PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paul Lincoln (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Zuko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lincoln
vs
Zuko

165 cm
23
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Lincoln!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Danny Zuko!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lincoln scores with a head kick.

Zuko moves into the clinch successfully.

Lincoln breaks the clinch.
Lincoln feints a jab promting Zuko to slip. Lincoln then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Zuko slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Danny Zuko has been cut.
Zuko fails with the takedown
and Lincoln counters with a nice body shot.
Lincoln lands a head kick. Zuko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Zuko takes the fight into the clinch.
Zuko goes for a takedown attempt but Lincoln pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Lincoln has closed the distance and engaged Zuko in a clinch.
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!

Lincoln breaks the clinch.
Zuko tries for a takedown but Lincoln circles away easily

and Lincoln counters by moving into the clinch.
Paul Lincoln has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Zuko.
Zuko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lincoln walks away with a smile on his face. Zuko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Paul Lincoln is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuko has his takedown stuffed
and Lincoln counters with a three punch combo that has Zuko backing up. Zuko nods at Lincoln to acknowledge the strikes.
Lincoln throws a series of strikes that have Zuko backpedaling.

Zuko clinches with his opponent.
Zuko is working for takedown but Lincoln is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lincoln is trying to stall.
Lincoln working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Zuko is trying to pull guard but Lincoln turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Zuko tries for a takedown but Lincoln manages to get underhooks.

Lincoln's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Danny Zuko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zuko tries for a takedown but Lincoln circles away easily
and Lincoln counters with a solid body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Lincoln scores with a four punch combination!
A cross from Lincoln lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lincoln has managed to clinch.

Lincoln breaks the clinch.
Lincoln slips a jab and a cross from Zuko.

Lincoln has Zuko up against the cage in a clinch.
Zuko fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lincoln gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zuko.
Lincoln blocks an uppercut.

Lincoln's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Lincoln gets tackled into the cage by Zuko. Zuko maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lincoln pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lincoln misses with a head kick.

Lincoln has managed to clinch.

Lincoln's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Lincoln tries to keep at a distance but Zuko has taken the fight into the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Lincoln.

Zuko successfully pulls guard.

Zuko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zuko looking for a sweep. Not yet Zuko, not yet.
Zuko controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zuko working for a triangle but Lincoln defends it easily.
Lincoln has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Zuko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lincoln doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lincoln manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Zuko working for a triangle but Lincoln defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zuko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Lincoln dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Danny Zuko's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lincoln gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Lincoln breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zuko dodges the punch combination from Lincoln.
Zuko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lincoln counters with a one-two to the body.
Zuko fails with the takedown
and Lincoln counters with a stiff right hand.
Zuko tries for a takedown but Lincoln circles away easily
and Lincoln counters with a series of strikes. Zuko will be more careful next time no doubt.
Paul Lincoln has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Zuko.

Lincoln pushes Zuko up against the cage in a clinch.

Lincoln breaks the clinch.

Zuko closes the distance and pushes Lincoln back into the cage.
Zuko fails to pull guard.
Lincoln lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zuko or not.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lincoln pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Zuko rushes Lincoln and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Lincoln pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zuko throws a poor cross that misses

and Lincoln counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lincoln.
Zuko tries to pull guard but Lincoln won't allow it.

Lincoln breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Lincoln pushes Zuko up against the cage in a clinch.

Lincoln pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lincoln scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Lincoln stuffs the takedown.
Zuko tries for a takedown but Lincoln circles away easily
and Lincoln counters with a stiff right hand.
Lincoln lands a high kick!

Zuko tries to keep at a distance but Lincoln has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lincoln is pressed up against the cage. Zuko has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lincoln down to the mat. Lincoln avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lincoln connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zuko. Zuko circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Zuko with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lincoln counters with a two punch combo.
Zuko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lincoln counters with an outside leg kick.
Zuko misses with a takedown
and Lincoln counters with a stiff right hand.
Zuko fails with the takedown
and Lincoln counters with a head kick.
Zuko is breathing heavily.
Zuko with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lincoln counters with a big head kick but Zuko shrugs it off.

Zuko moves into the clinch successfully.

Lincoln escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lincoln pushes Zuko up against the cage in a clinch.
Zuko wants a takedown but no success here.
Zuko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zuko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lincoln walks away with a smile on his face. Zuko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zuko tries for a takedown but Lincoln circles away easily
and Lincoln counters with a stiff right hand.
Zuko takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Lincoln lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lincoln.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zuko is defended easily by Lincoln.
Zuko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Lincoln is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lincoln smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Lincoln scores with a one two! Zuko had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nice body punch from Lincoln.
Lincoln misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zuko is defended easily by Lincoln.
Zuko fails to land the takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lincoln keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zuko.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lincoln moves into the clinch.
Zuko goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lincoln prevents it.
Zuko is trying to pull guard but Lincoln turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Lincoln dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Danny Zuko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lincoln misses with a few strikes there.
Paul Lincoln is winning the standup battle so far.
Lincoln pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Zuko back to the cage. Lincoln follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Zuko fails with the takedown
letting Lincoln counter with a right hand.
Lincoln works over Zuko's head and body with a nice combination.
Zuko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lincoln counters with a head kick.
Zuko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lincoln counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Paul Lincoln has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Zuko.
Zuko has his takedown stuffed
and Lincoln cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Lincoln gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zuko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lincoln is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuko tries to pull guard but Lincoln holds him up against the cage and eventually Zuko drops back down to his feet.
Zuko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lincoln stops a takedown attempt from Zuko.

Zuko pulls Lincoln into guard.
Zuko has a closed guard, preventing Lincoln from standing up.
Lincoln postures up.
Zuko has a closed guard, preventing Lincoln from standing up.
Lincoln is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Zuko trying to keep a closed guard but Lincoln is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Zuko clinches up with Lincoln and pushes him back against the cage.
Lincoln gets underhooks to prevent Zuko's takedown attempt.

Lincoln breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Lincoln darts in and clinches Zuko up against the cage.
Zuko has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Zuko goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lincoln prevents it.
Lincoln presses Zuko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Zuko is trying to drag Lincoln to the mat but Lincoln just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zuko jumps into guard, dragging Lincoln to the mat.
Lincoln postures up.
Zuko is trying to hold Lincoln in close to prevent damage but Lincoln has managed to pass into half guard.
Zuko is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lincoln performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuko wants to improve his position but Lincoln is controlling well.
Zuko is controlling Lincoln's trapped leg to prevent Lincoln from advancing to side control.
Lincoln seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Danny Zuko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lincoln is trying to control the action in half guard but Zuko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Paul Lincoln just wasn't active enough.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zuko.

Zuko moves into range and clinches up with Lincoln.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paul Lincoln.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lincoln, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Lincoln!