PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Zelmann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brain Swan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zelmann comes to the cage accompanied by Von Thronstahl - Adoration to Europa . Swan comes into a darkened arena with his song building. YM Salute - Lil Wayne feat. Young Money kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zelmann
vs
Swan

183 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 Tokyo, Mark Zelmann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brain Swan!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zelmann shoots in and bounces Swan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zelmann might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Swan working a defensive guard here.
Zelmann working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Swan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zelmann pushes down on Swan's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swan won't allow Zelmann to pass to mount.
Swan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zelmann.
Zelmann throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zelmann working the head and body with strikes.
Zelmann is looking to advance position but Swan won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zelmann.

That's two 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.
Zelmann looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zelmann lands a nice short elbow.
Swan trying to hold on to Zelmann's head to control him but Zelmann postures up.
Zelmann throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zelmann is thwarting Swan's attempts to control the position.
Swan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zelmann. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zelmann.
Swan has his hands clasped together around Zelmann's back. He's all about the action.
Zelmann moves nicely into side control.
Zelmann is trying to ground and pound but Swan uses the momentary lack of control by Zelmann to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Swan wants to get back to full guard.
Swan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zelmann.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zelmann throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zelmann not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Zelmann dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zelmann throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Swan was covering up waiting for the punch and Zelmann finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Swan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Swan is pulling down on Zelmann's head to control his posture.
Zelmann throws a big right hand that misses.
Swan trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zelmann with a flurry of punches that miss.
Swan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zelmann.
Swan trying to control the position.
Zelmann stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Swan swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

so Zelmann counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zelmann throws a big right hand that misses.
Swan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zelmann is working Swan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Swan is trying to keep Zelmann in close.
Swan is breathing heavily.
Zelmann stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Swan swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zelmann throwing strikes from guard but Swan blocks nicely.
Zelmann throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Swan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zelmann trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Swan throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zelmann tries for a takedown but Swan circles away easily

and Swan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Swan prevents the takedown attempt.
Zelmann takes a knee right on the jaw!

Swan works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Zelmann 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.
Zelmann wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Swan manages to pass to side control.
Zelmann pushes Swan off looking to stand but Swan dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Zelmann dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Swan lands with a kick to the temple. Zelmann shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Swan misses with a takedown attempt

and Zelmann counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Swan!
Zelmann misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Zelmann scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Zelmann looking to ground and pound but Swan is blocking nicely.
Zelmann sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swan holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Zelmann tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zelmann looking to finish with strikes here!
Swan is looking to get to half guard.
Swan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zelmann scoring with strikes but Swan is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Swan is in a horrible position here. Zelmann smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Swan blocking the ground and pound.
Zelmann throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Zelmann thowing shots but they're missing.
Swan holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Zelmann tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Mark Zelmann overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zelmann is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Brain Swan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zelmann is landing with some decent strikes but Swan is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Zelmann with the ground and pound from mount.
Zelmann with good strikes from the mount here!
Swan wants to control but Zelmann is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zelmann lands with some strikes.
Zelmann postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Swan looks a forlorn figure.
Swan wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Zelmann.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Zelmann showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zelmann, 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Zelmann!