PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jarno Highwayz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and El Mariachi Zidlicky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Highwayz
vs
Mariachi Zidlicky

174 cm
24
144 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

160 cm
21
141 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarno Highwayz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, El Mariachi Zidlicky!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Highwayz shoots in for a takedown but Zidlicky shows good takedown defense.
Zidlicky throws the kick towards the body but Highwayz avoids it.
Zidlicky connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Highwayz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zidlicky pinned against the cage. Zidlicky gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zidlicky scores with a kick to the body.
Zidlicky throws a series of punches but Highwayz avoids them all with ease.
Zidlicky fails to land with a series of punches.
Zidlicky swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Highwayz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zidlicky's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zidlicky holds on and takes a little breather.
Highwayz wants to stand but Zidlicky has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zidlicky looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Highwayz wants to control from the top but Zidlicky keeps moving.
Zidlicky is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
That kick from Zidlicky tenderised Highwayz's leg. Highwayz is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zidlicky throws a sloppy head kick and Highwayz moves out of range easily.
Zidlicky throws a head kick that misses.

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.
Zidlicky lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Highwayz circles away quickly and effectively.
Zidlicky tries a head kick but it misses.
Zidlicky lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Highwayz dodges the punch combination from Zidlicky.
Zidlicky throws a right hand that Highwayz ducks under and follows up with a left that Highwayz also avoids with ease.
Zidlicky throws an overhand right that lands on Highwayz's shoulder, as Highwayz tries to avoid the shot.
Zidlicky misses with a wild combination.
Highwayz slips a jab from Zidlicky.
A leg kick checked by Highwayz.
El Mariachi Zidlicky is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highwayz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zidlicky as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jarno Highwayz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zidlicky looks to land a combination but Highwayz avoids it well.
Highwayz walks into a left hand.
Highwayz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zidlicky sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Highwayz somewhat.
Zidlicky throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zidlicky will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Highwayz misses with a low kick.
Zidlicky plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Highwayz.
Highwayz takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Highwayz is breathing heavily.
Zidlicky throws a right and a left that Highwayz avoids nicely.
Highwayz has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Zidlicky scores with a head kick.
Some wild striking there from Zidlicky.
Zidlicky throws a series of punches but Highwayz moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zidlicky has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

El Mariachi Zidlicky dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Highwayz slips a jab and a cross from Zidlicky.
Zidlicky keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jarno Highwayz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zidlicky tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zidlicky swinging wildly here.
Sloppy strikes from Zidlicky. Those never looked like landing.
Zidlicky looks to throw a body kick

and Highwayz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Highwayz tries to pass to full mount but Zidlicky defends it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zidlicky manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zidlicky pulls Highwayz in close to his closed guard and prevents Highwayz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Highwayz trying to control the position from guard on top but Zidlicky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zidlicky looking to hit a scissor sweep but Highwayz is one step ahead there.
Highwayz wants to control from the top but Zidlicky keeps moving.

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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Highwayz 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.
Highwayz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jarno Highwayz.
Zidlicky looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zidlicky plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Zidlicky moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Zidlicky lands with a slapping head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zidlicky misses with a combination
and Highwayz counters with a three punch combo that has Zidlicky backing up. Zidlicky nods at Highwayz to acknowledge the strikes.
Zidlicky lands a nice leg kick that just misses Highwayz's sensitive parts.
Zidlicky jabs Highwayz right on the nose. Highwayz blinks but takes it well.
El Mariachi Zidlicky seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zidlicky scores with a push kick.
Zidlicky misses with a wild body shot.
Zidlicky misses with a combination

and Highwayz counters with a shoot takedown. Zidlicky fights it but they end up in guard.
Highwayz trying to control the position from guard on top but Zidlicky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Highwayz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zidlicky pulls Highwayz in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Highwayz won't allow Zidlicky to sweep him here.
Highwayz tries to free his leg and advance position but Zidlicky is retaining full guard.
Zidlicky has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. El Mariachi Zidlicky wasn't active enough on the ground.
Zidlicky fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zidlicky throws a sloppy head kick and Highwayz moves out of range easily.
Zidlicky throws a head kick that misses

and Highwayz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zidlicky's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zidlicky has control of Highwayz's left arm, preventing Highwayz from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarno Highwayz dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Zidlicky.
Highwayz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zidlicky.
Zidlicky swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Highwayz checks a leg kick.
Highwayz shoots in for a takedown but Zidlicky shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Highwayz fails with a takedown attempt.
Zidlicky feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Highwayz's calf.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Highwayz misses with a takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jarno Highwayz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Zidlicky.
Zidlicky fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Highwayz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zidlicky. Zidlicky obviously looking to wear him down.
Zidlicky throws a front kick that sends Highwayz stumbling back into the cage.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zidlicky!
Zidlicky throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Highwayz slips a jab and a cross from Zidlicky.
Zidlicky cracks Highwayz with an open hand slap.
Zidlicky looks to land a combination but Highwayz avoids it well.
A head kick misses from Zidlicky.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highwayz has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Zidlicky.
Zidlicky rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Highwayz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
El Mariachi Zidlicky seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zidlicky misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zidlicky throws a nice head kick!
Zidlicky lands with a nice body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zidlicky feints and then cracks Highwayz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Highwayz down.
Zidlicky misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zidlicky throws a jab but it's blocked by Highwayz.
Danga de danga de dang - Zidlicky scores with a four punch combination!
Zidlicky throws a series of punches but Highwayz moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zidlicky will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zidlicky throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zidlicky takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zidlicky throws a sloppy head kick

and Highwayz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Highwayz keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zidlicky is refusing to be controlled, as Highwayz sits in half guard.

Highwayz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Highwayz trying to control from half guard but Zidlicky is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Highwayz wants to pass the guard but Zidlicky is defending well.
Zidlicky trying to control here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
El Mariachi Zidlicky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zidlicky 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... El Mariachi Zidlicky!