PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Charles Soprano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emmanuel Felix Zakora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Charles Soprano has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Charles Soprano seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Soprano
vs
Felix Zakora

178 cm
25
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
163 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Charles Soprano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Emmanuel Felix Zakora!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soprano keeps the fight on the outside.

Soprano gets a takedown into half guard.
Zakora is staying active underneath Soprano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Soprano throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Zakora to regain full guard.
Soprano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zakora works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Soprano wants to stand but Zakora has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Soprano sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Charles Soprano just wasn't active enough.

Soprano closes the distance and clinches.
Soprano has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zakora jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Soprano walks away with a smile on his face. Zakora gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Zakora gets caught napping as Soprano dives in and scores a takedown. Zakora manages to retain guard.
Soprano trying to control the position from guard on top but Zakora is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soprano controls from within his opponent's guard.
Soprano has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Charles Soprano wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Zakora tries to clinch up
and Soprano counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zakora tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soprano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zakora tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Soprano counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Soprano.
Zakora is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Soprano is keeping busy.
Zakora looking to throw knees to the head but Soprano is blocking nicely.

Soprano gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soprano tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Soprano stalling away here and it's allowed Zakora to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Soprano is looking to stand up but Zakora won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Soprano is looking to stand up but Zakora won't let him.
Soprano throws a big right hand that misses.

Zakora throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Soprano wanted to stand there but Zakora had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soprano with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Soprano misses with a head kick.
Soprano throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zakora on the side of the head.

It looks like Emmanuel Felix Zakora has been cut.

Soprano scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zakora sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Charles Soprano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Soprano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Soprano is stalling here. Zakora is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Soprano seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Zakora has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Zakora works to advance to full mount. Soprano defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Zakora controlling his opponent.
Zakora tries to control but Soprano wriggling away.
Zakora mounts Soprano! Really nice guard pass there!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zakora looking to secure an arm triangle but Soprano defends it well.
Soprano keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zakora lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Soprano hang on?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zakora throws some wild stikes that Soprano manages to avoid easily.
Soprano really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Soprano is working hard here to advance position.
Zakora looking to control and managing it successfully.
Zakora punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zakora looking for a guillotine from mount but Soprano is having none of it.
Zakora looking to control but Soprano is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Zakora looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Zakora has control of Soprano's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Soprano regains control of the situation pretty easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soprano is desperately trying to improve his position but Zakora has a good base and remains in mount.
Zakora trying to control but Soprano is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano tries to hold on but Zakora postures up.
Soprano taking shots to the head.
Zakora looking to ground and pound but Soprano is blocking nicely.
Soprano is looking to get to half guard.
Zakora fails to take his opponent's back.
Soprano is squirming around, avoiding Zakora's attempts to control the action.

Zakora has control of Soprano's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Soprano regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Soprano wants to control but Zakora is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zakora is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Soprano has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Soprano doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Soprano tries to hold on but Zakora postures up.
Soprano keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soprano tries to lock up and control but Zakora gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soprano tries to reverse the position but Zakora maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emmanuel Felix Zakora showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Emmanuel Felix Zakora's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Zakora tries to clinch but Soprano is having none of it.

Soprano moves into the clinch.
Soprano can't break the clinch.

Soprano pulls guard successfully.
Zakora stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soprano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zakora wants to control from the top but Soprano keeps moving.

Zakora drops back looking for a leg! Soprano is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Soprano manages to kick Zakora off! Zakora jumps back into Soprano's guard.
Soprano controls Zakora momentarily but Zakora frees himself.
Zakora preventing the sweep.
Soprano looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zakora trying to control but Soprano is working from the bottom.
Soprano looking to control.
Soprano controlling Zakora's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Charles Soprano wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Zakora closes the distance and clinches.
Zakora looking to throw knees to the head but Soprano is blocking nicely.
Zakora looking to stall.
Zakora comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Soprano is trying to push Zakora away but Zakora has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Soprano is trying to push Zakora away but Zakora has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Soprano manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zakora trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soprano is trying to keep Zakora in close.
Soprano keeping moving, preventing Zakora from controlling successfully.
Zakora stopping the sweep attempt from Soprano.
Zakora is looking to work some ground and pound but Soprano has wrist control.
Zakora forces his way into half guard.
Soprano is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Soprano trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zakora trying to control from half guard but Soprano is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zakora frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Zakora sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Zakora wants to take his opponent's back but Soprano doesn't allow it.
Soprano is working to get back to half guard.

Zakora is working for a guillotine from mount but Soprano frees his head quite easily.
Zakora wants to control the pace but Soprano is squirming around nicely.
Zakora looking to finish with strikes here!
Soprano tries to lock up and control but Zakora gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soprano is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Soprano is looking to get to half guard.
Zakora is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Soprano is in real trouble.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Soprano is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Zakora looking for the RNC.
Zakora is landing with strikes. Soprano can't take much more of this.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soprano trying to control but not successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emmanuel Felix Zakora comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zakora 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emmanuel Felix Zakora!