PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Solomon Zook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Vronsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zook comes into the arena with God's Gonna Cut You Down blaring out of the sound system. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Zook
vs
Vronsky

177 cm
30
196 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

181 cm
25
200 lbs
11 - 7 - 2

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Crippler's Corner

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 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Solomon Zook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Vronsky!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Vronsky lands.
Vronsky lands a nice hook to Zook's body. Zook takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vronsky looks to score with a jab to the body but Zook is just out of range.
Zook slips a straight right by Vronsky.
Zook tries to clinch but Vronsky moves out of range.
Zook avoids the body shot from Vronsky.
Zook displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vronsky throws out the jab.
A punch combination from Vronsky misses.
Vronsky throws a hook but Zook blocks it.
Vronsky takes a swing at Zook's ribcage but misses.
Zook shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vronsky sprawls well. Vronsky wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zook gets slowly back to his feet.
Vronsky throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vronsky looks to land a left hand but Zook moved out of range nicely.
Zook shoots in and drives through. Vronsky sprawls well.
Zook defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vronsky.
Vronsky bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Zook's head.
Vronsky is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zook.
Michael Vronsky seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vronsky misses with a lunging right hand

and Zook counters with a head kick that drops Vronsky!
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!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Vronsky trying to control the position here.
Zook won't allow Vronsky to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zook won't allow Vronsky to get back to his feet.
Zook throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vronsky works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zook wants to stand but Vronsky is controlling his posture from full guard.
Vronsky is controlling Zook's posture.
Vronsky manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zook manages to get himself to full guard.
Vronsky is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zook wants to sweep here but Vronsky controlling him for the moment.
Vronsky content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Vronsky wants to control from the top but Zook keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vronsky missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zook is trying to keep Vronsky in close.
Zook working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vronsky.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zook wants to sweep but no luck.
Vronsky trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zook controls Vronsky momentarily but Vronsky frees himself.
Vronsky throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zook works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zook can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vronsky controls the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zook pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Vronsky throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zook sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Solomon Zook will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vronsky throws a jab when Zook was well out of range.
Zook avoids the body shot from Vronsky.
Vronsky misses with a straight left.
Vronsky throws a lazy right hand but Zook sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Vronsky, as that shot connected.
Vronsky looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zook throws a head kick that misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zook.
Vronsky throws a jab but it's blocked by Zook.
Solomon Zook is winning the standup battle so far.
Vronsky throws an overhand right that lands on Zook's shoulder, as Zook tries to avoid the shot.
Vronsky misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vronsky misses with a left hand

and Zook counters with a flying knee that drops Vronsky!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vronsky avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vronsky has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zook with a flurry of punches that miss.

Vronsky has his feet on Zook's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Vronsky fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zook manages to avoid it.
Zook fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Vronsky.
Vronsky looks to score with a jab to the body but Zook is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vronsky on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Vronsky uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Vronsky closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Vronsky is thwarting Zook's attempts to control the position.
Vronsky seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zook does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Vronsky throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Zook to regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zook pulls Vronsky in to control the position.
Vronsky is looking to work some ground and pound but Zook has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vronsky wants to control from the top but Zook keeps moving.
Vronsky preventing the sweep.
Zook wants to stand but Vronsky is controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vronsky scores with a sloppy right hand. Zook should have avoided that one.
Zook wants to clinch
and Vronsky counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zook pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zook slips a jab from Vronsky.
Zook uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vronsky.
Vronsky scores with a three punch combo!
Zook misses with a low kick.

Vronsky shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zook napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Vronsky creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Zook sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Zook struggling a bit here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Zook dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Vronsky scores with a decent looking hook.
Vronsky leaves Zook with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Vronsky as Zook shoots in.
Zook tries to clinch but Vronsky moves out of range.

Vronsky looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Vronsky looking to sit in guard and control but Zook gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Vronsky is pulling down on Zook's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zook prevents Vronsky from getting back to his feet.
Vronsky utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zook trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vronsky wants to stand up but Zook is controlling him.
Vronsky bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zook's guard.
Zook looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Zook can't keep his opponent in guard - Vronsky advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Michael Vronsky has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zook is controlling Vronsky's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Vronsky thows a huge punch but Zook dodges it nicely.
Vronsky not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Michael Vronsky has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vronsky missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vronsky not doing much here.
Vronsky is looking to take a break and control but Zook is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vronsky wants to pass the guard but Zook is defending well.
Solomon Zook is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zook is trying to maintain the position but Vronsky is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vronsky throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Zook to regain full guard.
Vronsky is looking to work some ground and pound but Zook has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zook wants to sweep here but Vronsky controlling him for the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zook holds on and takes a little breather.
Zook looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vronsky is one step ahead there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zook's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Vronsky connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zook scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vronsky keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

It looks like Solomon Zook has been cut.
Vronsky misses the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Vronsky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zook has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Solomon Zook!
Solomon Zook managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Milwaukee's Best 160, into his post fight interview.