PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tam Zeus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zibbe Ribbler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ribbler has chosen Fear of the dark as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Zibbe Ribbler enters the cage!

Zeus
vs
Ribbler

178 cm
20
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
184 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Bloodbath Fighting Clothes

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tam Zeus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zibbe Ribbler!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zeus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ribbler.

Zeus closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Ribbler manages to pull guard.
Zeus preventing the sweep.
Zeus is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Zeus wants to control from the top but Ribbler keeps moving.
Zeus controlling from the top position.
Ribbler is trying to keep Zeus in close.

Tam Zeus has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Ribbler shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribbler wants to control but Zeus is keeping him busy.
Zeus is looking to improve his position.
Zeus is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ribbler is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zeus defends it well.

Ribbler is working for a kimura but Zeus is defending it quite comfortably.
Ribbler tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zeus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

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.
Ribbler passes to full mount!
Zeus can't escape the position.
Zeus wants to hold on but Ribbler pushes him away.
Ribbler wants to control the pace but Zeus is squirming around nicely.
Zeus regains half guard.
Zeus is looking to control Ribbler's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zeus avoid being mounted?
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zeus preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Zeus is looking for a sweep. Ribbler is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ribbler wants to pass to mount but Zeus is defending the position.
Zeus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ribbler is working away from the top position though.

Ribbler is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ribbler trying to control from half guard but Zeus is working away.

Ribbler is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zeus is pressing down on Ribbler's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zeus pulls Ribbler in close to prevent any damage.
Zeus has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Zeus looking to control.
Ribbler looking to pass the guard.

Zeus has his foot on Ribbler's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ribbler works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zeus keeping full guard, as Ribbler tries to pass.
Ribbler pushing down on Zeus's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zibbe Ribbler dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ribbler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zeus moves away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ribbler.
Ribbler working away.
Zeus manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ribbler's best efforts.
Zeus is trying to maintain the position but Ribbler is very close to passing his half guard.

Ribbler is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zeus defends it well.
Zeus is not content to let Ribbler control the position.
Zeus tries to get to full guard but Ribbler has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribbler trying to control the pace.
Ribbler's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Ribbler is thwarting Zeus's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zeus manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Zeus keeping full guard, as Ribbler tries to pass.
Ribbler trying to control the position from guard on top but Zeus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Ribbler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zeus has control of Ribbler's left arm, preventing Ribbler from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zibbe Ribbler was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Ribbler looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zeus is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Zeus looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ribbler trying to control but Zeus is working from the bottom.
Zeus has his hands on Ribbler's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribbler wants to control from the top but Zeus keeps moving.

Zibbe Ribbler has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Ribbler shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zeus napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Zeus tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Ribbler thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ribbler is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ribbler is looking to take a break and control but Zeus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ribbler working away.
Zeus manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Zeus is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zeus wants to control but Ribbler is keeping busy.
Ribbler tries to pass to full mount but Zeus defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zibbe Ribbler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Ribbler. Zeus does a little dance to reset his feet.

Ribbler fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zeus sprawls well initially but Ribbler persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Zeus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zeus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ribbler is working away from the top position though.
Zibbe Ribbler has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ribbler wants to work for an arm triangle but Zeus is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zeus trying to control but Ribbler postures up.
Zeus tries to roll over but Ribbler keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ribbler is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Zeus trying to hold on to Ribbler's head to control him but Ribbler postures up.
Ribbler wants to take a breather but Zeus is having none of it.
Zeus works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ribbler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zeus keeping moving, preventing Ribbler from controlling successfully.
Ribbler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Zeus looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Zeus is looking for a triangle but Ribbler pushes his legs off easily.
Tam Zeus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Ribbler passes into half guard.
Ribbler looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ribbler wants to control but Zeus is keeping him busy.
Zeus is looking to control Ribbler's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zeus avoid being mounted?
Zeus moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribbler trying to control the position from guard on top but Zeus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zeus is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ribbler is aware though and is defending well.
Ribbler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zeus is keeping the position for now.
Zeus pulls Ribbler in to control the position.
Zeus not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zeus keeping full guard, as Ribbler tries to pass.

Ribbler 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.
Zeus keeping full guard, as Ribbler tries to pass.

That's four 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.
Zeus not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ribbler trying to control the position from guard on top but Zeus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zeus looking to control.

Zeus is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ribbler is aware though and is defending well.

Zeus has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ribbler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zeus throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Zibbe Ribbler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ribbler trying to control but Zeus is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zibbe Ribbler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ribbler 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zibbe Ribbler!