PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hank Zitto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Enzo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zitto
vs
Souza

177 cm
23
207 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

188 cm
24
200 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

[MMABR] Killer Bee Supplements

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hank Zitto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Enzo Souza!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zitto shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Souza is trying to defend but Zitto finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Souza trying to control from the bottom.
Souza is staying active underneath Zitto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Souza tries to kick Zitto off but Zitto keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Souza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Souza is trying to stand.
Zitto is keen to just control but Souza is a slippery customer.
Zitto takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zitto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zitto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zitto is trying to control the action in half guard but Souza is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Souza can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zitto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zitto missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Souza keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza trying to hold on to Zitto's head to control him but Zitto postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zitto throws a strike but Souza avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Zitto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zitto shoots in for a takedown but Souza shows good takedown defense.
Zitto avoids the body shot from Souza.
Zitto slips under a jab from Souza.
Zitto ducks under a wild hook from Souza.
Souza lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Some wild striking there from Souza.

Zitto shoots in and bounces Souza off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zitto pushes down on Souza's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zitto is looking to advance position but Souza won't allow it.
Zitto is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zitto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Souza keeps working.
Zitto thows a huge punch but Souza dodges it nicely.
Zitto is looking to take a break and control but Souza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zitto scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Souza keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza is trying to get back to full guard.
Zitto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zitto content to control rather than advance.

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

Zitto shoots in and bounces Souza off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Souza looks gassed!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zitto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zitto trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Zitto won't allow Souza to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zitto thows a big elbow that misses.
Souza is trying to control the position but Zitto postures up.
Souza wants to get back to his feet but Zitto is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Zitto connects with a couple of short punches.
Zitto lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zitto landing with the ground and pound.
Zitto trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Zitto pushes down on Souza's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zitto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Zitto dominated that 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.

Souza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zitto.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zitto.
Zitto looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hank Zitto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza thows a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Souza misses.
Souza looks to land a left hand but Zitto moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza looks to land a combination but Zitto avoids it well.
Zitto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zitto avoids a punch combination nicely.

Zitto closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Souza is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zitto scores with a couple of short elbows.
Zitto working the ground and pound.
Souza takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
An elbow from Zitto crashes against the mat.
Zitto lands a few punches from side control.
Souza is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zitto is controlling him well.
Souza takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Souza is not content to let Zitto control the position.
Souza is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zitto cracks Souza with a big elbow.
Souza takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
A control attempt from Souza but he's now mounted!
Zitto fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Zitto looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Souza takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Zitto raining down shots from the mount!
Zitto scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Souza?
Zitto working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Zitto fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zitto trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zitto 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.
Zitto lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Zitto trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zitto dominating with strikes here.
Zitto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Souza is looking to escape.
Zitto dominating with strikes here.
Zitto dominating with strikes here.
Zitto trying to control but Souza is having none of it.
Zitto lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zitto is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Souza can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Zitto lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Souza hang on?
Zitto lands a big shot there that rocks Souza but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The referee warns Souza that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Souza is bucking up trying to escape but Zitto cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Zitto controlling from mount.
Zitto lands a big elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Souza is bucking up trying to escape but Zitto cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Zitto lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Souza hang on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Zitto dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zitto closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ground and pound from Zitto.
Souza wants to get back to his feet.
Zitto wants to free his trapped foot but Souza is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Souza is staying active underneath Zitto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zitto is controlling the pace.
Hank Zitto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Souza wants to get back to his feet.
Zitto working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zitto drops an elbow to the side of Souza's head.
Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza tries to roll over but Zitto keeps him under control.
Souza tries to kick Zitto off but Zitto keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Zitto winds up and cracks Souza with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Zitto wants to take a breather but Souza is having none of it.
Zitto lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from Zitto there.
Zitto slips a nice elbow through Souza's hands, connecting with Souza's forehead.
Zitto lands with a punch from half guard.
Zitto passes to side control.
Check out the look on Zitto's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Zitto lands some shots froms side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zitto in side control lands a decent elbow.
Zitto lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Souza down.
Souza takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Zitto cracks Souza with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Zitto trying to control the action but Souza is working from the bottom.
Zitto landing strikes.
Zitto landing strikes.
Souza tries to buck Zitto off but Zitto is having none of it.
Zitto lands a decent elbow from side control.
Zitto scores with punches from side control.
Zitto is putting a hurting on Souza here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Zitto grinds an elbow into Souza's temple.
Zitto landing strikes.
Check out the look on Zitto's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Souza is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zitto connects with a decent elbow.
Zitto landing strikes.
Zitto lands some shots froms side control.
Zitto works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
A lull in the action here as Zitto stalls from top position.
Souza wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Enzo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zitto looks up at the clock and then as Souza takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Zitto smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Zitto working the ground and pound.
Zitto in side control lands a decent elbow.
Zitto works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Zitto working the ground and pound from side control.
Souza takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Zitto lands an elbow.
Souza taking punishment in the form of punches.
Souza is looking to regain half guard here but Zitto keeps moving and retains side control.
Zitto lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hank Zitto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zitto taking a breather here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hank Zitto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zitto, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:25
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hank Zitto!