PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Zone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolando Souto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zone comes to the cage accompanied by Pop The Trunk. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Zone
vs
Souto

190 cm
25
196 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

184 cm
25
188 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy Zone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rolando Souto!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zone scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Zone is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zone wants to stand up but Souto is controlling the position.
Zone tries to pass the half guard into mount. Souto knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souto trying to control from the bottom.
Souto tries to kick Zone off but Zone keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Souto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zone is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zone seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Souto does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Souto looking for submissions off his back.
Souto trying to hold on to Zone's head to control him but Zone postures up.
Zone thows a huge punch but Souto dodges it nicely.
Zone seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Souto slaps away a takedown attempt from Zone, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zone scores with a nice head shot.

That's two 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.

Souto closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Souto lands in his opponent's guard.

Zone is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Souto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zone swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zone not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Souto is stalling in the full guard.
Souto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Souto looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Souto stands up and beckons Zone to his feet.
Souto circles away from the clinch attempt

and Souto counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Zone is working an open guard so Souto takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Zone wants to clinch

and Souto counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souto postures up.

Souto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Souto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Souto wants to control from the top but Zone keeps moving.
Souto being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souto postures up.
Zone pulls Souto in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jimmy Zone wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Zone falls off balance throwing a combination

and Souto counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zone!

Souto looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Souto trying to control but Zone is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zone can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zone works Souto's body with a nice hook.
Souto shoots in and drives through. Zone sprawls well.
No joy there for Zone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zone attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Jimmy Zone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Souto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zone defends it nicely.
Souto circles away from the clinch attempt

and Souto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zone's guard.
Souto sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Zone is trying to keep Souto in close.

Souto drops back looking for a leg! Zone is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zone manages to kick Souto off! Souto jumps back into Zone's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zone looking for a guillotine here but Souto defends easily.
Souto trying to control but Zone is working from the bottom.

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

Zone throws his legs up looking for a submission but Souto uses it to pass to side control.

Souto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zone, who protects the arm well.

That's two 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.

Souto tries for a kimura but Zone is defending well.
Souto working away.

Souto decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Souto takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Souto stuffs the takedown attempt from Zone. Zone gets slowly back to his feet.
Zone throws a sloppy head kick and Souto moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souto misses with a takedown attempt - Zone sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jimmy Zone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rolando Souto.
Zone throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zone misses with a wild combination.

Souto shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Souto was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Souto stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Zone lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Souto scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Souto tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Zone is trying to control Souto's posture but Souto avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Souto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Zone is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Souto's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zone wants to control but Souto is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolando Souto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Zone's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Souto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zone is doing well to control the position and prevent Souto from advancing to side control.
Zone has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Souto is working away from the top position though.

Zone looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Souto content to control rather than advance.
Souto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zone knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souto is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zone trying to control from the bottom.
Souto is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Souto is looking for a kimura but Zone is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Souto to get the leverage.
Zone is trying to control but can't.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jimmy Zone.
Souto shoots in for a takedown but Zone shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Zone drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Souto wants to control but Zone postures up.
Rolando Souto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Souto is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Zone working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Zone scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zone wants to stand but Souto has his arm trapped.

Zone is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Souto has escaped the position, nice work there.

Zone thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Zone tries to move into full mount but can't pass Souto's legs.

Souto throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Souto looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zone is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Souto trying to control the position from guard on top but Zone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Souto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rolando Souto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Souto winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rolando Souto!