PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Zapata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Bastion (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.

Zapata
vs
Bastion

201 cm
19
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 Las Vegas, Xavier Zapata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jean Bastion!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bastion shoots in for a takedown but Zapata shows good takedown defense.

Bastion pushes Zapata up against the cage in a clinch.
Bastion trying to land knees to the body.
Bastion jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zapata walks away with a smile on his face. Bastion gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Good work by Bastion as he checks the leg kick.
Zapata throws a sloppy body shot

and Bastion counters by clinching up.

Bastion breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Bastion.
Zapata will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Bastion moves into the clinch.
The referee calls for Bastion to work.
Zapata jumps guard but Bastion turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Bastion breaks the clinch.
A combination from Zapata does no damage.
Zapata throws a right hand that Bastion ducks under and follows up with a left that Bastion also avoids with ease.
Zapata connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastion lands a head kick!

It looks like Xavier Zapata has been cut.
Zapata digs a good body shot into Bastion's ribs.
Bastion tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bastion feints and then cracks Zapata's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zapata down.
Zapata connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bastion uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zapata.

Bastion has closed the distance and engaged Zapata in a clinch.

Bastion gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Bastion is pressing down on Zapata's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zapata is holding on for now.
Bastion is thwarting Zapata's attempts to control the position.
Bastion really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zapata. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zapata looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bastion is working for a kimura but Zapata is defending it quite comfortably.

Zapata looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata wants to improve his position but Bastion is controlling well.
Bastion moves nicely into side control.

Bastion decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Bastion fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zapata throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bastion.
Zapata fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Bastion closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zapata did well to prevent Bastion getting side control.
Zapata wants to get back to full guard.
Zapata manages to get to full guard.
Bastion must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bastion seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zapata is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Bastion dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Xavier Zapata's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bastion gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Bastion pulls guard.
Zapata pushing down on Bastion's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Zapata is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bastion is looking to improve his position.
Bastion is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zapata trying to control the action but Bastion is working from the bottom.

Zapata looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zapata is looking to take a break and control but Bastion is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zapata is looking for submissions but instead, Bastion has regained full guard.
Zapata pushing down on Bastion's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zapata prevents Bastion from improving his position.
Zapata will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zapata works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bastion wants to get back to his feet.
Zapata trying to control the action but Bastion is working from the bottom.
Bastion is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zapata is controlling him well.

Zapata is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bastion is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Jean Bastion has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bastion holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastion is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Zapata asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Zapata wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bastion keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bastion is looking to reverse the position.
Zapata trying to control the position but Bastion is working away.
Zapata is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bastion is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Bastion tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zapata wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zapata is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bastion knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Zapata is looking to take a break and control but Bastion is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
What's Bastion going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Zapata dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Xavier Zapata's cut.
That's time! Zapata's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zapata has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Bastion.
Zapata swinging wildly here.
Zapata lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Zapata.
A clash of legs there as Bastion blocks the low kick.
Zapata dodges the punch combination from Bastion.

Zapata tries to keep at a distance but Bastion has taken the fight into the clinch.

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

Bastion instigates a clinch.

Bastion gets control of Zapata's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bastion will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Bastion keeping moving, preventing Zapata from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zapata got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bastion has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zapata has managed to get both his arms back between Bastion's legs - danger averted.
Bastion keeping moving, preventing Zapata from controlling successfully.
Bastion pulls Zapata in close to prevent any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Bastion wants to get back to his feet but Zapata is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Xavier Zapata wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Zapata scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Jean Bastion has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapata looks to land a combination but Bastion avoids it well.
Zapata throws a combination that misses
and Bastion counters with a thumping low kick.
Zapata is looking to chop away at Bastion's legs.
Bastion will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bastion takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bastion tries to clinch but Zapata moves out of range.
Zapata lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Bastion clinches up with Zapata and pushes him back against the cage.
Bastion has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zapata after a bit of a struggle.

Bastion's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zapata shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bastion eats them both and turns towards Zapata to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Bastion throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bastion moves in looking to clinch but Zapata pushes him off.
Zapata dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zapata lands a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapata fails to land with a series of punches.
Zapata scores with a nice right hand.
Zapata throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Bastion counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bastion.

Bastion breaks from the clinch.
Zapata swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jean Bastion seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zapata throws a body punch but Bastion moves out of range.
Zapata ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bastion moves away.

Bastion clinches with his opponent.
Bastion stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Bastion is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zapata to keep the fight standing.
Xavier Zapata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Bastion.

Bastion has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Zapata regains guard immediately.
Zapata looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zapata has his foot on Bastion's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bastion works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zapata keeping full guard, as Bastion tries to pass.
Bastion showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Zapata showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zapata 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier Zapata!