PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damien Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Zanta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Damien Garcia has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Garcia
vs
Zanta

182 cm
30
195 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

209 cm
32
205 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Damien Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Igor Zanta!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zanta wants to clinch but Garcia slips to the side

and Garcia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Garcia thows a huge punch but Zanta dodges it nicely.
Garcia tries to pass to full mount but Zanta defends it.

Garcia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Garcia trying to control the action but Zanta is working from the bottom.
Zanta is trying to stand back up but Garcia is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia trying to control from Zanta's half guard. Zanta has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Garcia trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Garcia controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garcia loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zanta keeping full guard, as Garcia tries to pass.

Zanta pushes Garcia off and scrambles back to his feet.
Garcia circles away from the clinch attempt
and Garcia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanta tries to clinch up

so Garcia counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zanta keeping full guard, as Garcia tries to pass.
Garcia stops Zanta from standing up.
Garcia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zanta is keeping the position for now.
Zanta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Garcia throwing strikes from guard but Zanta blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zanta is keeping the position for now.
Garcia is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Disciples Top Team that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Garcia won't allow Zanta to get back to his feet.

Garcia drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zanta manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Garcia has Zanta in his guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zanta is looking to pass into half guard but Garcia pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Garcia is in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia working some strikes from top position.
Garcia working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Garcia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Garcia postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zanta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Garcia controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Garcia trying to control the position from guard on top but Zanta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Garcia dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zanta takes a jab right on the kisser.
Garcia dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zanta tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Garcia counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Garcia.
Damien Garcia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garcia looking to sit in guard and control but Zanta gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zanta passes Garcia's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Garcia is trying to stand.

Zanta is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zanta trying to pass the guard but Garcia defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia tries to roll over but Zanta keeps him under control.
Zanta is looking to advance position but Garcia won't allow it.

Zanta seems to be looking for submissions.
Zanta is looking to advance position but Garcia won't allow it.
Zanta is looking to pass Garcia's guard but actually Garcia recovers to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zanta tries to free his leg and advance position but Garcia is retaining full guard.
Zanta passes Garcia's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Zanta is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Garcia is just riding it out for now. Zanta eventually gives up the hold.
Zanta passes to side control.
Garcia is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zanta is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Garcia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Garcia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zanta tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Zanta goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Garcia rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Zanta's guard! Nice work there by Garcia!
Garcia content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zanta wants to stand up but Garcia is controlling him.
Garcia trying to control but Zanta is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Damien Garcia.
Zanta doesn't manage to clinch there - Garcia circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Damien Garcia will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Zanta moves to clinch but Garcia breaks away
and Garcia counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zanta moves to clinch but Garcia breaks away

and Garcia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garcia missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zanta pushes Garcia off looking to stand but Garcia dives back in and keeps control.
Garcia trying to control from half guard but Zanta is working away.

Garcia is looking for a kimura here.
Garcia stops Zanta from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanta blocking the ground and pound attempt from Garcia.
Zanta is looking to escape.
Garcia is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Garcia stops Zanta from standing up.
Garcia sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Igor Zanta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zanta swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Garcia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Garcia throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zanta works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Garcia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Garcia trying to control but Zanta is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Damien Garcia just wasn't active enough.
Zanta closes the distance but Garcia moves to the side
enabling Garcia to counter with a crisp jab.
Zanta showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Garcia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zanta doesn't manage to clinch there - Garcia circles away.
Zanta wants to clinch

and Garcia counters with a takedown into side control.
Zanta is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Garcia is looking to take a break and control but Zanta is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Garcia in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Garcia sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Zanta is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia taking a breather here.
Garcia lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zanta pushes Garcia away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Garcia gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garcia postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Zanta is trying to escape the position but Garcia is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damien Garcia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Garcia has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damien Garcia!
Damien Garcia thanked the fans post fight for their support.