PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zig Zig (ranked 6688 p4p, 5319 weight class) and Deacon Dilbrandt (ranked 601 p4p, 503 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Zig
vs
Dilbrandt

165 cm
19
155
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
16
164
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zig Zig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Deacon Dilbrandt!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dilbrandt connects with a looping right hand.
Dilbrandt sizes up Zig with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Dilbrandt misses with a kick to the body.
Dilbrandt throws a body shot but no joy.
Dilbrandt misses with a body shot.
Dilbrandt tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zig manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've been hearing reports that Zig has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Dilbrandt connects with a right hand. Zig shakes it off.
Zig moves forwards but Dilbrandt connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Dilbrandt is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Zig scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Zig takes a little break here. Dilbrandt wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
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!
Zig wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dilbrandt keeps working.
Dilbrandt is trying to escape the position but Zig is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zig trying to control the action but Dilbrandt is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zig advances to mount.
Zig throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Dilbrandt because Zig loaded up on that one.

Zig looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Dilbrandt working to try and regain half guard.
Zig looking to control but Dilbrandt is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Zig wants to finish this one by submission but Dilbrandt is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Zig.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zig content just to control the position here.
Dilbrandt really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zig. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zig fails to move to back control.
Zig looking to control but Dilbrandt is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dilbrandt tries to reverse the position but Zig maintains control.
Dilbrandt is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Zig looking to control and managing it successfully.
Dilbrandt wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Zig.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zig tries to control but Dilbrandt wriggling away.
Zig controlling the pace for now.
Zig trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zig controlling his opponent.

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.
Dilbrandt is trying desperately to improve position.
Zig controlling from the full mount.
Zig looking to control but Dilbrandt is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dilbrandt stops Zig from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Zig controlling his opponent.
Zig wants to control the pace but Dilbrandt is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dilbrandt is controlling an arm, preventing Zig from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Zig tries to control but Dilbrandt wriggling away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zig Zig dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dilbrandt throws a chopping leg kick but Zig manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Zig takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Zig closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zig lands in his opponent's guard.
Zig passes Dilbrandt's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zig seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dilbrandt does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zig wants to pass the guard but Dilbrandt is defending well.
Zig wants to take a breather but Dilbrandt is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dilbrandt is looking to control Zig's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dilbrandt avoid being mounted?
Zig tries to pass to full mount but Dilbrandt defends it.
Zig looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dilbrandt wants to improve his position but Zig is controlling well.
Dilbrandt won't allow Zig to pass to mount.

Dilbrandt is defending against the submission attempts here by Zig.
Zig passes to side control.
Zig staying calm.
Zig seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Dilbrandt for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dilbrandt is not content to let Zig control the position.
Zig advances to mount.
Dilbrandt is wriggling around trying to escape.
Zig tries to control but Dilbrandt wriggling away.
Dilbrandt working to try and regain half guard.
Dilbrandt is trying to reverse the position but instead Zig has taken his back - oops!

Zig is looking for the choke from the back position but Dilbrandt is controlling his hands well.

Zig has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zig has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
A lull in the action here.
Dilbrandt looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Zig controlling well, preventing Dilbrandt from escaping the position.
Dilbrandt is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Zig.
Dilbrandt trying to control the action but Zig just sinks the hooks in.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zig controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dilbrandt trying to control the action but Zig just sinks the hooks in.
Zig tries to keep control of the position but Dilbrandt is staying busy.
Dilbrandt is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Zig.
Zig tries to get the hooks in deep but Dilbrandt pushed the leg off.
Zig is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
A lull in the action here.
Zig Zig overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dilbrandt is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Zig.
Dilbrandt trying to control the action but Zig just sinks the hooks in.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zig Zig dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Zig shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dilbrandt defends it nicely.
Dilbrandt connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Dilbrandt wants to land a leg kick but Zig is out of range.
Dilbrandt throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zig on the side of the head.
Dilbrandt cracks Zig with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dilbrandt lands a glancing blow to the side of Zig's head.
Nice jab there from Dilbrandt.
Dilbrandt lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Dilbrandt.
Dilbrandt has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
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!
Zig shoots in looking for a takedown but Dilbrandt manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zig's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Dilbrandt finds it's target.

Zig shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dilbrandt is trying to defend but Zig finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Zig trying to pass the guard but Dilbrandt defending well.
Dilbrandt trying to control but Zig postures up.
Zig seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dilbrandt does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dilbrandt controlling the position for now.

Zig seems to be working for a kimura but Dilbrandt defends the submission attempt.
Dilbrandt wants to sweep but Zig has passed to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dilbrandt is not content to let Zig control the position.
Dilbrandt is trying to control Zig's posture but Zig avoids it.
Zig works to advance to full mount. Dilbrandt defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Dilbrandt tries to hold on but Zig pushes him away.
Dilbrandt has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

Zig has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Dilbrandt is in real trouble here. Zig gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Dilbrandt is tapping out! Zig wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Zig Zig!