PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zig Zig (ranked 3864 p4p, 3169 weight class) and Jack Stevens (ranked 458 p4p, 385 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Zig
vs
Stevens

165 cm
20
155
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
155
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 3 - 2 - 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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jack Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zig will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stevens is looking for the big counter here.

Zig manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Stevens on his heels. He'll look to pass Stevens's guard now, I'm sure.
Zig tries to free his leg and advance position but Stevens is retaining full guard.

Stevens has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zig off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
A head kick misses from Stevens.
Zig feinted with a counter takedown.
Stevens uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zig.
Stevens misses with a leg kick

and Zig counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stevens won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zig taking a breather here.
Stevens prevents Zig from moving into mount.

Zig looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zig is looking to take a break and control but Stevens is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zig remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Stevens is looking to regain half guard here but Zig keeps moving and retains side control.
A lull in the action here.
Stevens is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zig slows the pace down.
Stevens is not content to let Zig control the position.
Zig working away.
Stevens is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Zig off and has taken his back!
Zig manages to reverse the position and now he's in Stevens's guard. Nice work there by Zig.
Stevens can't keep his opponent in guard - Zig advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zig with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zig frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Stevens told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Stevens is working to get back to half guard.
Zig controlling from the full mount.
Stevens tries to reverse the position but Zig maintains control.
Zig takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Stevens is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to control but Zig is having none of it.
Zig prevents Stevens from getting the reversal.
Zig seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Stevens is holding on tight.
Zig can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stevens is looking to escape.
Zig moves to take his opponent's back.
Stevens trying to control the position but Zig manages to sink in the hooks.
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!

Zig changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stevens tries to avoid it but Zig manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stevens to the ground. Stevens escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zig shoots in looking for a takedown. Stevens tries to sprawl out of it but Zig keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stevens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stevens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zig pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stevens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stevens wants it to stay on the feet.
Stevens now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zig Zig. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stevens wants it to stay on the feet.
Stevens wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zig closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Stevens's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zig wants to control from the top but Stevens keeps moving.
Zig looking to sit in guard and control but Stevens gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stevens works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zig tries to get to full guard but Stevens has control of the leg.
Stevens trying to control the pace.
Zig has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stevens is working away from the top position though.
Stevens wants to take a breather but Zig is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is thwarting Zig's attempts to control the position.
Zig is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zig manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Stevens has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zig is proving hard to escape from.
Zig tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Zig keeps moving.
Zig keeping full guard, as Stevens tries to pass.
Stevens wants to control from the top but Zig keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zig is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zig passes Stevens's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zig works his foot free and advances to mount.
Stevens is working to get back to half guard.
Zig Zig overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stevens tries to buck Zig off but he can't manage it.
Stevens tries to hold on but Zig pushes him away.
Stevens can't escape the position.
Zig trying to control but Stevens is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zig controlling his opponent.
Zig's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Zig looking to control but Stevens is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stevens working to try and regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stevens flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Zig fails to advance to Stevens's back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zig Zig dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Stevens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zig.

Stevens rushes Zig and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zig is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stevens is defending well.

Zig pulls guard.
Stevens postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Stevens trying to control but Zig is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stevens decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Zig misses with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens doesn't manage to clinch there - Zig circles away.

Stevens closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Zig quickly recovers to half guard.
Zig is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stevens's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stevens's back!
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!
Stevens is trying to break free.
Zig controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens wants to get back to his feet.
Will Zig go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Zig is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Stevens trying to control the hands but Zig breaks the grip.

Zig looking for the choke from the back.

Zig is persistently looking for the submission but Stevens is defending it well.
I really don't envy Stevens right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Zig is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Stevens defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Stevens just trying to survive but Zig is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Will Zig go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Zig looking to break Stevens's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Stevens remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Zig will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Zig is looking to control Stevens but Stevens is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Stevens wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens staying busy and making it hard for Zig to control.

Zig has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Stevens has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Zig controlling well, preventing Stevens from escaping the position.

Stevens defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Zig's arms.
Zig tries to keep control of the position but Stevens is staying busy.

Zig is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Stevens is defending well though. Zig let's go of the attempt for now.
Stevens trying to control the hands but Zig breaks the grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Zig controlling well, preventing Stevens from escaping the position.

Zig is persistently looking for the submission but Stevens is defending it well.
Stevens is trying to get back to his feet but Zig has full control of the position and if anything, Stevens has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Zig controlling well, preventing Stevens from escaping the position.

Zig looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Stevens is controlling Zig 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Jack Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zig Zig is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stevens must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zig avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zig Zig showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zig, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zig Zig!
Our winner, Zig Zig, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.