PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sub Zero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Gardens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Gardens's choice of entrance music: Not Tonight - Slaughterhouse. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zero
vs
Gardens

190 cm
25
185 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

176 cm
20
192 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Nemesis Cage Clothing

[JMFC] Slaughterhouse 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 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sub Zero!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcus Gardens!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zero throws a lazy right hand but Gardens sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zero takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Gardens closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zero did well to prevent Gardens getting side control.
Zero blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gardens.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Zero trying to control but Gardens postures up.

Zero looking for submissions off his back.
Still in half guard, Gardens seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gardens is trying to control. Zero wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gardens throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zero is trying to get back to full guard.
Gardens not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gardens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zero has his takedown stuffed

and Gardens counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zero!
Gardens lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Zero tries to lock up and control but Gardens gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zero is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardens is landing with some decent strikes but Zero is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gardens in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gardens controlling the pace for now.
Zero slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Zero wants to get back to full guard.
Zero punching from the bottom.
Zero has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gardens is working away from the top position though.
Gardens looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gardens working Zero over with strikes.
Gardens trying to control from half guard but Zero is working away.

Gardens is looking for a kimura but Zero is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gardens to get the leverage.
Zero works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardens content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Gardens thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gardens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zero keeping full guard, as Gardens tries to pass.

Zero is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gardens defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gardens scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zero keeping moving, preventing Gardens from controlling successfully.
Zero has momentary wrist control but Gardens slips an elbow through the middle.
Gardens wants to control from the top but Zero keeps moving.
Gardens showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zero keeping moving, preventing Gardens from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zero is trying to keep Gardens in close.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zero misses with a takedown

and Gardens counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Zero tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sub Zero. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gardens works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Gardens tries to free his leg and advance position but Zero is retaining full guard.
Zero keeping moving, preventing Gardens from controlling successfully.
Zero looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Zero lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gardens!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zero throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Zero tries to control but Gardens wriggling away.
Gardens is trying to stand up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zero cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zero is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gardens can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gardens is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zero will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gardens takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zero looking to finish with strikes here!
Zero unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marcus Gardens will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zero fails with the takedown

and Gardens decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zero's guard.
Zero is trying to control the position but Gardens postures up.
Gardens with a nice head shot there.
Zero 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.
Zero manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gardens manages to get himself to full guard.
Zero trying to control but Gardens is working from the bottom.
Zero wants to pass the guard but Gardens is keeping the position.
Gardens trying to control the position.
Zero throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gardens works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gardens wants to sweep here but Zero controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zero controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Gardens has his foot on Zero's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zero works his way back into a safe position though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zero throws a series of punches but Gardens moves out of range.
Gardens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zero tries for a takedown but Gardens circles away easily

and Gardens counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zero's guard now.
Gardens wants to control from the top but Zero keeps moving.
Gardens might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Zero kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Zero throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gardens tries to free his leg and advance position but Zero is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardens is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Marcus Gardens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gardens is breathing heavily.
Zero throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gardens trying to control the position from guard on top but Zero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gardens is looking to work some ground and pound but Zero has wrist control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Zero feints and as Gardens raises his hands in defense, Zero changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gardens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zero trying to control the position from guard on top but Gardens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zero drops back looking for a leg! Gardens is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gardens manages to kick Zero off! Zero jumps back into Gardens's guard.
Zero wants to pass the guard but Gardens is keeping the position.
Zero looking to sit in guard and control but Gardens gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardens slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zero can't do much from the bottom here.
Zero taking punishment in the form of punches.
Gardens landing strikes.
Zero gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Zero wants to hold on but Gardens pushes him away.
Zero is working to get back to half guard.
Gardens fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Zero tries to lock up and control but Gardens gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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.
Zero flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Gardens landing shots from mount.
Gardens can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zero is looking to escape.
Gardens lands a nice shot to the head.
Gardens unloading with bombs!
Gardens postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zero looks a forlorn figure.
Gardens lands with some strikes.
Zero is looking to improve his position but Gardens isn't that keen on the idea.
Zero tries to lock up and control but Gardens gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Gardens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gardens feints and as Zero raises his hands in defense, Gardens changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zero throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Zero wants to sweep but no luck.
Gardens content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zero keeping moving, preventing Gardens from controlling successfully.
Zero manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gardens is looking to improve his position but Zero isn't that keen on the idea.
Poor strikes thrown by Zero there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Gardens is looking to improve his position but Zero isn't that keen on the idea.
Gardens regains half guard.
Gardens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardens avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zero.
Gardens avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zero.
Gardens avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zero.
Gardens is trying to control but can't.
Zero throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gardens trying to control here.
Gardens is pressing down on Zero's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zero trying to control but Gardens is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zero with a lazy takedown attempt

