PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mat Wagtail (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reda Zinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Wagtail
vs
Zinger

185 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mat Wagtail!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Reda Zinger!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zinger shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zinger showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wagtail is looking to control Zinger's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wagtail avoid being mounted?
Zinger prevents Wagtail from standing back up.
Zinger controlling the pace.
Wagtail tries to get to full guard but Zinger has control of the leg.
Zinger controlling the pace.
Wagtail is not content to let Zinger control the position.
Wagtail is trying to stand back up but Zinger is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Zinger seems content to control.
Wagtail trying to control from the bottom.
Zinger seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Wagtail won't allow Zinger to pass to mount.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zinger lands a nice short elbow.
Wagtail is looking to improve his position.
Zinger thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zinger throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wagtail is trying to get back to full guard.
Zinger works his foot free and advances to mount.
Zinger has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zinger raining down shots from the mount!
Zinger sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Wagtail takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinger lands a big elbow.
Wagtail tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wagtail is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zinger looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Zinger tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zinger lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Zinger controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wagtail working to try and regain half guard.
Zinger trying to control but Wagtail is having none of it.
Zinger postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Wagtail looks a forlorn figure.
Zinger content just to control the position here.
Zinger trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reda Zinger dominated that round.
That's time! Wagtail's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zinger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zinger changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wagtail tries to avoid it but Zinger manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wagtail to the ground. Wagtail escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Wagtail moves into the clinch.
Zinger is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Wagtail gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Wagtail tries to pull guard but Zinger won't allow it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Wagtail is pressed up against the cage. Zinger has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Wagtail down to the mat. Wagtail avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mat Wagtail has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reda Zinger.

Wagtail has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wagtail is trying to force a seperation but Zinger has the dominant position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zinger as Wagtail tries to tie him up.
Wagtail has Zinger pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zinger manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Zinger is trying to trip Wagtail. He has hold of a leg but Wagtail is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Zinger persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Zinger trying to control but Wagtail is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wagtail is on top in guard.
Zinger is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zinger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zinger lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Wagtail!
Zinger avoids the attempt from Wagtail to control.
Zinger controlling the position easily from mount.
The referee warns Wagtail that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zinger is landing with some decent strikes but Wagtail is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Wagtail tries to hold on but Zinger pushes him away.
Zinger is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Wagtail can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zinger cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Zinger.
Zinger landing strikes from the mount and Wagtail is in trouble!
Wagtail is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zinger cracks Wagtail with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zinger looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Zinger controlling the pace for now.
Zinger looking to ground and pound but Wagtail is blocking nicely.
Wagtail is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zinger looking to control but Wagtail is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Wagtail wants to get back to his feet.

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.
Zinger cracks Wagtail with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Zinger working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Zinger is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Wagtail has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Wagtail wants to hold on but Zinger pushes him away.
Wagtail is in a horrible position here. Zinger smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Wagtail tries to hold on but Zinger postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reda Zinger 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! This is the final round!

Wagtail gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zinger looking to pass the guard.
Zinger wants to stand but Wagtail has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Wagtail is trying to control the position but Zinger postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zinger trying to control the position from guard on top but Wagtail is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zinger preventing the sweep.
Zinger wants to control from the top but Wagtail keeps moving.
Zinger slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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

Wagtail fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zinger sprawls well initially but Wagtail persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Wagtail gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Wagtail.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zinger jabs at Wagtail's body.
Zinger tries to clinch up.
Zinger looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Wagtail scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zinger is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Wagtail's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zinger works his way to full guard. Good work.
Zinger controls Wagtail momentarily but Wagtail frees himself.
Wagtail is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Wagtail has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinger seems keen to control Wagtail's posture.
Zinger is looking to sweep but instead, Wagtail has passed into half guard.
Zinger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zinger wants to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Wagtail throws a strike but Zinger avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Wagtail looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Zinger trying to control the position.

Zinger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wagtail defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mat Wagtail.
I think Zinger 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reda Zinger!