PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Noe Boyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Zabell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noe Boyle has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Boyle
vs
Zabell

207 cm
23
177 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

182 cm
23
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Noe Boyle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Zabell!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zabell shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zabell showed some decent athleticism there.

Zabell is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Boyle has managed to free his arm - good work.
Zabell stalling.
Boyle is looking to control Zabell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Boyle avoid being mounted?
Still in half guard, Zabell seems content to control.
Boyle is trying to maintain the position but Zabell is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zabell sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Boyle really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Boyle won't allow Zabell to pass to mount.
Zabell wants to control but Boyle is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabell is looking to advance position but Boyle won't allow it.
Zabell stalling.
Zabell wants to take a breather but Boyle is having none of it.

Zabell is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Boyle holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Zabell sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Zabell stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Mike Zabell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zabell scores with a takedown into Boyle's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zabell being controlled here momentarily.
Zabell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zabell looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zabell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Boyle working for a triangle but Zabell defends it easily.
Boyle will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Boyle pulls Zabell in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zabell controlling from the top position.

Boyle is working an open guard so Zabell takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Zabell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zabell slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Zabell postures up.
Zabell trying to control but Boyle is working from the bottom.
Zabell's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Zabell throws a big right hand that misses.
Boyle seems keen to control Zabell's posture.

Boyle is looking for a triangle but Zabell pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyle looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Boyle wants to control the position but Zabell says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Zabell wants to free his trapped foot but Boyle is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Zabell moves nicely into side control.

Zabell stands up.

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

Mike Zabell dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zabell throws a head kick but Boyle moves out of range.

Boyle gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zabell to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Zabell is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Boyle has Zabell pulled in close to control his posture.

Boyle had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zabell defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boyle is trying to hold Zabell in close to prevent damage but Zabell has managed to pass into half guard.
Zabell thows a huge punch but Boyle dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabell content to control rather than advance.

Boyle actively working from the bottom here.
Zabell controlling the action here.
Boyle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zabell.
Boyle trying to control but Zabell postures up.
Zabell wants to stand but Boyle has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Zabell sitting and controlling from the half guard.

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.
Boyle trying to control but Zabell postures up.
Boyle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zabell.
Boyle has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zabell is working away from the top position though.
Boyle controlling the position well.
Zabell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Zabell wants to work for an arm triangle but Boyle is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zabell is trying to control. Boyle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Boyle gets caught napping as Zabell dives in and scores a takedown. Boyle manages to retain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zabell not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Boyle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zabell trying to control but Boyle is working from the bottom.
Zabell pushes down on Boyle's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zabell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boyle has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zabell is working away from the top position though.
Boyle is trying to get back to full guard.
Zabell with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four 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.
Zabell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Boyle's head.
Boyle is positioning himself well to prevent Zabell advancing to mount.
Zabell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zabell stalling.
Boyle trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boyle is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zabell not doing much here.
Boyle is staying active underneath Zabell, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Zabell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zabell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Zabell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zabell advances to half guard.
Boyle preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Zabell controlling the action here.
Boyle trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boyle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zabell.

Boyle is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zabell pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyle trying to control but Zabell postures up.
Zabell is trying to control. Boyle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zabell moves nicely into side control.
Boyle tries to buck Zabell off but Zabell is having none of it.
Zabell in side control, throwing shots but Boyle defends.
Zabell working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Zabell working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The strikes coming from Zabell are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Zabell working away.
Zabell controlling from side mount.

Zabell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Boyle, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boyle is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Boyle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
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Zabell tries for a kimura but Boyle is defending well.
Boyle is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zabell's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyle trying to hold on to Zabell's head to control him but Zabell postures up.
Boyle preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Boyle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boyle trying to control from the bottom.
Zabell looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Boyle with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Zabell decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Boyle takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Boyle tries to sprawl but Zabell drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Boyle wants to control but Zabell is keeping busy.
Zabell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Boyle keeps working.

Boyle looking for submissions off his back.
Zabell controlling the action here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zabell's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Noe Boyle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Zabell is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zabell moves nicely into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Zabell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zabell 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Zabell!