PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arnold Nibaten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Morbius Zod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morbius Zod told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Nibaten
vs
Zod

150 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Arnold Nibaten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Morbius Zod!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Joseph Jones and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zod throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A punch combination from Zod misses.
A combination from Zod does no damage.
Nibaten slips a straight right by Zod.
Zod rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nibaten moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Nibaten looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Nibaten sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Zod is in trouble now - Nibaten has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nibaten controlling from the full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zod tries to lock up and control but Nibaten gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Nibaten jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Zod is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Zod and Nibaten has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Zod manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nibaten's best efforts.

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.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nibaten is trying to control the action in half guard but Zod is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nibaten sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zod defending well though.
Nibaten is pressing down on Zod's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zod is holding on for now.
Zod wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zod keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zod is holding on to half guard well.
Zod wants to get back to his feet.
Zod looks gassed!

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

Nibaten shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nibaten might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nibaten throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nibaten has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zod is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nibaten tries to free his leg and advance position but Zod is retaining full guard.
Nibaten has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zod is proving hard to escape from.
Nibaten passes easily into side control. Nice work.
A lull in the action here as Nibaten stalls from top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zod throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Nibaten dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nibaten displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zod.
Nibaten has a takedown stuffed.
Nibaten tries to clinch but Zod moves out of range.
Zod misses the jab.
Arnold Nibaten is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zod throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Zod, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zod misses with a double jab.

Nibaten closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zod did well to prevent Nibaten getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nibaten working over Zod with some ground and pound. Zod looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zod is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nibaten is just content to waste time from the top position. Zod takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Zod is looking to stand up but Nibaten isn't so interested in that idea.
Nibaten controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nibaten tries to free his leg and advance position but Zod is retaining full guard.
Zod is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nibaten trying to control the position from guard on top but Zod is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zod pulls Nibaten in close to prevent any damage.

Zod uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Zod swinging wildly here.
Zod stuffs the takedown attempt from Nibaten. Nibaten gets slowly back to his feet.
Nibaten closes the distance and clinches up with Zod, looking for a takedown. Nibaten pushes Zod against the cage but Zod circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arnold Nibaten. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four 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.
Nibaten doesn't manage to clinch there - Zod circles away.
Nibaten swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nibaten looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nibaten has his takedown stuffed
and Zod counters with a right hand to the body.
Zod tries to bum rush Nibaten with a series of wild strikes but Nibaten uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Nibaten shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Zod tries to kick Nibaten off but Nibaten keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Nibaten dominated that second round.
That's time! Nibaten's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zod misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zod fails with the takedown.
Nibaten wants to clinch.
Zod stuffs the takedown.
Nibaten moves away from the strike by Zod.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zod defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nibaten.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nibaten looks to clinch

and Zod counters by moving into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Nibaten - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zod can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nibaten tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arnold Nibaten. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Still in the clinch, Nibaten scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zod fails to pull guard.
Nibaten dodges an elbow strike from Zod.
Nibaten is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zod pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nibaten lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zod backwards.
Nibaten fails to pull guard.
Nibaten drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nibaten prevents the takedown attempt.

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.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zod.

Nibaten pulls Zod into guard.
Zod wants to stand but Nibaten is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nibaten 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.
Zod wants to stand but Nibaten has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nibaten has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zod can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nibaten is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nibaten changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zod tries to avoid it but Nibaten manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zod to the ground. Zod escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zod misses with a few strikes there.
Zod leaves Nibaten with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four 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.
Zod tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nibaten sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zod somewhat.
Zod wants to clinch.
Morbius Zod has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zod misses with a combination

and Nibaten counters with a single leg into guard. Zod didn't expect that.

Zod had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nibaten defends it easily.
Nibaten missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arnold Nibaten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nibaten, 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arnold Nibaten!