PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Solomon Zook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Umberto Eco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Zook might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to God's Gonna Cut You Down. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!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.

Zook
vs
Eco

177 cm
24
196 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
195 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Behold The Beast
Behold The Beast

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Solomon Zook!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Umberto Eco!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zook lands a head kick. Eco smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Eco is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A thudding body kick lands there by Zook!
Zook fails to land the takedown.
Eco throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A head kick misses from Zook.

Eco tries to keep at a distance but Zook has taken the fight into the clinch.
Eco throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Zook with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Eco trying to land knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zook throws an elbow but misses.
Zook takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zook on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Eco throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Zook blocks an elbow strike from Eco.
Eco blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Eco stops a takedown attempt from Zook.

Zook gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Eco seems keen to control Zook's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eco is trying to control the position but Zook postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zook throwing strikes from guard but Eco blocks nicely.
Eco is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Eco prevents Zook from improving his position.

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.
Zook wants to sweep but Eco has passed to side control!
Eco is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Zook tries to buck Eco off but Eco is having none of it.
Zook struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zook is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Zook's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zook manages to work his way to half guard, despite Eco's best efforts.
Zook trying to control from the bottom.
Eco seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zook does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Eco might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Zook kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Eco is looking to clinch.
Eco is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Zook takes the fight into the clinch.
Eco is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Zook throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Eco pushes Zook back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zook tries to land knees in the clinch but Eco avoids the damage to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zook.
Zook lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Zook tries to land a knee to the head but Eco blocks with his arms.
Zook on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Eco.
Eco creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zook as Eco tries to tie him up.
A knee to the head by Eco.
Eco gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zook.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Solomon Zook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Eco throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Eco just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zook's brow.
Zook takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zook lands a nice knee to the body.
Zook drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Eco using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zook has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Eco with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Eco stalling in the clinch but Zook improves position.
Eco dodges an elbow strike from Zook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Zook dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Eco tries to clinch but Zook is having none of it.
Eco tries to clinch up but Zook circles away and keeps his distance.
Zook tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Eco swivels and escapes.
Solomon Zook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eco tries to close the distance and clinch but Zook swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zook fails to land the takedown.
Eco moves in looking to clinch but Zook pushes him off.
A slapping leg kick lands for Eco.
Eco clinches but Zook breaks the clinch
and Zook counters with a solid body kick.
Zook dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Eco. That did some damage!
Zook fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Eco clinches with his opponent.
Eco avoids a wild elbow strike from Zook.
Zook trying to land knees to the body.
Eco avoids a wild elbow strike from Zook.
Zook avoiding damage as Eco throws knees to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Zook.
Zook throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Eco blocks it with crossed arms.
Eco avoids a wild elbow strike from Zook.
Eco tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Eco managing to block the knees to the body from Zook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eco throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zook working Eco over with knees to the body.
Eco stops a takedown attempt from Zook.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Solomon Zook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Eco misses with a knee to the head.
Zook misses with an elbow over the top.
Eco throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zook has Eco pressed against the cage.
Zook lands an elbow inside that Eco shrugs off.
Zook misses with an elbow over the top.

Zook breaks from the clinch.
Eco tries to clinch there but Zook circles away.
Eco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zook swats away the attempt to clinch by Eco.
Zook shoots in but Eco avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Eco tries to clinch up but Zook circles away and keeps his distance.
Zook thows a leg kick but Eco checks it
and Eco counters with a body kick.
Zook throws a push kick but Eco slaps the foot to one side.

Eco gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zook is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Eco is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eco avoids the elbow strike from Zook, against the cage.
Eco tries to land a knee to the head but Zook blocks with his arms.
Eco has Zook pressed against the cage, preventing Zook from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Eco taking a breather.
Eco blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zook lands an elbow just above Eco 's eye.
Zook missing with knees to the body.

Zook breaks from the clinch.
Eco tries to clinch up but Zook circles away and keeps his distance.
Eco looks to clinch
and Zook makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zook misses with a head kick.
Zook misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Eco takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Eco is looking to clinch but Zook is avoiding it.

