PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Franc Zarha (ranked 4491 p4p, 4116 weight class) and Pascal Gouveia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Zarha
vs
Gouveia

193 cm
24
170
3 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
230
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Franc Zarha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pascal Gouveia!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Chad Campbell and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zarha fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gouveia on the side of the head.
Zarha falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gouveia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Zarha knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gouveia on the ground.

Gouveia is trying to work for a kimura but Zarha is defending well.
Gouveia missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Well, if Gouveia is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Gouveia tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zarha knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gouveia looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gouveia is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gouveia is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zarha doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gouveia.

That's two 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.
Zarha is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zarha is defending against the submission attempts here by Gouveia.

Gouveia looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gouveia stops Zarha from getting back to his feet.
Gouveia controlling the action here.

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.

Gouveia is looking for a kimura here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Still in half guard, Gouveia seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pascal Gouveia dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zarha fails to land with a series of punches.

Zarha tries to keep at a distance but Gouveia has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zarha is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gouveia is struggling to control the position.
Gouveia is struggling to control the position.
Gouveia manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The referee calls for Gouveia to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gouveia wants the takedown. Zarha is fighting it off but Gouveia persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Zarha's guard against the cage.

Zarha is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gouveia controlling the action here for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Pascal Gouveia.

Gouveia shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zarha is looking to stand back up but Gouveia counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Zarha.
Gouveia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Gouveia is taking a breather. Zarha 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gouveia is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zarha has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gouveia is looking to take a break and control but Zarha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Gouveia is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gouveia controlling the action here.
Gouveia missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gouveia missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gouveia tries to pass to full mount but Zarha defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gouveia with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Gouveia looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gouveia is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pascal Gouveia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Zarha displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Gouveia looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Zarha falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gouveia counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gouveia.
Gouveia advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gouveia is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zarha is just riding it out for now. Gouveia eventually gives up the hold.

Gouveia is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Zarha is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Pascal Gouveia!