PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Zampidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramon Dekkers (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.

Zampidis
vs
Dekkers

175 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 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 Tokyo, Mike Zampidis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ramon Dekkers!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

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

Dekkers has closed the distance and engaged Zampidis in a clinch.

Zampidis lands a takedown into guard.
Dekkers has a closed guard, preventing Zampidis from standing up.
Dekkers 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.
Dekkers has a closed guard, preventing Zampidis from standing up.
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.
Dekkers is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Zampidis has gone for a leg lock! Dekkers slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zampidis's guard.
Zampidis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dekkers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zampidis tries to strike from the bottom.
Dekkers looking to pass the guard.
Dekkers is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zampidis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dekkers is controlling him.
Zampidis really is a fat lump.
Zampidis wants to control the position but Dekkers says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dekkers wants to stand up but Zampidis is controlling the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dekkers tries to clinch but Zampidis is having none of it.
Dekkers looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Zampidis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dekkers drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zampidis gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mike Zampidis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ramon Dekkers.
Zampidis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dekkers just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Dekkers is working for takedown but Zampidis is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dekkers looks gassed!

Zampidis gets control of Dekkers's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zampidis will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Zampidis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dekkers preventing the sweep.
Dekkers missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zampidis is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zampidis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dekkers gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dekkers showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zampidis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dekkers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zampidis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dekkers tries to stand but Zampidis is controlling from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dekkers throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dekkers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zampidis is fending him off so far but Dekkers persists. Nope, Zampidis circles away and we're back to standing.

Zampidis moves into the clinch.

Zampidis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Zampidis shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Zampidis was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Dekkers in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Zampidis has control of Dekkers's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Dekkers regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Zampidis tries to control but Dekkers wriggling away.
Zampidis throws a wild left hand from mount and Dekkers manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Dekkers taking some punishment here, with Zampidis in his half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zampidis looks to land a strike but Dekkers avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Zampidis tries to free his leg and advance position but Dekkers is retaining full guard.
Zampidis is working hard here to advance position.

Dekkers is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zampidis connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Dekkers is trying to keep Zampidis in close.
Dekkers keeping full guard, as Zampidis tries to pass.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zampidis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zampidis has a takedown stuffed.
Dekkers shoots for a double leg takedown but Zampidis sprawls well. He's pushed Dekkers's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dekkers keeps the fight on the outside.
Dekkers keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dekkers looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zampidis fails with the takedown.
Dekkers scores with a one two! Zampidis had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Dekkers connects with a high kick.
Zampidis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dekkers swivels and escapes.
Zampidis tries to clinch up but Dekkers circles away and keeps his distance.
Dekkers closes the distance but Zampidis moves to the side

and Zampidis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dekkers lands a nice elbow.

Dekkers jumps guard.
Zampidis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dekkers swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Dekkers keeping moving, preventing Zampidis from controlling successfully.
Zampidis preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dekkers is on top in guard.
Dekkers wants to stand but Zampidis is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zampidis is pulling down on Dekkers's head. It's preventing any offense from Dekkers, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Zampidis dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dekkers fails with a takedown attempt.
Zampidis fails with a takedown attempt.
Zampidis takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zampidis on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zampidis fails with the takedown.
Mike Zampidis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dekkers tries for a takedown but Zampidis circles away easily

and Zampidis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dekkers gets through Zampidis's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zampidis is trying to break free.
Zampidis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Dekkers avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Zampidis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zampidis tries to pull guard but Dekkers won't allow it.
Zampidis being controlled against the ropes.

Dekkers ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dekkers no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Dekkers thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Dekkers looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Zampidis wants to control from the top but Dekkers keeps moving.
Zampidis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Dekkers is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dekkers is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zampidis is trying to stand.
Dekkers is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Zampidis is squirming around, avoiding Dekkers's attempts to control the action.
Zampidis can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zampidis wants to hold on but Dekkers pushes him away.
Zampidis is wriggling around trying to escape.
Dekkers tries to control but Zampidis wriggling away.
Zampidis is desperately trying to improve his position but Dekkers has a good base and remains in mount.
Dekkers controlling the pace for now.
Dekkers throws some wild stikes that Zampidis manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zampidis tries to reverse the position but Dekkers maintains control.
Zampidis blocking the ground and pound.
Zampidis is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zampidis reaches up and holds on to Dekkers to control the position.
Zampidis is trying desperately to improve position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Zampidis wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Dekkers.
Zampidis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zampidis avoids a series of strikes thrown by Dekkers.
Zampidis is in all sorts of trouble here.
Dekkers tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zampidis is trying to reverse the position but instead Dekkers has taken his back - oops!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dekkers biding his time, looking for the opening.
Zampidis is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Zampidis breaks Dekkers's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Zampidis is looking to stand up but Dekkers won't let him.
Zampidis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dekkers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zampidis stops Dekkers from standing up.
Zampidis looking to pass the guard.
Zampidis prevents Dekkers from getting back to his feet.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Zampidis shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zampidis wants to pass the guard but Dekkers is keeping the position.

Zampidis is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Dekkers is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Dekkers has escaped and now he's on top!
Zampidis is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Zampidis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dekkers's guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Dekkers keeping full guard, as Zampidis tries to pass.
Zampidis trying to control the position from guard on top but Dekkers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zampidis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dekkers wants to get back to his feet but Zampidis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Dekkers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Dekkers trying to control the position here.
Zampidis distracts Dekkers with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dekkers trying to keep a closed guard but Zampidis is proving a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Nice takedown defense from Dekkers. No joy for Zampidis on that attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zampidis looks for a takedown but Dekkers sprawls well.
Zampidis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dekkers.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ramon Dekkers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Ramon Dekkers!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!