Eco gets a clinch.
Eco stalling.
Eco trying to stall but Zook improves his position.
Eco scores with a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zook.
Eco avoids the elbow strike from Zook, against the cage.
Zook blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Eco blocks an elbow strike from Zook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zook throws an elbow but misses.
Eco tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Eco managing to block the knees to the body from Zook.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zook throws an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zook throws an elbow but misses.
Eco trying to land knees to the body.
Eco using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zook has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Zook has picked Eco up - he's going for a ride! Zook dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Zook thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Eco's head.
Zook throwing shots but Eco is blocking nicely.
Zook prevents Eco from standing back up.
Eco is breathing heavily.
Zook controlling the action here.
Eco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eco is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Eco is looking to control Zook's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Eco avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zook thows a leg kick but Eco checks it

and Eco counters by moving into the clinch.
Eco misses with a punch on the inside.
Eco can't find room to land a body shot as Zook controls the action.
Eco landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Zook avoiding damage as Eco throws knees to the body.
Eco trying to land knees to the body.
Eco throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zook is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Eco is defending well for now.

Zook has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Eco is trying to keep an underhook but Zook manages to get the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Zook dominated that second round.
That's time! Zook's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Eco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zook swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Eco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zook paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zook throws a leg kick but Eco sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zook throws a right and a left that both miss.
Eco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zook swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Zook clinches.
Eco avoids a wild elbow strike from Zook.
A short body shot lands from Eco as the two fighters clinch.
Eco looking to throw knees to the head but Zook is blocking nicely.
Eco tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Eco using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zook has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zook tries to land knees in the clinch but Eco avoids the damage to the body.
Eco avoiding damage as Zook throws knees to the body.
Zook misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Eco.
Eco blocks an elbow strike from Zook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eco with a knee to the head.
Zook managing to block the knees to the body from Eco.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zook throws an elbow but misses.
Eco throws a knee to the head but misses.
Eco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zook throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Eco scores a nice knee to the body.
Eco is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Eco blocks an elbow strike.
Zook avoiding damage as Eco throws knees to the body.
Eco takes an elbow to the temple.
Eco pushes off an throws an elbow but Zook leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Eco utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Eco tries to land knees in the clinch but Zook avoids the damage to the body.

Zook manages to break the clinch.

Zook fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Eco sprawls well initially but Zook persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zook sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Eco defending well though.
Zook wants to control but Eco is keeping him busy.
Eco is pressing down on Zook's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Eco looking to control.
Zook has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zook being controlled here momentarily.
Zook controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zook missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Eco manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zook manages to get himself to full guard.
Eco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zook is keeping the position for now.
Eco trying to control the position from guard on top but Zook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zook looking for a sweep. Not yet Zook, not yet.
Eco wants to control from the top but Zook keeps moving.
Eco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zook swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zook looking for a sweep. Not yet Zook, not yet.
Zook on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zook tries to get out of the position.
Zook is pulling down on Eco's head. It's preventing any offense from Eco, at least for the moment.
Eco trying to control but Zook is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zook defending well as Eco loads up on a big left hand.
Zook pivots, looking for a leg kick but Eco is out of range and Zook settles back down.
Eco tries to clinch there but Zook circles away.
Zook circles away from the clinch attempt
and Zook counters with a body kick that stops Eco in his tracks momentarily.
Eco feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zook's calf.

Zook takes the fight into the clinch.
Eco scores a nice knee to the body.
Zook misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Eco.
Eco using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zook has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zook tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Eco avoids it.
Zook blocks an elbow strike.
Eco stalls.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Eco prevents a takedown attempt there.
Eco blocks the elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Umberto Eco just about did enough to take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zook circles away from the clinch attempt

and Zook counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zook.
Eco avoids the elbow strike from Zook, against the cage.
Zook looking to throw knees to the head but Eco is blocking nicely.
Eco misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zook.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Zook just misses with a elbow thrown towards Eco's brow.
Zook misses with a knee to the head.
Eco throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zook blocks it with crossed arms.
Zook throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Eco tries to land a knee to the head but Zook blocks with his arms.
Eco dodges an elbow strike from Zook.
Eco managing to block the knees to the body from Zook.
Eco is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Zook tries to land knees in the clinch but Eco avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eco throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zook blocks it with crossed arms.
Zook creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Zook lands an elbow that stopped Eco in his tracks for a moment.
Eco tries to land knees in the clinch but Zook avoids the damage to the body.
Zook drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Eco gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Eco.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zook tries to land knees in the clinch but Eco avoids the damage to the body.
Eco lands a good knee to the midsection. Zook won't want to take too many of those.
Zook looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Eco.
The referee is keeping an eye on Eco - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Eco gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zook.
Eco misses with a knee to the head.
Eco misses with a body punch.
Eco managing to block the knees to the body from Zook.
Zook blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zook tries to break the clinch but Eco is controlling the position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zook missing with knees to the body.
Eco tries to land a knee to the head but Zook blocks with his arms.
Eco tries to land knees in the clinch but Zook avoids the damage to the body.
Eco will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zook up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

