PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between KJ Noons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matheus Zaccaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for KJ Noons has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Noons
vs
Zaccaro

175 cm
25
152 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

184 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, KJ Noons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matheus Zaccaro!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noons throws a half hearted mid kick.
Matheus Zaccaro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zaccaro is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zaccaro closes this distance looking for a takedown but Noons circles away.
Zaccaro shoots in but no luck this time.
Zaccaro shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Noons as he avoids it easily.
KJ Noons has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matheus Zaccaro.
Noons thumps Zaccaro with a low kick.
Zaccaro fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Noons scores with a kick to the midsection.
Zaccaro fails in his attempt to clinch.
Noons slaps away a takedown attempt from Zaccaro, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zaccaro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zaccaro is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noons buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zaccaro shoots in for a takedown but Noons shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zaccaro's coach down at was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Zaccaro's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Zaccaro looks winded!

Noons gets caught napping as Zaccaro dives in and scores a takedown. Noons manages to retain guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zaccaro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zaccaro prevents Noons from getting back to his feet.
Zaccaro postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Noons on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Noons tries to get out of the position.
Zaccaro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zaccaro prevents Noons from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zaccaro is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Zaccaro is looking to work some ground and pound but Noons has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Zaccaro throws a big right hand that misses.
Zaccaro distracts Noons with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zaccaro drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zaccaro jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zaccaro's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Noons has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Zaccaro drops back looking for a leg! Noons is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Noons manages to kick Zaccaro off! Zaccaro jumps back into Noons's guard.
Zaccaro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Noons working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zaccaro.
Zaccaro works over Noons with some ground and pound from guard.
Zaccaro postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zaccaro in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Zaccaro gets to his feet. Noons looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaccaro fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zaccaro throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Noons's waist but Noons gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zaccaro off to one side.
A nice inside leg kick there by Noons. That's going to slow Zaccaro down.
Noons throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zaccaro has a takedown stuffed.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zaccaro checks the leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zaccaro fails in his attempt to clinch.

Zaccaro gets a takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheus Zaccaro dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

No luck for Zaccaro with that takedown attempt.

Zaccaro looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zaccaro in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Noons working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zaccaro.

Zaccaro drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Noons dives on top into guard.
Noons wants to get up but he can't break Zaccaro's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Zaccaro is working an open guard so Noons takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaccaro blocks the body kick.

Zaccaro throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Noons tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Zaccaro is in Noons's guard.
Zaccaro postures up in Noons's guard and throws a big left but Noons blocks it.
Noons wants to stand up but Zaccaro is controlling him.
Zaccaro throws a strike but Noons rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zaccaro 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.

Noons avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zaccaro has his foot on Noons's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Noons works his way back into a safe position though.

Zaccaro has his foot on Noons's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Noons works his way back into a safe position though.
Zaccaro is breathing heavily.

Zaccaro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zaccaro throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Noons has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zaccaro is proving hard to escape from.

Zaccaro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Noons is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noons wants to stand and escape but instead Zaccaro has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Zaccaro trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Noons is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zaccaro is controlling him.
Zaccaro postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zaccaro throwing strikes from guard but Noons blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaccaro won't allow Noons to get back to his feet.

Zaccaro thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Noons keeping moving, preventing Zaccaro from controlling successfully.
Noons working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zaccaro.
Zaccaro stops Noons from standing up.

Zaccaro is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Noons wants to stand but Zaccaro is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheus Zaccaro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zaccaro decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Zaccaro wants to work for an arm triangle but Noons is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Zaccaro is looking for a kimura here.
Matheus Zaccaro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zaccaro is taking a breather. Noons says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Zaccaro throwing shots but Noons is blocking nicely.
Zaccaro prevents Noons from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zaccaro is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Noons has managed to free his arm - good work.

Zaccaro is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Noons sees it coming and defends easily.

Zaccaro looking for a submission but Noons manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Zaccaro trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zaccaro has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zaccaro content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Noons working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zaccaro.

Zaccaro is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
KJ Noons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zaccaro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zaccaro has gone for a leg lock! Noons slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zaccaro's guard.

Zaccaro has his foot on Noons's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Noons works his way back into a safe position though.

Zaccaro had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Noons defends it easily.

Noons got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zaccaro has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Noons has managed to get both his arms back between Zaccaro's legs - danger averted.
Noons would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Zaccaro working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zaccaro has his foot on Noons's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Noons works his way back into a safe position though.

Zaccaro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zaccaro thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Noons wants to get up but he can't break Zaccaro's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Zaccaro has his foot on Noons's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Noons works his way back into a safe position though.

Noons decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Zaccaro, up you get!
Zaccaro misses with a takedown attempt - Noons sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaccaro blocks a head kick by Noons.
Zaccaro fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Noons avoids it really well and circles away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Noons.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
That kick from Noons tenderised Zaccaro's leg. Zaccaro is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zaccaro blocks the body kick.
Matheus Zaccaro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
KJ Noons is winning the standup battle so far.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zaccaro.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matheus Zaccaro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zaccaro winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matheus Zaccaro!