PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nick Zal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Oliveira will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Zal
vs
Oliveira

170 cm
23
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Zal!
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, Rafael Oliveira!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oliveira shoots for a double leg takedown but Zal sprawls well. He's pushed Oliveira's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Oliveira scores with a jab to the body.
Zal throws a sloppy body shot
and Oliveira counters with a left and a right that stings Zal.
Oliveira swinging wildly here.
Oliveira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zal.

Oliveira gets a clinch.
Zal tries to score a body lock takedown but Oliveira shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zal lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
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!
Oliveira is looking for a sweep. Zal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Oliveira tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Oliveira manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oliveira is looking for a triangle but Zal pushes his legs off easily.
Oliveira keeping moving, preventing Zal from controlling successfully.

Oliveira had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zal defends it easily.
Zal keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Oliveira's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zal stopping the sweep attempt from Oliveira.
Oliveira is trying to keep Zal in close.
Zal is in close to Oliveira's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Oliveira has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Zal postures up in Oliveira's guard and throws a big left but Oliveira blocks it.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Oliveira as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Zal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zal fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch combination from Zal misses.
Oliveira misses with the combination.
Oliveira shoots in looking for a takedown but Zal manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Oliveira's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zal looks to throw the jab but Oliveira is out of range.
Rafael Oliveira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zal looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zal wants to control from the top but Oliveira keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Oliveira 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.
Oliveira thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Zal loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zal has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zal looking to sit in guard and control but Oliveira gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zal wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nick Zal will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zal misses with a double jab
and Oliveira counters with a solid body kick.
Zal swings for the body but Oliveira moves out of range.
Oliveira shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jab from Zal.
Oliveira tries for a takedown but Zal circles away easily
and Zal counters with a two punch combo.
Nick Zal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Zal closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zal connects with a nice short shot to Oliveira's temple.
Oliveira manages to get to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Oliveira had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zal defends it easily.
Zal is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Oliveira can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zal lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Oliveira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Oliveira swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zal makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zal postures up in Oliveira's guard and throws a big left but Oliveira blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oliveira wants to stand up but Zal is controlling him.
Zal cracks Oliveira with a solid left hand.
Nick Zal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zal lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zal postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Oliveira is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zal is aware though and is defending well.
Zal cracks Oliveira with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zal works over Oliveira with some ground and pound from guard.
Oliveira looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zal is one step ahead there.
Oliveira is breathing heavily.
Zal with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Zal is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zal throws a big right hand that misses.
Oliveira is pulling down on Zal's head. It's preventing any offense from Zal, at least for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zal rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Oliveira counters with a big head kick but Zal shrugs it off.
Oliveira dives in for a single leg takedown but Zal sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nick Zal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Oliveira.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Zal.
Oliveira tries to pull guard but Zal holds him up against the cage and eventually Oliveira drops back down to his feet.
Zal swings wildly with an uppercut but Oliveira uses good head movement to avoid it.
Oliveira looking for a takedown.
Zal scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Zal breaks from the clinch.

Zal bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zal cracks Oliveira with a big right hand but Oliveira just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Zal wants to control for a moment but Oliveira uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zal wants to control but Oliveira is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Zal dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Zal looks to score with a jab to the body but Oliveira is just out of range.
Oliveira slips a jab and a cross from Zal.
Zal defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Oliveira.
Oliveira scores with a head kick. Zal tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A big right from Zal misses.
Oliveira fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A swing and a miss from Zal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zal falls off balance throwing a combination
and Oliveira counters with a body kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Oliveira.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zal counters with a one-two to the body.
Nick Zal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Oliveira.
Oliveira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zal throws a right hand that Oliveira ducks under and follows up with a left that Oliveira also avoids with ease.

Zal scores with a takedown into Oliveira's guard.
Zal throwing strikes but missing.
Zal trying to control but Oliveira is working from the bottom.
Zal is looking to work some ground and pound but Oliveira has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zal in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Oliveira is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Zal on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zal tries to get out of the position.
Oliveira is keen to just control but Zal is a slippery customer.
Oliveira prevents Zal from improving his position.
Oliveira wants to pass the guard but Zal is defending well.
Zal wants to control but Oliveira is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zal won't allow Oliveira to pass to mount.
Zal knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Oliveira on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zal is looking to get back to is feet but Oliveira passes into side control.

Oliveira decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Zal misses with the combination.
Zal slaps away a takedown attempt from Oliveira, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zal shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Oliveira sprawls well. Oliveira wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zal gets slowly back to his feet.
Oliveira shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zal sprawls well. Zal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Oliveira gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira fails with the takedown
and Zal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Oliveira throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zal misses with a hook.
Oliveira takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Oliveira moves in looking to clinch but Zal pushes him off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zal throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Zal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zal 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Zal!