PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Birk Zeraka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dreiko Lao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zeraka comes to the cage accompanied by Most Wanted Cowboy. Lao has chosen Drowning Pool - Let The Bodies Hit The Floor as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Zeraka
vs
Lao

193 cm
18
270 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

187 cm
28
212 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Springfield HW Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Birk Zeraka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dreiko Lao!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zeraka is looking to clinch.
Lao looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Zeraka blocks the body kick.
Zeraka moves to clinch but Lao breaks away
and Lao counters with a body kick.
Zeraka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zeraka throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Zeraka tries for a takedown but Lao sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lao throws a series of punches but Zeraka avoids them all with ease.

Zeraka shoots in and gets a takedown into Lao's guard.
Zeraka landing with the ground and pound.
Zeraka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zeraka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zeraka content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lao being controlled here, momentarily.
Lao is looking to stand up but Zeraka isn't so interested in that idea.
Zeraka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zeraka throwing strikes from guard but Lao blocks nicely.
Zeraka landing with the ground and pound.
Lao working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zeraka.

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.
Zeraka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zeraka throws a big right hand that misses.
Zeraka knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lao on the ground.
Zeraka won't allow Lao to get back to his feet.
Lao avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zeraka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zeraka tries to free his leg and advance position but Lao is retaining full guard.
Zeraka throws and elbow that misses. Lao uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zeraka's guard. Nice move by Lao!
Zeraka wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zeraka is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Birk Zeraka has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Lao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dreiko Lao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zeraka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zeraka will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Zeraka fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four 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.
Zeraka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lao paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zeraka has his takedown stuffed
and Lao counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Lao throws a series of punches but Zeraka moves out of range.
Zeraka tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lao counters with a nice body kick.

Zeraka pushes Lao up against the cage in a clinch.
Lao prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Birk Zeraka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lao wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zeraka can't get the takedown.

Lao breaks from the clinch.
Lao throws a body kick that misses.
Lao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zeraka tries for a takedown but Lao circles away easily
and Lao counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zeraka's knee momentarily.
Zeraka takes a swing at Lao's ribcage but misses.
Zeraka shoots in looking for a takedown but Lao manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zeraka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lao feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zeraka's calf.
Nice sprawl there from Lao as Zeraka shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Birk Zeraka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zeraka has his takedown stuffed
and Lao counters with a good, hard body kick but Zeraka shrugs it off.
Zeraka shoots and misses
and Lao counters with a stiff right hand.
Zeraka misses with a combination
and Lao counters with a good low kick that Zeraka was not able to check.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lao lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Zeraka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lao manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zeraka tries to clinch
and Lao counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zeraka misses with a takedown attempt
and Lao counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lao cracks a nice hook into Zeraka's ribs.
Zeraka tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Lao counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zeraka wants to clinch but Lao slips to the side
and Lao counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lao goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Zeraka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zeraka throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lao counters with a nice body kick.
Birk Zeraka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zeraka fails with the takedown
and Lao counters with a nice kick to the body.
Zeraka misses with a takedown
and Lao counters with a two punch combo.

Zeraka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Lao!
Lao in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zeraka throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Lao because Zeraka loaded up on that one.
Zeraka throws some wild stikes that Lao manages to avoid easily.
Zeraka putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Lao is trying to stand.
Poor strikes thrown by Zeraka there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Zeraka unloads with some shots from mount but Lao bucks and avoids them well.
Lao in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Lao somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Lao throws a right hand that Zeraka ducks under and follows up with a left that Zeraka also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao throws a head kick but Zeraka moves out of range.
Zeraka darts in trying to clinch
and Lao counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lao.
Birk Zeraka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lao looks to land a combination but Zeraka avoids it well.
Zeraka tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lao sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zeraka somewhat.

Zeraka changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lao looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Zeraka creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lao sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Zeraka working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeraka throwing strikes but Lao manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lao tries to move into full mount but can't pass Zeraka's legs.
Zeraka is trying to improve his position.

Lao decides to take the fight back to the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dreiko Lao will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Lao lands with a straight right. Zeraka didn't see that one coming.
Zeraka closes the distance and clinches up with Lao, looking for a takedown. Zeraka pushes Lao against the cage but Lao circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Zeraka shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lao is trying to defend but Zeraka finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Zeraka sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lao defending well though.
Zeraka looks to land a strike but Lao avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Zeraka throws and elbow that misses. Lao uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zeraka's guard. Nice move by Lao!

Lao stands up from Zeraka's guard - Lao perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeraka has his takedown stuffed
and Lao counters with a left and a right that stings Zeraka.
Zeraka darts in trying to clinch
and Lao counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zeraka throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lao counters with a low kick, right behind Zeraka 's knee.
Lao throws a sloppy head kick and Zeraka moves out of range easily.
Zeraka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lao makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Birk Zeraka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lao throws a head kick but Zeraka moves out of range.
Zeraka looks to clinch
and Lao counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zeraka fails with the takedown
and Lao counters with a head kick. That will keep Zeraka thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

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.

Zeraka closes the distance and clinches.
Zeraka tries to score a body lock takedown but Lao shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Zeraka is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Zeraka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lao will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zeraka tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lao counters with a straight right hand.
Zeraka has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lao.
Lao throws a nice head kick!
Zeraka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zeraka swinging wildly here.
Zeraka moves to clinch but Lao breaks away
and Lao counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zeraka misses with a takedown attempt
and Lao makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Zeraka really felt that one!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeraka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lao counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Lao lands with a thumping leg kick.

Zeraka drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zeraka wants to pass the guard but Lao is keeping the position.
Zeraka is looking to work some ground and pound but Lao has wrist control.
Zeraka throws and elbow that misses. Lao uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zeraka's guard. Nice move by Lao!

Lao gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeraka looks to clinch
and Lao counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Zeraka is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Lao throws the kick towards the body but Zeraka avoids it.
Zeraka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lao counters with a solid body kick.
Zeraka misses with a takedown attempt
and Lao counters with a head kick. That will keep Zeraka thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Zeraka wants to clinch
and Lao counters with a nice leg kick.

Zeraka pushes Lao up against the cage in a clinch.
Lao is pressed up against the cage. Zeraka has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lao down to the mat. Lao avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lao scores with a leg kick.
Zeraka is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Zeraka misses with a takedown
and Lao counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zeraka closes the distance but Lao moves to the side
and Lao counters with a body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dreiko Lao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lao 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Dreiko Lao!