PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kostya Tszyu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jerry Zenith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jerry Zenith acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Tszyu
vs
Zenith

170 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
144 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kostya Tszyu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jerry Zenith !
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Topper Green and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tszyu is trying to drag Zenith to the mat but Zenith just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zenith tries a knee to the head but Tszyu blocks it.

Zenith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tszyu throws a sloppy head kick
and Tszyu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zenith has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Zenith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tszyu defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Zenith as Tszyu shoots in.
Tszyu lands a lovely overhand right.

Zenith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tszyu is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zenith taking a breather here.
You can see the frustration on Tszyu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Tszyu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zenith on the ground.

Zenith is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tszyu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tszyu looking for a sweep but Zenith has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Zenith working the ground and pound effectively.

Zenith is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tszyu is surviving well by controlling Zenith 's body position as best he can.
Zenith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu wants to control but Zenith is having none of it.
Zenith controlling the position easily from mount.
Tszyu is desperately trying to improve his position but Zenith has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zenith cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zenith working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tszyu is bucking up trying to escape but Zenith cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Tszyu sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zenith wants to free his trapped foot but Tszyu is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tszyu is looking to control Zenith 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tszyu avoid being mounted?

Zenith decides to stand up.
Zenith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tszyu as he avoids it easily.

Zenith feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tszyu wants to get back to his feet but Zenith passes into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zenith sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerry Zenith dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zenith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tszyu pinned against the cage. Tszyu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Zenith tries to sprawl but Tszyu drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Zenith manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Tszyu keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Zenith breaks from the clinch.
Zenith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tszyu.
Despite the aggression on Zenith 's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Zenith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tszyu is fending him off so far but Zenith persists. Nope, Tszyu circles away and we're back to standing.
Tszyu is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Zenith .

Zenith darts in and clinches Tszyu up against the cage.

Tszyu breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Zenith takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zenith tries to throw a body punch but Tszyu avoids it by throwing Zenith back against the cage.
Zenith is looking for a takedown.
Kostya Tszyu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerry Zenith .
Zenith will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tszyu up against the cage.
Zenith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zenith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Zenith has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tszyu uses from the top position.
Tszyu lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zenith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Zenith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tszyu is aware though and is defending well.
Tszyu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zenith controlling Tszyu's posture.
Zenith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zenith has Tszyu pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Tszyu is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zenith throws a head kick that half lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tszyu.

Zenith closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tszyu did well to prevent Zenith getting side control.

Tszyu makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Tszyu throws a series of punches but Zenith moves out of range.
Zenith scores with a leg kick.
Tszyu throws a sloppy head kick

and Zenith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Tszyu has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zenith off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Zenith closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Tszyu quickly recovers to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zenith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zenith not doing much here.
Tszyu is trying to control but can't.
Zenith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zenith working Tszyu over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerry Zenith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zenith buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tszyu shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Zenith eats them both and turns towards Tszyu to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kostya Tszyu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tszyu shoots in looking for a takedown but Zenith manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tszyu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tszyu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zenith counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Zenith scores with a takedown into Tszyu's guard.
Zenith sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tszyu's guard.
Zenith is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Tszyu defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Zenith .
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zenith controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zenith is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Zenith looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tszyu is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Zenith with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Zenith is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu closes the distance looking to clinch

and Zenith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zenith .
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zenith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zenith content to stall in guard here.
Tszyu is trying to keep Zenith in close.
Zenith 's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tszyu has an active guard here but Zenith has managed to pass into half guard.

Zenith decides to stand up.
Tszyu circles away from the clinch attempt.

Zenith rushes Tszyu and presses him up against the cage.
Zenith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tszyu just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tszyu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Zenith breaks from the clinch.

Zenith rushes Tszyu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tszyu tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zenith smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kostya Tszyu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zenith looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Tszyu!
Zenith working the ground and pound but Tszyu is defending the strikes.

Zenith has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Tszyu fails with the takedown

and Zenith counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tszyu!
Tszyu tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zenith tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerry Zenith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zenith 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerry Zenith !