PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Philip Ziskie (ranked 1501 p4p, 159 weight class) and Rocco OGrady (ranked 1306 p4p, 135 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ziskie
vs
OGrady

173 cm
26
156 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

173 cm
25
149 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Philip Ziskie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocco OGrady!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
OGrady throws a leg kick
enabling Ziskie to counter with a crisp jab.
OGrady missing with a left hand there. Ziskie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
OGrady has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Ziskie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Ziskie is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but OGrady still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, OGrady has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Ziskie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Ziskie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ziskie actively working from the bottom here.
Ziskie 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziskie tries to get to full guard but OGrady has control of the leg.
Ziskie is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute OGrady jumps into side control!
Ziskie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ziskie is working hard here to advance position.
OGrady wants to stand but Ziskie has his arm trapped.
Ziskie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ziskie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
OGrady stopping the sweep attempt from Ziskie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ziskie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead OGrady passes into half guard.
OGrady wants to get back to his feet.
OGrady prevents Ziskie from improving his position.
OGrady seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four 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.
A swing and a miss from Ziskie.
Ziskie is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by OGrady.
Ziskie misses with the combination.
OGrady throws a push kick but Ziskie slaps the foot to one side.
Ziskie throws an off balance right hand
and OGrady cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
OGrady throws a leg kick but Ziskie sees it coming and moves out of range.
OGrady throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ziskie throwing a counter right hand but OGrady manages to avoid it.
Nice cross by Ziskie.
OGrady misses with a low kick.
Ziskie misses with a straight left.

Ziskie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ziskie wants to control for a moment but OGrady uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ziskie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, OGrady has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Philip Ziskie will probably get the nod.
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.

OGrady throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
OGrady ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ziskie moves away.
Ziskie takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Ziskie throws a low kick, looking for OGrady's leg but OGrady calmly moves out of range.
Ziskie checks a leg kick.
Ziskie half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
OGrady throws a wild body kick that Ziskie sees coming a mile off.
Ziskie goes for a double leg but OGrady avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as OGrady continues to drive forward.
OGrady takes a body punch but keeps moving.
OGrady lunges at Ziskie with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ziskie's hand.
OGrady lands with a good body shot.
A jab from Ziskie finds it's way through OGrady's defenses.
Ziskie chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before OGrady can pounce on him.
OGrady uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ziskie.
Ziskie ducks under a wild hook from OGrady.
OGrady ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ziskie moves away.
OGrady throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
OGrady blocks a head kick by Ziskie.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nice straight punches there by OGrady. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of OGrady.
Ziskie dives in and grabs OGrady's left leg, looking for a takedown. OGrady pushes down on Ziskie's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OGrady throws a body shot but no joy.
A jab lands there for Ziskie.
OGrady fails to land with a series of punches.
Rocco OGrady seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ziskie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ziskie is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
OGrady misses with a straight left.
OGrady stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Philip Ziskie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A low kick from OGrady misses

and Ziskie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ziskie.
Ziskie throwing strikes from guard but OGrady blocks nicely.
Ziskie trying to control but OGrady is working from the bottom.
Ziskie pushes down on OGrady's leg and manages to get into half guard.
OGrady is trying to stand back up but Ziskie is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziskie with the ground and pound but OGrady uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Ziskie pushing down on OGrady's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Ziskie is trying to work for a kimura but OGrady is defending well.

Ziskie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, OGrady has managed to free his arm - good work.

Ziskie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ziskie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ziskie is looking for a kimura here.

Ziskie wants to work for an arm triangle but OGrady is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
OGrady wants to get back to his feet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ziskie blocks a leg kick.
Good exchange - Ziskie coming out on top.
Ziskie throws a sloppy body shot
and Ziskie takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ziskie's corner calls for a 1-2. Ziskie obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Good work by Ziskie as he checks the leg kick.
A jab from Ziskie misses.
OGrady let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A swing and a miss from Ziskie.
A slow jab from OGrady misses its intended target.
Ziskie avoids the body shot from OGrady.
Decent striking displayed by OGrady there.
OGrady has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from OGrady there as he acknowledges the shot.
OGrady misses with a wild body shot.
Ziskie takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
OGrady takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ziskie misses with a wild body shot.
Ziskie slips under a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rocco OGrady will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ziskie shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. OGrady is trying to defend but Ziskie finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ziskie prevents OGrady from standing back up.

Ziskie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
OGrady is trying to stand up here but Ziskie is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ziskie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but OGrady does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Ziskie seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead OGrady has recovered full guard.
Ziskie tries to free his leg and advance position but OGrady is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OGrady is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Philip Ziskie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ziskie trying to control the position from guard on top but OGrady is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
OGrady will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
OGrady keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ziskie.
Jab, jab by Ziskie - just one landing.
Philip Ziskie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
OGrady misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ziskie.
OGrady checks the leg kick.
OGrady gets cracked there but stands up to it.
OGrady misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ziskie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ziskie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
OGrady is trying to stand back up but Ziskie is controlling him
OGrady keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ziskie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ziskie with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ziskie trying to pass the guard but OGrady defending well.

Ziskie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and OGrady defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OGrady wants to get back to his feet.
Ziskie is pressing down on OGrady's thigh, looking to free his foot. OGrady is holding on for now.
Ziskie misses with a head shot. OGrady uses the momentum to regain guard.

Ziskie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ziskie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ziskie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. OGrady swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ziskie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ziskie throws a hook to the side of OGrady's head but OGrady sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
OGrady tries to move into range but Ziskie moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Ziskie waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract OGrady.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ziskie. OGrady does a little dance to reset his feet.
OGrady uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ziskie has time to react.
OGrady looks to score with a jab to the body but Ziskie is just out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
OGrady ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
OGrady throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ziskie.
Ziskie throws a hook but OGrady blocks it.
A clash of legs there as Ziskie blocks the low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Philip Ziskie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ziskie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Philip Ziskie!
After winning the bout, Philip Ziskie thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.