PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yvel Zonko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and KESTUTIS SMERNOVAS (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.

Zonko
vs
SMERNOVAS

200 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

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 Rio de Janeiro, Yvel Zonko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, KESTUTIS SMERNOVAS!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zonko shoots for a takedown but SMERNOVAS saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
SMERNOVAS looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
No luck for Zonko with that takedown attempt.
Zonko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yvel Zonko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zonko shoots in but no luck this time.
Zonko fails with a takedown attempt.
SMERNOVAS fails with the takedown.
Zonko tries for a takedown but SMERNOVAS circles away easily
and SMERNOVAS counters with a good low kick that Zonko was not able to check.

Zonko drives through with a takedown into guard.

Zonko drops back looking for a leg! SMERNOVAS is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and SMERNOVAS manages to kick Zonko off! Zonko jumps back into SMERNOVAS's guard.
Zonko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

SMERNOVAS is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zonko stopping the sweep attempt from SMERNOVAS.

Zonko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

SMERNOVAS throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Zonko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Zonko drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and SMERNOVAS dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

SMERNOVAS drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and SMERNOVAS jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
SMERNOVAS looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zonko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Zonko has his foot on SMERNOVAS's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. SMERNOVAS works his way back into a safe position though.

Zonko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

SMERNOVAS avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zonko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Zonko pushes a forearm under SMERNOVAS's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, SMERNOVAS is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Yvel Zonko!