PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zeburdiah Zappatista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Kane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kane comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Gang of Four - I love a Man in Uniform kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Tommy Kane is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Zappatista
vs
Kane

188 cm
23
198 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

190 cm
26
196 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

5th Round

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zeburdiah Zappatista!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Kane!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kane throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Zappatista tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kane is in Zappatista's guard.
Kane preventing the sweep.
Kane trying to control the position from guard on top but Zappatista is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kane trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kane throws a big right hand that misses.

Kane postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zappatista is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kane, into his guard.
Zappatista landing with the ground and pound.
Kane preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zappatista is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Zappatista tries to free his leg and advance position but Kane is retaining full guard.
Kane wants to sweep here but Zappatista controlling him for the moment.
Zappatista loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zappatista looking to sit in guard and control but Kane gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zappatista swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Zappatista has his foot on Kane's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kane works his way back into a safe position though.
Kane postures up in Zappatista's guard and throws a big left but Zappatista blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kane trying to control the position from guard on top but Zappatista is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kane preventing the sweep.
Kane postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zappatista keeping moving, preventing Kane from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kane's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane trying to control but Zappatista is working from the bottom.

Tommy Kane has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Zappatista scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kane has a takedown stuffed.
A big left from Kane misses.
Zappatista thumps Kane with a low kick.
Zappatista tries to clinch up but Kane circles away and keeps his distance.
A jab from Kane misses.
Zappatista throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zappatista tried to score with a low kick but Kane checks it.
Zappatista looks to score with a jab to the body but Kane is just out of range.
Kane lands a two punch combo.
Zappatista misses with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zappatista buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kane takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Zappatista slips a jab from Kane.
Kane jabs at Zappatista's body.
Kane moves out of range as Zappatista throws a body kick.
Good work by Kane as he checks the leg kick.
Kane throws a sloppy body shot
and Zappatista counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kane's knee momentarily.
Kane stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zappatista.
Kane thows a leg kick but Zappatista checks it
and Zappatista counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kane ducks under a wild hook from Zappatista.
Kane dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zappatista is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zappatista takes one to the chin there.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kane has his takedown stuffed
and Zappatista counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kane chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kane misses with a few strikes there.
Kane connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zappatista momentarily.
Kane with a poor takedown
and Zappatista counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zeburdiah Zappatista has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Kane.
Kane takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zappatista looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kane throws a head kick but Zappatista moves out of range.

Kane closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kane looks gassed!
Zappatista wants to improve his position but Kane is controlling well.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Zappatista actively working from the bottom here.
Zappatista gets back to full guard.
Kane wants to control from the top but Zappatista keeps moving.
Kane seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Zappatista has his foot on Kane's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kane works his way back into a safe position though.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Zappatista looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kane is one step ahead there.
Kane advances position into side control!
Zappatista tries to bench press Kane off him but Kane keeps the position.
Zappatista manages to get back to half guard.
Kane wants to take a breather but Zappatista is having none of it.
Zappatista tries to get to full guard but Kane has control of the leg.
Kane is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kane trying to control the action but Zappatista is working from the bottom.
Zappatista gets back to full guard.
Kane stands and throws Zappatista's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kane wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zappatista keeps working.

Kane goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Zappatista has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kane but great work by Zappatista.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Zappatista in side control, throwing shots but Kane defends.
Kane tries to bench press Zappatista off him but Zappatista keeps the position.
Kane is trying to control Zappatista's posture but Zappatista avoids it.
Zappatista scores with punches from side control.
The ground and pound from Zappatista seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Zappatista tries to move to mount but Kane blocks the move with his legs.
Kane tries to buck Zappatista off but Zappatista is having none of it.
Sloppy strikes there by Zappatista.
Kane is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tommy Kane will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zappatista slips a straight right by Kane.
Kane moves out of range of the leg kick from Zappatista.
Kane misses with a takedown attempt
and Zappatista counters with an outside leg kick.
No joy there for Kane, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zappatista fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zappatista takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kane throws out a loose jab but Zappatista uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zappatista has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Zappatista walks into a straight right hand from Kane.
Zappatista moves out of range as Kane strikes.
Kane misses with a hook to the body
and Zappatista counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kane with a poor takedown
and Zappatista counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kane's knee momentarily.
Kane is breathing heavily.
Zappatista throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Zappatista shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kane's guard.
Zappatista is pushing down on Kane's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kane is fighting to maintain full guard but Zappatista has managed to sneak the leg through.
Zappatista thows a huge punch but Kane dodges it nicely.
Zappatista passes to side control.
Zappatista is chipping away with strikes.
Zappatista lands a nice forearm strike.
Zappatista working the ground and pound.
Zappatista scoring with punches from side control.
Kane taking a bit of punishment here - Zappatista scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zappatista in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Zappatista misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Zappatista trying to control the position but Kane is working away.
Zappatista working the body and head with strikes.
Kane tries to improve position but can't.
Zappatista working away.
Zappatista trying to control the action but Kane is working from the bottom.
Zappatista has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kane tries to get back to half guard but can't.
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!
Kane taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zappatista lands an elbow.
I wouldn't like to be where Kane is right now.
Zappatista misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Zappatista throws an elbow but Kane slips to the side and avoids it well.
Zappatista throws a strike aimed at the side of Kane's head but Kane avoids it well.
Zappatista prevents Kane from escaping the position.
Kane tries to buck Zappatista off but Zappatista is having none of it.
Kane takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Zappatista throws an elbow but Kane slips to the side and avoids it well.
Zappatista laying and praying for a moment but Kane takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zappatista thows a huge punch but Kane dodges it nicely.
Nice strikes from Zappatista there.
Zappatista is trying to control the action in half guard but Kane is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kane taking some punishment here, with Zappatista in his half guard.
Kane is staying active underneath Zappatista, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kane is trying to get back to full guard.
Kane moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Zappatista throwing strikes from guard but Kane blocks nicely.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zappatista accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zappatista working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kane keeping moving, preventing Zappatista from controlling successfully.
Kane is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kane had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zappatista defends it 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.
Zappatista with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kane is trying to keep Zappatista in close.
Zappatista wants to control from the top but Kane keeps moving.
Kane preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kane is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Zappatista dives into side control.
Zappatista advances to full mount.
Zappatista lands a big elbow.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Zappatista raining down hammerfists from mount.
Kane manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Zappatista missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kane is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zappatista scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kane is trying to maintain the position but Zappatista is very close to passing his half guard.
Zappatista throwing shots but Kane is blocking nicely.
Kane keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kane is refusing to be controlled, as Zappatista sits in half guard.
Zappatista not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Zappatista content to control rather than advance.
Kane wants to control but Zappatista is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kane wants to improve his position but Zappatista is controlling well.
Zappatista working Kane over with strikes.

Kane actively working from the bottom here.
Zappatista throwing shots but Kane is blocking nicely.
Zappatista wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kane keeps working.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kane wants to control but Zappatista is keeping busy.
Zappatista lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Zappatista working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kane is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zappatista scores with a couple of nice shots.
Zappatista throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zappatista slips a nice elbow through Kane's hands, connecting with Kane's forehead.
Zappatista working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kane makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kane.
Zappatista chips away with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zeburdiah Zappatista showed his dominance in that final round.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Zeburdiah Zappatista!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Zeburdiah Zappatista!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Zeburdiah Zappatista!

Zeburdiah Zappatista wins by unanimous decision!