Top pushes back and unleashes a big elbow that really hurts Zaiou! Two more big strikes from Top and Zaiou crumples to the mat and taps out furiously due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Thip Top!
Thip Top decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.