PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Monroe (ranked 1128 p4p, 126 weight class) and Gabriel Zackrisson (ranked 2140 p4p, 231 weight class). Monroe comes to the cage accompanied by Deep Ocean - Island drumming. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Monroe
vs
Zackrisson

166 cm
39
149 lbs
30 - 23 - 2

175 cm
37
159 lbs
27 - 11 - 2

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
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 30 - 23 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Monroe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 11 - 2, fighting out of New York, Gabriel Zackrisson!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Paul Tew and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monroe doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zackrisson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Monroe takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zackrisson throws a hook to the side of Monroe's head but Monroe sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Monroe lands a jab to Zackrisson's midsection.
Zackrisson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Monroe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zackrisson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Zackrisson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Monroe just misses with a punch to the body.
Monroe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zackrisson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Monroe moves away.
Zackrisson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zackrisson thows a leg kick but Monroe checks it
and Monroe counters with a nice body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Monroe throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zackrisson on the side of the head.
Monroe misses with an uppercut.
Monroe looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Zackrisson tries to move into range but Monroe moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe misses with a body shot.
Gabriel Zackrisson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zackrisson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Monroe connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zackrisson scrambles back to his feet.
Monroe with a nice cross.
Good work by Monroe as he checks the leg kick.
Monroe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Monroe misses with a combination
and Zackrisson counters with a right hand to the body.
Zackrisson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Monroe.
Zackrisson connects with a crisp jab.
Monroe slips a jab from Zackrisson.
An attempted straight right counter from Monroe misses the target.
Zackrisson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Monroe.
The crowd cheers as Monroe lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zackrisson doesn't seem phased though.
A swing and a miss from Zackrisson.
A quick step to the side and Monroe tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zackrisson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe slips a straight right by Zackrisson.
Monroe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zackrisson moves away.
Monroe misses with a takedown
and Zackrisson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zackrisson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Zackrisson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zackrisson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Monroe moves away.
Monroe on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Monroe cracks a nice hook into Zackrisson's ribs.
Zackrisson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Monroe.
Monroe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Monroe blocks a jab.
Monroe lands a jab.
Zackrisson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Monroe.
Monroe drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zackrisson sprawls and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zackrisson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Zackrisson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Monroe.
Monroe misses with a double jab.
Zackrisson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Monroe throws the left hand but Zackrisson avoids the punch easily.
A big left from Monroe misses.
Zackrisson wants to land a leg kick but Monroe is out of range.
Monroe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zackrisson counters with a leg kick.
Monroe fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Monroe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zackrisson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Zackrisson wants to slow Monroe down by chopping away at his legs.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Zackrisson, as that shot connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zackrisson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Monroe fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zackrisson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zackrisson misses with a leg kick.
Zackrisson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Monroe manages to avoid it.
Monroe drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zackrisson sprawls and moves away.
Zackrisson throws a body punch but Monroe moves out of range.
Zackrisson avoids the body shot from Monroe.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zackrisson throws an overhand right that lands on Monroe's shoulder, as Monroe tries to avoid the shot.
It looked like Monroe wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Zackrisson throws the kick towards the body but Monroe avoids it.

Monroe shoots in and bounces Zackrisson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Monroe trying to control but Zackrisson is working from the bottom.
Zackrisson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gabriel Zackrisson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zackrisson thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Monroe if he has to take too many more of those.