so Gardens counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gardens stopping the sweep attempt from Zero.
Gardens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardens pushes down on Zero's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zero manages to get to full guard.
Gardens lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gardens postures up.
Gardens working some strikes from top position.

Zero has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gardens can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gardens stands up over Zero, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gardens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gardens won't allow Zero to sweep him here.
Gardens trying to control the position from guard on top but Zero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zero misses with a takedown attempt

and Gardens counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zero won't be happy with that.
Zero is not content to let Gardens control the position.
Gardens scoring with punches from side control.
Gardens controls the position.
Zero is not content to let Gardens control the position.
Zero is looking for a sweep.
Zero is trying to control Gardens's posture but Gardens avoids it.
Zero seems a little lost for a moment, as Gardens dominates the positioning.
Zero misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Gardens is looking to take a break and control but Zero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zero tries to bench press Gardens off him but Gardens keeps the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zero throws a looping overhand right but Gardens ducks down to avoid it.

Zero closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gardens wants to get back to full guard.
Zero wants to pass to mount but Gardens is defending the position.
Gardens keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zero lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Zero throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zero not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gardens is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zero's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zero's back!
Gardens is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Zero wants to control his opponent's hands but Gardens gets his hands free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Gardens really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zero with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gardens counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Zero is refusing to be controlled, as Gardens sits in half guard.
Zero flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Gardens working Zero over with strikes.
Gardens working Zero over with strikes.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Zero keeping hold of Gardens's head, controlling as best he can.
Gardens lands with a punch from half guard.
Gardens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zero keeps working.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Zero avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gardens.
Gardens slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zero is looking to control Gardens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zero avoid being mounted?
Zero manages to get to full guard.

Gardens got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zero has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gardens has managed to get both his arms back between Zero's legs - danger averted.
Zero is controlling Gardens's posture.
Gardens lands a couple of elbows.
Gardens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zero swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Zero is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gardens is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gardens wants to control from the top but Zero keeps moving.
Zero thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Zero throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Zero wants to hit a switch here but Gardens passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Zero there!
Zero tries to lock up and control but Gardens gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gardens trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gardens prevents Zero from getting the reversal.
Gardens dominating with strikes here.
Zero is working to get back to half guard.
Gardens scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Gardens controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zero working to try and regain half guard.
Gardens takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
BOOM! Gardens connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gardens lands a big elbow.
Gardens looking to control but Zero is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Gardens is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Zero can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Zero tries to hold on but Gardens postures up.
Gardens sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zero tries to reverse the position but Gardens maintains control.
Zero throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Zero sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Gardens stalling.
Zero throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Gardens trying to control the action but Zero is working from the bottom.
Zero tries to roll over but Gardens keeps him under control.
Gardens sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zero defending well though.
Zero keeping hold of Gardens's head, controlling as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Gardens dominated that fourth round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zero has his takedown stuffed

and Gardens counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zero!
Zero sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Zero is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gardens scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gardens missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gardens is looking to take a break and control but Zero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zero moves into full guard.

Zero looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Gardens is defending well. Zero quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Gardens has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Zero celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sub Zero!
Sub Zero retains his middleweight title!