PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Laurent Tsadyleba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roronoa Zoro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roronoa Zoro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tsadyleba
vs
Zoro

179 cm
22
158 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

185 cm
21
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Laurent Tsadyleba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roronoa Zoro!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tsadyleba.

Zoro shoots in and gets a takedown into Tsadyleba's guard.
Tsadyleba is looking to stand up but Zoro isn't so interested in that idea.

Zoro thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Zoro wants to control from the top but Tsadyleba keeps moving.
Zoro with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zoro trying to control but Tsadyleba is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Zoro is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Zoro in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zoro trying to control the position from guard on top but Tsadyleba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zoro slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zoro drops back looking for a leg! Tsadyleba is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tsadyleba manages to kick Zoro off! Zoro jumps back into Tsadyleba's guard.
Zoro trying to control but Tsadyleba is working from the bottom.
Tsadyleba is breathing heavily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Tsadyleba being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Roronoa Zoro wasn't active enough on the ground.
Zoro throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tsadyleba doesn't manage to clinch there - Zoro circles away.

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.
Zoro tries for a takedown but Tsadyleba circles away easily

and Tsadyleba counters with a single leg into guard. Zoro didn't expect that.
Zoro trying to control the position.
Zoro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tsadyleba.
Zoro has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Zoro wants to sweep here but Tsadyleba controlling him for the moment.
Zoro is trying to control the position but Tsadyleba postures up.
Zoro controlling Tsadyleba's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Roronoa Zoro.
Zoro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsadyleba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tsadyleba slips a jab from Zoro.
Tsadyleba stuffs the takedown.
Tsadyleba displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zoro.
Laurent Tsadyleba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roronoa Zoro.
Zoro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tsadyleba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tsadyleba scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zoro will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Tsadyleba tries to sprawl but Zoro drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Zoro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tsadyleba keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoro sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tsadyleba defending well though.
Zoro trying to control from half guard but Tsadyleba is working away.

Zoro decides to return to a standing position.
Zoro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zoro shoots in but Tsadyleba avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zoro.
Nice sprawl there from Tsadyleba as Zoro shoots in.
Zoro misses with a two punch combination.
Tsadyleba shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zoro but Zoro pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Zoro closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Zoro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zoro fails with the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zoro is defended easily by Tsadyleba.
Tsadyleba keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zoro throws a low kick but Tsadyleba moves out of range easily.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zoro changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tsadyleba tries to avoid it but Zoro manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tsadyleba to the ground. Tsadyleba escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Zoro takes the fight into the clinch.
Tsadyleba prevents the takedown attempt.

Zoro jumps guard and drags Tsadyleba to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Zoro lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Zoro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tsadyleba is one step ahead there.
Zoro working a defensive guard here.
Zoro keeping moving, preventing Tsadyleba from controlling successfully.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zoro trying to strike off his back.
Zoro seems keen to control Tsadyleba's posture.

We're going to have a standup here because Laurent Tsadyleba wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Zoro fails with a takedown attempt.

Zoro drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Zoro tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tsadyleba is letting Zoro control him for a moment.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Zoro has hold of Tsadyleba's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Tsadyleba seems comfortable defending it but Zoro has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Tsadyleba is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Tsadyleba is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Zoro couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:13 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Roronoa Zoro!