PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Jacobs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nishan Zeroun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zeroun comes into a darkened arena with his song building. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qit3ALTelOo kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Nishan Zeroun is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Jacobs
vs
Zeroun

175 cm
24
155 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

178 cm
19
166 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Jacobs!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nishan Zeroun!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jacobs drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Zeroun pushes Jacobs away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Jacobs gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Jacobs is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zeroun knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Zeroun is not content to let Jacobs control the position.
Zeroun is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Jacobs asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jacobs lands an elbow.
Zeroun pushes Jacobs away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Jacobs gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Jacobs slows the pace down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jacobs prevents Zeroun from escaping the position.
Jacobs scores with punches from side control.
Zeroun avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Jacobs.

Jacobs thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jacobs staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jacobs wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zeroun, who protects the arm well.
Jacobs trying to control the position but Zeroun is working away.

Jacobs swings around for an armbar but Zeroun sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jacobs's guard.

Jacobs working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zeroun doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zeroun manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jacobs is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeroun tries to stand but Jacobs is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zeroun wants to stand and escape but instead Jacobs has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Jacobs trying to control but Zeroun is working from the bottom.

Jacobs drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Zeroun dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jacobs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jacobs is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Jacobs is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Jacobs is looking for a triangle here but Zeroun uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Jacobs manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Jacobs dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jacobs avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jacobs thuds a left hand into Zeroun's body.
Jacobs lands with an overhand left.
Zeroun lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jacobs circles away quickly and effectively.
Ryan Jacobs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice uppercut lands for Zeroun. That snapped Jacobs's head back.
Jacobs throws a nice looking combination but Zeroun bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zeroun throws a combination that misses
and Jacobs connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jacobs moves out of range of the strikes.

Jacobs shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zeroun is trying to defend but Jacobs finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jacobs in particular looking to stall.
Jacobs'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.
Jacobs wants to pass the guard but Zeroun is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jacobs thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jacobs landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Jacobs tries to pass to full mount but Zeroun defends it.
Jacobs is working hard here to advance position.
Zeroun is looking to escape.
Jacobs throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jacobs is looking to advance position but Zeroun won't allow it.
Zeroun is looking to escape.

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.
Jacobs trying to control the action but Zeroun is working from the bottom.
Jacobs is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zeroun pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Jacobs gets the takedown into side control.
Jacobs is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Zeroun will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Jacobs scoring with punches from side control.
Zeroun is not content to let Jacobs control the position.

Jacobs thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeroun is not content to let Jacobs control the position.
The strikes coming from Jacobs are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Jacobs working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Jacobs scores with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Zeroun bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Zeroun throws a left and a right that both miss

and Jacobs counters with a single leg into guard. Zeroun didn't expect that.
Jacobs postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jacobs throws a big right hand that misses.
Zeroun wants to stand and escape but Jacobs is having none of it.
Zeroun is breathing heavily.
Jacobs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ryan Jacobs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jacobs with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jacobs slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jacobs looks up at the clock and then as Zeroun takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Jacobs smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Jacobs dominated that second 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.

Jacobs misses with a few strikes there.
Zeroun misses the body punch
and Jacobs makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zeroun misses the jab.
Zeroun takes a jab right on the kisser.

Jacobs drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Jacobs controlling from side mount.
Jacobs working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Zeroun pushes Jacobs away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Jacobs gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Zeroun seems a little lost for a moment, as Jacobs dominates the positioning.
Zeroun takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jacobs in side control, throwing shots but Zeroun defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jacobs wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zeroun, who protects the arm well.

Jacobs tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jacobs has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Jacobs controlling the position from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jacobs tries to score with some ground and pound. Zeroun controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Zeroun is letting Jacobs control him for a moment.
Zeroun is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Jacobs is controlling him well.
Jacobs throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Jacobs is looking to take a break and control but Zeroun is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jacobs controlling the position from side mount.
Zeroun wants to get back to his feet but Jacobs drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jacobs trying to control the position but Zeroun is working away.
Jacobs 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jacobs connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zeroun's hands.
Jacobs swinging wilding here.
Jacobs stuns Zeroun with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nishan Zeroun seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zeroun throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jacobs counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zeroun falls off balance throwing a combination
and Jacobs counters with a three punch combo that has Zeroun backing up. Zeroun nods at Jacobs to acknowledge the strikes.

Jacobs shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zeroun napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Jacobs controlling the position from side mount.
Jacobs scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jacobs taking a breather here.

Jacobs swings around for an armbar but Zeroun sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jacobs's guard.

Jacobs has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zeroun can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Zeroun gets to his feet - Jacobs follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Jacobs clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zeroun falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Jacobs counter with a right hand.
Jacobs connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zeroun throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jacobs counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Jacobs gets the takedown into side control.

Jacobs wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zeroun, who protects the arm well.
Jacobs landing strikes.
Jacobs wants to control but Zeroun is keeping him busy.
Jacobs controls the position from side control.

Zeroun sneaks out the side door and pushes Jacobs away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Zeroun is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jacobs getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Jacobs closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zeroun to the mat! Zeroun manages to get full guard.
Jacobs trying to control the position from guard on top but Zeroun is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jacobs looking to pass the guard.
Jacobs stands and throws Zeroun's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Jacobs working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Jacobs goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Zeroun has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Jacobs but great work by Zeroun.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jacobs is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zeroun's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zeroun tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Jacobs.
Jacobs regains full guard. Nicely done.

Jacobs pushes a forearm under Zeroun's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Zeroun is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ryan Jacobs!
Ryan Jacobs retains his lightweight title!