Monroe is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Zackrisson's half guard.
Zackrisson is pressing down on Monroe's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zackrisson has Monroe pulled in close to control his posture.
Monroe throwing strikes from guard but Zackrisson blocks nicely.
Zackrisson trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zackrisson manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Monroe.
Zackrisson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zackrisson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Monroe.
Monroe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zackrisson pinned against the cage. Zackrisson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zackrisson misses with a low kick.
Zackrisson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Monroe seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Zackrisson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zackrisson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Monroe ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Monroe avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A big right from Zackrisson misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Zackrisson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
An attempted straight right counter from Monroe misses the target.
Zackrisson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Monroe checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Zackrisson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zackrisson misses with a body kick.
Monroe looks to land a right hand but Zackrisson moved out of range.
Ricky Monroe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zackrisson stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Monroe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Decent striking displayed by Zackrisson there.
Monroe throws a hook but Zackrisson blocks it.
Monroe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Monroe defending well as Zackrisson loads up on a big left hand.
Monroe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Zackrisson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Monroe throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zackrisson on the side of the head.
Zackrisson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A little feinted left hand from Monroe on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zackrisson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Monroe.
Zackrisson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Zackrisson slips under a jab from Monroe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Zackrisson counter with a right hand.
Zackrisson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Monroe checks it well.
Zackrisson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Monroe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zackrisson.
Monroe misses with a body punch
and Zackrisson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zackrisson. Monroe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zackrisson scores with a leg kick.
Zackrisson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Monroe.
Monroe misses with a wild combination.
A good leg kick by Zackrisson.
Monroe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zackrisson moves away.
Monroe throws a body punch but Zackrisson moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Zackrisson counters with an outside leg kick.
Monroe misses with a double jab.
The crowd cheers as Zackrisson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Monroe doesn't seem phased though.
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!
Monroe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zackrisson.
Jab from Monroe.
Monroe misses with a two punch combination.
Zackrisson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zackrisson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Zackrisson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zackrisson looks to throw the jab but Monroe is out of range.
Monroe shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zackrisson counters with a straight right hand.
Monroe misses with a hook.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zackrisson! But no joy.
A combination from Monroe does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Zackrisson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zackrisson looks to land a left hand but Monroe moved out of range nicely.
Monroe went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Zackrisson misses with a low kick.
Monroe tries to counter with a takedown but Zackrisson is quick to defend against it.
Monroe avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Zackrisson just misses with a punch to the body.
Zackrisson lands a nice looking body kick.
Zackrisson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Monroe.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zackrisson! But no joy.
Monroe on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Monroe avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zackrisson loads up on a big right hand but Monroe slips the punch.
Monroe takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monroe takes a swing at Zackrisson's ribcage but misses.
Monroe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zackrisson but Zackrisson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Monroe throws a hook but Zackrisson blocks it.
Monroe backing away here, and Zackrisson unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Monroe goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zackrisson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Monroes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Zackrisson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Zackrisson throws a hook to the side of Monroe's head but Monroe sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zackrisson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Monroe.
Monroe changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Zackrisson needs to keep his hands up - Monroe had a free shot at his head there.
Monroe misses with a hook
and Zackrisson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Monroe tries to bum rush Zackrisson with a series of wild strikes but Zackrisson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Monroe jabs Zackrisson right on the nose. Zackrisson blinks but takes it well.
Monroe tries to clinch up but Zackrisson circles away and keeps his distance.
Zackrisson was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Monroe slips under a jab from Zackrisson.
Monroe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Monroe takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Zackrisson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Monroe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Monroe blocks a jab.
Zackrisson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Monroe shoots in but Zackrisson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Monroe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zackrisson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Monroe throws out the jab.
Zackrisson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Monroe.
Monroe misses the shot to the body.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zackrisson enables Monroe to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zackrisson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zackrisson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Monroe manages to get himself to full guard.

Zackrisson stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Zackrisson misses

and Monroe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Monroe.

Zackrisson manages to escape and get back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zackrisson. Monroe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Monroe misses with a hook.
Ricky Monroe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zackrisson connects with a crisp jab.
Monroe is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zackrisson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zackrisson connects with a leg kick. Monroe looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Zackrisson misses with a low kick.
Monroe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zackrisson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zackrisson misses with a straight right.
Zackrisson throws a leg kick that misses.
Monroe displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Gabriel Zackrisson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe throws a lazy right hand but Zackrisson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Monroe needs to keep his hands up - Zackrisson had a free shot at his head there.
A telegraphed right hand from Zackrisson misses the target.
Monroe throws a right hand that misses
and Zackrisson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Monroe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zackrisson manages to avoid it.
Monroe misses with a right hand
and Zackrisson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A slow jab from Monroe misses its intended target.
A little jabbing left from Zackrisson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Zackrisson scoring well with a low kick there.
Zackrisson throws a head kick that half lands.
Zackrisson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Monroe takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Monroe takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zackrisson misses the shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Zackrisson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zackrisson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Zackrisson!