PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Len Orton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zak Zinfandel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Orton
vs
Zinfandel

173 cm
34
165 lbs
25 - 10 - 1

171 cm
35
168 lbs
19 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 25 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Len Orton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zak Zinfandel!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zinfandel fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Orton feints and then cracks Zinfandel's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zinfandel down.
Zinfandel scoring well with a low kick there.
Orton takes a swing at Zinfandel's ribcage but misses.

Orton feints and as Zinfandel raises his hands in defense, Orton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zinfandel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Orton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zinfandel wants to stand up but Orton is controlling him.
Orton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zinfandel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Orton wants to control from the top but Zinfandel keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Orton trying to control but Zinfandel is working from the bottom.
Zinfandel is controlling Orton's posture.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Orton misses with a body shot.
Zinfandel ducks under a wild hook from Orton.
Orton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zinfandel.
Orton throws out a loose jab but Zinfandel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Orton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zinfandel slips under a jab from Orton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orton waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zinfandel.
Orton throws out a leg kick but Zinfandel moves out of range and Orton only half commits.
Orton looks to score with a jab to the body but Zinfandel is just out of range.
Orton shoots in but Zinfandel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Orton throws a leg kick that misses.
Orton throws a nice looking combination but Zinfandel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Orton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zinfandel looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Orton checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Zinfandel stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Orton.
Zinfandel misses with a double jab.
Orton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zinfandel manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Zinfandel.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Orton.
Orton throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zinfandel counters with an inside leg kick.
Orton chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zinfandel can pounce on him.
Zinfandel looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Orton takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Orton jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zinfandel tried to score with a low kick but Orton checks it.
Zinfandel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Orton ducks under a wild hook from Zinfandel.
Zinfandel takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Orton misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Orton thuds his shin into the meat of Zinfandel's side.
Zinfandel blocks a jab.
Len Orton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Orton just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zinfandel lands a slapping body shot.
Zinfandel checks the leg kick nicely there.
Zinfandel lands with a shot to the body.
Orton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zinfandel.
Orton misses with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Orton throws a right hand that misses
and Zinfandel counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Orton is breathing heavily.
Orton just misses with a punch to the body.
Zinfandel misses with a head kick.
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 Len Orton will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Orton doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zinfandel lands an overhand right.
Zinfandel is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Orton rather than just go for the knockout.
A low kick from Orton is predictable there
and Zinfandel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Orton looks to land a right hand but Zinfandel moved out of range.
Zinfandel scores with a body shot.
Orton takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zinfandel checks a leg kick.
Orton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zinfandel throws a series of punches but Orton avoids them all with ease.
Zinfandel swings for the body but Orton moves out of range.
Zinfandel throws a hook but Orton blocks it.
Orton throws a head kick that misses.
Orton throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orton blocks a head kick by Zinfandel.
Orton takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Orton lands a jab to the nose.
Zinfandel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Orton rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Zinfandel counters with a body kick that stops Orton in his tracks momentarily.
Zinfandel misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zinfandel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Orton on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zinfandel. Zinfandel obviously looking to wear him down.
Orton with a jab.

Orton closes the distance and pushes Zinfandel back into the cage.
Zinfandel prevents a body shot from Orton.
Zinfandel tries for a takedown but Orton manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zinfandel manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Orton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zinfandel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Orton manages to get himself to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Orton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zinfandel wants to get up but he can't break Orton's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Orton wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Orton being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Orton throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zinfandel counters with a nice leg kick.
Orton misses with a low kick.
Zinfandel connects with a jab.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Orton lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Zinfandel has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Zinfandel and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Zinfandel misses with a few strikes there.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Zinfandel.
Orton steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zinfandel.
Zinfandel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Orton avoids the body shot from Zinfandel.
Zak Zinfandel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Orton's corner calls for a 1-2. Orton obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A shot to the liver by Orton. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Orton throws a head kick that misses
and Zinfandel counters with a one-two to the body.
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!
Zinfandel blocks a jab.
Zinfandel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Orton misses with a few strikes there.
Orton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Orton lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Orton checks a low kick from Zinfandel.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zinfandel slips a straight right by Orton.
Orton takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Orton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Zinfandel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zinfandel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Orton throws out the jab.

Orton gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Orton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Orton has clasped his hands together around Zinfandel's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Orton trying to control the action but Zinfandel is working from the bottom.
I wouldn't like to be where Zinfandel is right now.
Zinfandel sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Orton thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zinfandel's head.
Zinfandel is holding on to half guard well.
Orton misses with a head shot. Zinfandel uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orton postures up in Zinfandel's guard and throws a big left but Zinfandel blocks it.
Zinfandel wants to stand up but Orton is controlling him.
Zinfandel trying to control the position.
Zinfandel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Orton tries to get to full guard but Zinfandel has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orton is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Zinfandel takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zak Zinfandel.
Zinfandel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Orton.
Zinfandel connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Orton checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Orton walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zinfandel checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Orton just misses with a punch to the body.
Zinfandel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Orton.
Orton fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Orton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zinfandel manages to avoid it.
Zinfandel has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Orton.
Orton throws a low kick, looking for Zinfandel's leg but Zinfandel calmly moves out of range.
Orton fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Zinfandel is out of range.
Orton slips a jab and a cross from Zinfandel.
Orton gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Zinfandel counters with a leg kick.
Zinfandel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Orton was well out of range. Poor timing from Zinfandel.
Orton lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Orton throws a body punch but Zinfandel moves out of range.
Orton is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Zinfandel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Orton sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zak Zinfandel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Orton throws a leg kick but Zinfandel checks it.
Orton throws a chopping leg kick but Zinfandel manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Zinfandel lands a head kick. Orton smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Orton scores with a three punch combo!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Orton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zinfandel sprawls well. Zinfandel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Orton gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Orton throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Len Orton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Orton 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Len Orton!