PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Phillip Joop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Zalama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Miguel Zalama is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Joop
vs
Zalama

150 cm
23
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Zipp Zapp(w. laundry:10%)

Sport Support

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Phillip Joop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Miguel Zalama!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zalama blocks a head kick by Joop.
Joop really is a fat lump.

Zalama looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zalama postures up.
Joop avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Joop on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Joop tries to get out of the position.

Joop had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zalama defends it easily.
Joop working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zalama.
Joop looking for a sweep. Not yet Joop, not yet.

Zalama stands and steps away. Joop gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Joop tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zalama swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zalama just misses with a punch to the body.
Zalama fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalama tries to score a power double leg takedown but Joop sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zalama somewhat.
Joop shoots in but Zalama avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice takedown defense from Joop. No joy for Zalama on that attempt.
Phillip Joop has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Zalama.
Joop is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zalama sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zalama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zalama looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Joop is fending him off so far but Zalama persists. Nope, Joop circles away and we're back to standing.
Joop digs a good hook to Zalama's body.
Joop has been working on his balance at Titan Gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Zalama.
Joop wants to clinch up but Zalama keeps it at a distance.
Joop misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joop throws a leg kick
and Zalama counters with a solid body kick.
Zalama fails to land the takedown.
Joop fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Zalama clinches.

Zalama manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zalama looking for a sweep. Not yet Zalama, not yet.
Zalama trying to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zalama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Zalama looking for a guillotine here but Joop defends easily.
Zalama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joop wants to control from the top but Zalama keeps moving.
Zalama is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Zalama moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Joop.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joop is trying to work for a sweep but Zalama has mounted him!
Zalama can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Joop is looking to escape.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zalama content just to control the position here.
Joop knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zalama on the ground.
Joop tries to hold on but Zalama pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zalama tries to control but Joop wriggling away.
Zalama controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Zalama 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.

The fight stays on the outside here - Joop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Joop fails with a takedown attempt.
Zalama fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Zalama lands a slapping body shot.
Zalama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Joop really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Joop avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Joop feints and as Zalama raises his hands in defense, Joop changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Joop avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Miguel Zalama has got the better of the ground game so far.

Zalama is looking for a triangle but Joop pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalama has a closed guard, preventing Joop from standing up.

Zalama pushes Joop off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Joop darts in looking for a takedown but Zalama gets double underhooks and turns Joop into the ropes.
Zalama is pressed up against the ropes. Joop has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zalama down to the mat. Zalama avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phillip Joop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Joop tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zalama swivels and escapes.
Zalama misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zalama throws a series of punches but Joop moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zalama looks for a takedown but Joop sprawls well.

Zalama rushes Joop and presses him up against the ropes.
Zalama drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Joop gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Joop's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zalama has Joop pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Joop manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Zalama pulls Joop into guard.
Zalama looking for a sweep. Not yet Zalama, not yet.
Zalama controls Joop momentarily but Joop frees himself.
Joop might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zalama 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.

Zalama has his foot on Joop's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Joop works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Zalama trying to keep a closed guard but Joop is proving a slippery customer.
Joop has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zalama managing to control the position.
Joop has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zalama is proving hard to escape from.

Zalama working for a triangle but Joop defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zalama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zalama keeping full guard, as Joop tries to pass.
Joop throws an elbow that misses. Zalama uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Joop's guard. Nice move by Zalama!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zalama got a little sloppy there for a moment and Joop has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zalama has managed to get both his arms back between Joop's legs - danger averted.

Zalama stands and steps away. Joop gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Zalama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Joop misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zalama tries to close the distance and clinch but Joop swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zalama fails with a takedown attempt.
Joop tries to clinch but Zalama moves away
and Zalama counters with a nice uppercut.
Zalama misses with a wild combination.
Joop tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zalama swivels and escapes.
Good shot there by Joop.
Joop fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phillip Joop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zalama shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Joop fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joop stuffs the takedown.
Zalama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Phillip Joop is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown by Joop or perhaps it was just good defense by Zalama which made him look bad.
Nice sprawl there from Joop as Zalama shoots in.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zalama is defended easily by Joop.
Zalama moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Joop scores with a three punch combo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zalama gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Zalama wriggles free and stands up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zalama tries for a takedown but Joop sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zalama shoots in looking for a takedown. Joop tries to sprawl out of it but Zalama keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Joop manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Joop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Miguel Zalama seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Joop misses with a head kick.
Zalama shoots in but Joop avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joop shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zalama sprawls well. Zalama wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Joop gets slowly back to his feet.
Zalama shoots in looking for a takedown but Joop manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zalama's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Joop fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zalama avoids it really well and circles away.

Zalama scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zalama slows the pace down in half guard.
Zalama is keen to just control but Joop is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zalama is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Joop sees it coming and defends easily.
Zalama is trying to control. Joop wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Miguel Zalama has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Zalama swats away the attempt to clinch by Joop.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zalama swats away the attempt to clinch by Joop.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miguel Zalama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zalama has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Zalama!