PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simo Hovari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramon Zapata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hovari
vs
Zapata

195 cm
21
267 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
18
276 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Simo Hovari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ramon Zapata!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hovari darts in trying to clinch

and Zapata moves into the clinch.
Hovari displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zapata up against the cage.
A short left from Hovari.
Zapata is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hovari missing with knees to the body.

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

Zapata gets a clinch.
Zapata working Hovari over with knees to the body.

Zapata's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zapata looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zapata with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zapata scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Zapata does no damage.
Hovari takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hovari throws a sloppy head kick and Zapata moves out of range easily.
Hovari looks to clinch
and Zapata counters with a nice leg kick.
Hovari is breathing heavily.
Zapata lands a nice hook to Hovari's body. Hovari takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zapata goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Simo Hovari has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zapata gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zapata tries to score a body lock takedown but Hovari shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Zapata manages to break the clinch.

Zapata lands a head kick that stumbles Hovari and the fighters go to the mat.
Hovari can't keep his opponent in guard - Zapata advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zapata works his way into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapata takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Zapata postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hovari looks a forlorn figure.

Zapata is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hovari can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Hovari tries to hold on but Zapata pushes him away.
Zapata controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Hovari is bucking up trying to escape but Zapata cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Zapata controlling his opponent.

Zapata is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hovari is surviving well by controlling Zapata's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hovari bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Zapata wants to sweep here but Hovari controlling him for the moment.
Zapata seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hovari could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Zapata working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hovari.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hovari wants to control from the top but Zapata keeps moving.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zapata looking for a sweep. Not yet Zapata, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramon Zapata dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Simo Hovari's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hovari on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A left and a right from Zapata both land. Nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hovari thows a leg kick but Zapata checks it
and Zapata counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hovari is looking to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Hovari.

Zapata darts in and clinches Hovari up against the cage.
Zapata stalls.
Zapata lands a shot to the body.
Hovari being controlled against the cage.
Zapata receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata pushes Hovari back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Zapata lands an elbow that stopped Hovari in his tracks for a moment.

Zapata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zapata works over Hovari's head and body with a nice combination.

Simo Hovari's cut is getting worse.

Zapata closes the distance and clinches.
Zapata lands an elbow inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Zapata lands a body shot in the clinch.

Zapata breaks the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zapata looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hovari is fending him off so far but Zapata persists. Nope, Hovari circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hovari walks into a jab.

Simo Hovari's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Zapata lands with a slapping head kick.
Zapata lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Ramon Zapata seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hovari fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Zapata takes the fight into the clinch.
Zapata taking a breather.
Hovari blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Zapata breaks the clinch.
Zapata has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zapata throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hovari on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Jeez, Simo Hovari's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Hovari takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Zapata scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hovari moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zapata dances in with a quick combination. Hovari is being worked over with jabs and crosses. Oooh, a right straight from Zapata snaps Hovari's head back. Hovari stumbles backwards against the cage. Zapata steps forward and delivers a right cross that connects with Hovari's jaw, simultaneously knocking him out and sending his mouthpiece into the crowd! There's a worthy souvenir for the fans. This one is over folks. Hovari just didn't come prepared.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Ramon Zapata!
During a confident post fight interview, Ramon Zapata thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.