PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frank Dux (ranked 884 p4p, 432 weight class) and Zigor Azarola (ranked 69 p4p, 29 weight class). Dux comes to the cage accompanied by Bloodsport. Azarola has chosen Million Shattered Swords by Witchrot as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Dux
vs
Azarola

183 cm
28
146
17 - 7 - 1

160 cm
25
144
11 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel
Champion Apparel

Conviction
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Dux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zigor Azarola!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dux clinches with his opponent.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Azarola.

Dux manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Dux has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Azarola missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Azarola slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Dux has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dux looking for a sweep. Not yet Dux, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dux controlling the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Azarola wants to get up but he can't break Dux's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dux looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dux looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dux misses with a takedown attempt
and Azarola cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dux tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Azarola manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Dux rushes Azarola and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Azarola is leaning against Dux and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Azarola misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dux tries to pull guard but Azarola won't allow it.
Dux jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Azarola walks away with a smile on his face. Dux gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Dux. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dux tries to clinch up but Azarola circles away and keeps his distance.
Azarola was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Dux is looking to clinch but Azarola is avoiding it.
Dux is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Azarola instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dux tries to pull guard but Azarola holds him up against the cage and eventually Dux drops back down to his feet.
Dux blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Azarola is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Dux has hold of one of Azarola's legs. Azarola is fighting the takedown attempt but Dux gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Dux stopping the sweep attempt from Azarola.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Azarola working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dux.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dux makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Azarola has control of Dux's left arm, preventing Dux from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dux accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Azarola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dux will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Azarola preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Azarola keeping full guard, as Dux tries to pass.
Dux connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azarola has control of Dux's left arm, preventing Dux from doing any damage.
Azarola looking for a sweep. Not yet Azarola, not yet.
Dux trying to control the position from guard on top but Azarola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dux working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Azarola manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dux manages to get himself to full guard.

Dux has Azarola pulled in close to control his posture.
Dux manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Azarola manages to get himself to full guard.

Azarola is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dux is looking to work some ground and pound but Azarola has wrist control.
Azarola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Azarola pulls Dux in close to prevent any damage.
Dux really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Azarola is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Azarola utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dux lands a couple of elbows.
Dux has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Azarola seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Dux lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dux trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Azarola keeping full guard, as Dux tries to pass.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Frank Dux will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Dux fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dux uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Azarola.
Dux shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Azarola as he jumps to the side.
Azarola avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Dux gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Azarola.
Dux fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Dux. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dux.
Dux is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Azarola to keep the fight standing.
Azarola throws a head punch that misses.
Dux tries to score a body lock takedown but Azarola shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dux jumps guard but Azarola turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Azarola tries to throw a body punch but Dux avoids it by throwing Azarola back against the cage.

Azarola escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A leg kick checked by Dux.
Dux fails in his attempt to clinch.
Azarola tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dux moves to clinch but Azarola breaks away
and Azarola counters with a stiff right hand.
Frank Dux seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Azarola.

Azarola drives through and clinches with Dux against the cage.
Dux jumps guard but Azarola turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Dux tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Azarola smiles and moves away.
Dux doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Azarola counters with a nice uppercut.
Dux tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Azarola manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dux moves in looking to clinch but Azarola pushes him off.
Dux fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Azarola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dux moves away from the strike by Azarola.

Dux drives through with a takedown into Azarola's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Dux stopping the sweep attempt from Azarola.
Dux is in close to Azarola's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Azarola has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Dux has passed into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dux working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dux happy to just control the position for now.
Dux working away.
Dux trying to control the action but Azarola is working from the bottom.
Dux creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Azarola sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Azarola is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Dux off and has taken his back!
Azarola is hanging on to Dux's back as he tries to escape.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Azarola controlling the positon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azarola is trying to stick to Dux's back but Dux is turning into Azarola. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Azarola's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Dux.
Azarola is trying to control the position but Dux postures up.
Dux wants to control from the top but Azarola keeps moving.
Dux postures up in Azarola's guard and throws a big left but Azarola blocks it.
Dux stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Azarola swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dux showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Frank Dux overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dux is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Azarola avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dux wants to control from the top but Azarola keeps moving.
Dux landing with the ground and pound.
Dux postures up in Azarola's guard and throws a big left but Azarola blocks it.
Azarola controls Dux momentarily but Dux frees himself.
Dux trying to control the position from guard on top but Azarola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dux stops Azarola from standing up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zigor Azarola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dux tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Azarola defends well and Dux ends up having to push Azarola into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Azarola tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Azarola.
Azarola misses with a body punch.
Dux is working for takedown but Azarola is calmly controlling the position for now.

Dux pulls guard.
Azarola tries to free his leg and advance position but Dux is retaining full guard.
Dux looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Dux bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Azarola's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dux stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Azarola swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dux throwing strikes from guard but Azarola blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azarola is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dux postures up in Azarola's guard and throws a big left but Azarola blocks it.
Dux showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dux accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dux slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Dux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dux trying to move into half guard but instead Azarola has managed to sweep!

Dux looking to hit a scissor sweep but Azarola is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dux pulls Azarola in close to his closed guard and prevents Azarola from doing any damage or advancing position.
Dux tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dux has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Azarola sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azarola preventing the sweep.
Dux pulls Azarola in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dux fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Dux. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Azarola. No joy for Dux on that attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Azarola as Dux shoots in.
Dux shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Azarola counters by moving into the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Azarola.
Dux is trying to drag Azarola to the mat but Azarola just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dux jumps guard but Azarola stands there with Dux around his waist. Dux gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azarola lands a right hand.
Azarola lands a shoulder strike.
Dux tries to pull guard but Azarola holds him up against the cage and eventually Dux drops back down to his feet.
Azarola misses with a short punch on the inside.
Azarola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dux's elbow.
Dux fails to pull guard.
A body shot lands from Azarola.

Dux gets control of Azarola's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dux will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Azarola is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Azarola's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Azarola must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dux keeping full guard, as Azarola tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zigor Azarola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Azarola has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zigor Azarola!
Zigor Azarola thanked the fans post fight for their support.