PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Spencer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jordan Zodiac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Jordan Zodiac was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Spencer
vs
Zodiac

190 cm
26
215 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

189 cm
20
210 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Spencer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jordan Zodiac!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Colin Fotheringham and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spencer throws a head kick that misses.
Zodiac takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Spencer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zodiac moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Michael Spencer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zodiac fails with a takedown attempt.
Spencer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Zodiac feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Zodiac lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Spencer wants to stand and escape but Zodiac is having none of it.
Spencer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zodiac.
Zodiac with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zodiac trying to control the position from guard on top but Spencer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spencer is looking for a triangle but Zodiac pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spencer wants to stand up but Zodiac is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zodiac accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zodiac pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spencer is keeping the position for now.
Zodiac in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zodiac throws a big right hand that misses.
Zodiac is looking to work some ground and pound but Spencer has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zodiac drops back looking for a leg! Spencer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Spencer manages to kick Zodiac off! Zodiac jumps back into Spencer's guard.

Zodiac drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zodiac jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two 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.
Zodiac trying to control the position from guard on top but Spencer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zodiac throws and elbow that misses. Spencer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zodiac's guard. Nice move by Spencer!

Zodiac scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Spencer misses with a kick to the body.
Zodiac showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Spencer.

Zodiac shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Spencer's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zodiac tries to free his leg and advance position but Spencer is retaining full guard.
Spencer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Spencer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Spencer keeping moving, preventing Zodiac from controlling successfully.

Zodiac has gone for a leg lock! Spencer slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zodiac's guard.
Zodiac keeping full guard, as Spencer tries to pass.
Spencer wants to get up but he can't break Zodiac's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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.
Zodiac wants to stand and escape but Spencer is having none of it.
Spencer slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Spencer decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Spencer is breathing heavily.
Spencer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Spencer throws a jab but it's blocked by Zodiac.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan Zodiac dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zodiac fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Spencer avoids it really well and circles away.
Spencer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Spencer lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zodiac circles away quickly and effectively.
Spencer wants to clinch up but Zodiac keeps it at a distance.
Spencer pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spencer throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Spencer tries to close the distance and clinch but Zodiac swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Spencer keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zodiac shoots in for a takedown but Spencer shows good takedown defense.
Michael Spencer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jordan Zodiac.
A chopping leg kick lands by Spencer.
Zodiac blocks a head kick by Spencer.
Spencer keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Spencer scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zodiac regains half guard, as Spencer was trying to land strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zodiac can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Spencer tries to pass to full mount but Zodiac defends it.
Zodiac manages to get to full guard.
Spencer stays in close to Zodiac's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zodiac has his feet on Spencer's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Zodiac scores with a takedown into Spencer's guard.
Zodiac throwing strikes from guard but Spencer blocks nicely.

Spencer is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Zodiac looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zodiac wants a takedown but no success here.
Spencer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Spencer drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zodiac pulls his leg out and moves away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Spencer misses with a leg kick.
Spencer tries a head kick but it misses.
Zodiac shoots and misses
and Spencer counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Zodiac is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Spencer shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Zodiac pushes Spencer off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Spencer 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!

Spencer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Spencer wants it to stay on the feet.
Spencer throws a sloppy head kick and Zodiac moves out of range easily.
Spencer wants to clinch up but Zodiac keeps it at a distance.

Spencer gets caught flat footed, as Zodiac shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zodiac stands and throws Spencer's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zodiac goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Spencer rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Zodiac's guard! Nice work there by Spencer!
Zodiac has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Spencer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zodiac works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spencer trying to control the position from guard on top but Zodiac is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zodiac is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Zodiac has Spencer pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Spencer manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Spencer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zodiac can't get the takedown.
Michael Spencer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jordan Zodiac.

Zodiac is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Spencer can't fight it off and eventually Zodiac manages to take the fight to the floor. Spencer looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Spencer can't keep his opponent in guard - Zodiac advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zodiac wants to lay and pray for a moment but Spencer keeps working.
Spencer wants to improve his position but Zodiac is controlling well.
Zodiac is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zodiac thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Spencer's head.
Spencer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zodiac.
Zodiac slips a nice elbow through Spencer's hands, connecting with Spencer's forehead.
Spencer has hold of Zodiac's hands but Zodiac slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Zodiac moves into full mount! Spencer won't be happy about that!
Jordan Zodiac has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zodiac scoring with strikes but Spencer is staying in there.
Zodiac lands with some strikes.
Zodiac is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Spencer can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Zodiac can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Spencer is looking to escape.
Spencer is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Zodiac controlling his opponent.
Zodiac with shots to the head and body - Spencer looks very uncomfortable down there.
Zodiac is landing with some decent strikes but Spencer is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Zodiac lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zodiac avoids the attempt from Spencer to control.
Zodiac pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Spencer taking shots to the head.
Zodiac working Spencer over with strikes here.
BOOM! Zodiac connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Zodiac dominating with strikes here.
Zodiac raining down shots from the mount!
Spencer taking shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spencer is in a horrible position here. Zodiac smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zodiac working away from the top, dropping strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jordan Zodiac comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zodiac 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jordan Zodiac!