PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Dangerfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dje Je Ba Zapelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dangerfield
vs
Je Ba Zapelo

175 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Prefers ground

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Powerful

T-Class Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rodney Dangerfield!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dje Je Ba Zapelo!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dangerfield closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zapelo to the mat! Zapelo manages to get full guard.

Zapelo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dangerfield doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dangerfield manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Dangerfield thows a big elbow that misses.
Dangerfield postures up in Zapelo's guard and throws a big left but Zapelo blocks it.
Zapelo trying to keep a closed guard but Dangerfield is proving a slippery customer.
Dangerfield wants to control from the top but Zapelo keeps moving.
Dangerfield scoring with some ground and pound.
Zapelo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dangerfield working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Dangerfield has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zapelo shoots and misses

and Dangerfield counters with a shoot takedown. Zapelo fights it but they end up in guard.

Zapelo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dangerfield trying to control but Zapelo is working from the bottom.
Dangerfield is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Zapelo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zapelo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dangerfield pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zapelo is keeping the position for now.

Zapelo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dangerfield controlling from the top position.

Zapelo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zapelo looks gassed!
Zapelo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dangerfield advances to half guard.
Dangerfield is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dangerfield controlling the pace.
Zapelo won't allow Dangerfield to pass to mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Zapelo trying to control but Dangerfield postures up.
Dangerfield looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dangerfield drops an elbow to the side of Zapelo's head.
Ground and pound from Dangerfield.
Nice strikes from Dangerfield there.
Zapelo trying to control but Dangerfield postures up.
Dangerfield trying to control the action but Zapelo is working from the bottom.
Dangerfield drops an elbow to the side of Zapelo's head.
Zapelo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dangerfield is working away from the top position though.
Zapelo keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dangerfield is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dangerfield lands a nice short elbow.
Dangerfield knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zapelo on the ground.
Dangerfield lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Dangerfield working over Zapelo with some ground and pound. Zapelo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Zapelo looking for submissions off his back.
Dangerfield trying to control from half guard but Zapelo is working away.
Dangerfield scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dangerfield looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zapelo is trying to control but can't.
Dangerfield winds up and cracks Zapelo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Dangerfield missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zapelo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four 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.
Zapelo is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dangerfield shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Zapelo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zapelo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dangerfield.
Dangerfield trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dangerfield accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zapelo wants to stand up but Dangerfield is controlling him.
Dangerfield trying to control but Zapelo is working from the bottom.
Dangerfield postures up in Zapelo's guard and throws a big left but Zapelo blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Dangerfield dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dangerfield feints and as Zapelo raises his hands in defense, Dangerfield changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zapelo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zapelo is keen to just control but Dangerfield is a slippery customer.
Dangerfield wants to control but Zapelo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dangerfield is trying to get back to full guard.
Dangerfield works his way to full guard. Good work.
Dangerfield wants to sweep but no luck.
Dangerfield keeping moving, preventing Zapelo from controlling successfully.
Dangerfield wants to sweep here but Zapelo controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zapelo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Dangerfield counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zapelo!
Zapelo is breathing heavily.
Dangerfield punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapelo is working to get back to half guard.
Dangerfield scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Zapelo is squirming around, avoiding Dangerfield's attempts to control the action.
Dangerfield lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Zapelo hang on?
Dangerfield lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Dangerfield landing strikes from the mount.
Dangerfield working Zapelo over with strikes here.
Zapelo tries to lock up and control but Dangerfield gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zapelo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zapelo wants to control but Dangerfield is having none of it.
Dangerfield tries to control but Zapelo wriggling away.
Zapelo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dangerfield has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Zapelo's face.
BOOM! Dangerfield connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Dangerfield with good strikes from the mount here!
Zapelo wants to hold on but Dangerfield pushes him away.
Zapelo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Zapelo wants to control from the top but Dangerfield keeps moving.
Dangerfield with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Zapelo can't handle though.
Dangerfield is trying to keep Zapelo in close.
Dangerfield throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Zapelo won't allow Dangerfield to sweep him here.
Dangerfield throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dangerfield striking off his back but it's not causing Zapelo any problems.
Dangerfield not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dangerfield doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zapelo counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Zapelo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zapelo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zapelo wants to control from the top but Dangerfield keeps moving.
Zapelo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Dangerfield kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Dangerfield not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zapelo preventing the sweep.
Dangerfield is working hard here to advance position.
Zapelo trying to control but Dangerfield is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Dangerfield closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Dangerfield is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zapelo keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Zapelo is trying to control but can't.
Rodney Dangerfield overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dangerfield is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Zapelo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dangerfield seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dangerfield looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zapelo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Dangerfield is trying to control the action in half guard but Zapelo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Dangerfield dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dangerfield drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Zapelo sneaks back into half guard.
Zapelo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dangerfield's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dangerfield's back!

Zapelo working for the choke.
Zapelo not allowing Dangerfield to control his hands.

Zapelo looking to break Dangerfield's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Dangerfield remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Zapelo will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Zapelo wants to control but Dangerfield is keeping busy.
Dangerfield manages to reverse the position and now he's in Zapelo's guard. Nice work there by Dangerfield.
Zapelo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dangerfield postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapelo trying to control the position.
Dangerfield sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zapelo's guard.
Dangerfield looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Dangerfield working the head and body with strikes.
Dangerfield looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Dangerfield throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dangerfield is thwarting Zapelo's attempts to control the position.
Dangerfield controlling the action here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dangerfield connects with a nice short shot to Zapelo's temple.
Zapelo trying to control from the bottom.
Dangerfield is looking to take a break and control but Zapelo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dangerfield looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Zapelo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dangerfield landing strikes from the mount.
Dangerfield landing strikes, looking to finish!
Zapelo working to try and regain half guard.
Zapelo tries to lock up and control but Dangerfield gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dangerfield fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Dangerfield lands a big elbow.
Dangerfield with good strikes from the mount here!
Zapelo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zapelo takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Zapelo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dangerfield working Zapelo over with strikes here.
Zapelo tries to hold on but Dangerfield pushes him away.
Dangerfield landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapelo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dangerfield tries to control but Zapelo wriggling away.
Dangerfield landing strikes from the mount and Zapelo is in trouble!
Dangerfield wants to control the pace but Zapelo is squirming around nicely.
Dangerfield lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Zapelo is desperately trying to improve his position but Dangerfield has a good base and remains in mount.
Zapelo wants to control but Dangerfield is having none of it.
Dangerfield working Zapelo over with strikes here.
Dangerfield pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Zapelo wants to control but Dangerfield is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Dangerfield.

Zapelo is rocked!
Dangerfield working the ground and pound effectively.
Zapelo is still in real trouble! Can Dangerfield finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dangerfield postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Zapelo in real trouble here! The ref calls for Zapelo to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rodney Dangerfield!
Rodney Dangerfield is the new middleweight champion!