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.
Eco with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Zook pushes off an throws an elbow but Eco leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Zook looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Eco prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Solomon Zook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zook misses with a punch to the body.
Zook tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Eco avoids it.
Eco connects with a knee to the head.
Zook is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Eco pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Umberto Eco seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Eco with a knee to the head.
Eco throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zook blocks it with crossed arms.
Zook takes a knee to the side of the body.
Eco trying to land knees to the body.
Eco tries a body shot but Zook blocks it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Eco blocking some punches.
Eco with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Zook throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zook.
Eco throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zook blocks it with crossed arms.
Zook pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zook creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Eco tries to land a knee to the head but Zook blocks with his arms.
Eco misses with a knee strike.
Zook lands an elbow just above Eco 's eye.
Eco being controlled against the cage.
Zook throws an elbow but it misses.
Eco dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Eco with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zook - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zook lands an elbow that stopped Eco in his tracks for a moment.
Eco blocks the elbow strike.
Eco scores with a knee to the head.
Zook tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zook misses with a knee strike.
Eco trying to control the position but instead, Zook has worked for underhooks and has pushed Eco into the cage.
Eco tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zook blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zook is trying to break the clinch but Eco is controlling him.
Zook lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Eco.
Zook swings wildly with an uppercut but Eco uses good head movement to avoid it.
Eco crunches a lovely knee into Zook's ribcage.
Nice elbow from Zook.
Eco missing with knees to the body.
Zook tries to land knees in the clinch but Eco avoids the damage to the body.
Zook has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Eco avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Eco is trying to maintain a safe position but Zook gets an underhook and turns Eco into the cage.
Eco displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zook up against the cage.
Zook creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Eco's defenses.
Eco creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Eco tries to land a knee to the head but Zook blocks with his arms.
Eco wants to stall.
Zook throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Eco blocks it with crossed arms.
Eco missing with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Zook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Umberto Eco dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zook closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zook tries to advance to mount but can't.
Eco is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Eco tries to control but Zook manages to take his back.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Zook is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Eco can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eco is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zook not allowing Eco to control his hands.
Eco is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Eco is trying to break free.
Even with his hooks in, Zook manages to miss with strikes from the back.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zook doesn't have the hooks in and Eco manages to turn into his guard.
Zook trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zook fails with the takedown.
Eco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Eco tries to clinch but Zook is having none of it.
Zook misses with a leg kick.
Eco tries to score with a low kick but Zook moves his leg out of the way.
Zook fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zook throws a leg kick that is checked

and Eco counters by clinching up.
Zook wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Solomon Zook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Eco tries to stall but Zook uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Eco throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zook blocks it with crossed arms.
Eco trying to control the position but instead, Zook has worked for underhooks and has pushed Eco into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zook misses with an elbow strike.
Eco landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zook pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Eco misses with a knee to the head.
Eco tries to land knees in the clinch but Zook avoids the damage to the body.
Zook tries to land knees in the clinch but Eco avoids the damage to the body.
Eco with a knee to the head.
Eco trying to land knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Eco just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zook's brow.
Eco tries to land knees in the clinch but Zook avoids the damage to the body.
Eco slowing the pace effectively.
Zook lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Zook breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Eco wants to clinch but Zook slips to the side
and Zook counters with a nice low kick that buckles Eco's knee momentarily.
Umberto Eco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Eco tries to clinch up.
Zook circles away from the clinch attempt
and Zook counters with a flying knee. Nice.
No luck for Zook with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zook keeps the fight on the outside.
Eco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zook swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Eco drives through and clinches with Zook against the cage.
Zook on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zook is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Eco gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Zook breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Eco closes the distance looking to clinch

and Zook counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Eco!
Eco is trying desperately to improve position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Solomon Zook showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zook has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 48:47
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 48:47
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Solomon Zook!
Solomon Zook retains his middleweight title!