PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Finisher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Desmond Zertiis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Desmond Zertiis has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Frank Finisher's chin.

Finisher
vs
Zertiis

185 cm
29
205 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

185 cm
36
220 lbs
11 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frank Finisher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Desmond Zertiis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Bruno Hogan and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finisher misses with a few strikes there.

Zertiis closes the distance and clinches.
Finisher is looking for a takedown.
Finisher has been working on his balance at 25 Beasts, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Zertiis.
Zertiis crunches a lovely knee into Finisher's ribcage.
Finisher tries to break the clinch but Zertiis is controlling the position.

Zertiis breaks from the clinch.
A cross from Zertiis lands.
Zertiis takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Zertiis clinches up against the cage.
Finisher is trying to break the clinch but Zertiis is controlling him.
Zertiis lands with a left to the head.

Zertiis gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice strikes from Zertiis there.
Zertiis looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zertiis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zertiis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Finisher is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zertiis scores with a couple of nice shots.
Zertiis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finisher blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zertiis.
Zertiis stops Finisher from getting back to his feet.
Zertiis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Zertiis seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ground and pound from Zertiis.
Zertiis sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zertiis lands a nice short elbow.
Finisher knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zertiis on the ground.
Zertiis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Finisher defending well though.

Zertiis is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finisher is trying to maintain the position but Zertiis is very close to passing his half guard.
Zertiis looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Zertiis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Finisher pushes Zertiis off looking to stand but Zertiis dives back in and keeps control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Finisher has hold of Zertiis's hands but Zertiis slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Finisher is trying to stand back up but Zertiis is controlling him
Finisher is trying to get back to full guard.
Zertiis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Finisher's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zertiis scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Zertiis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zertiis in particular looking to stall.
Zertiis looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Finisher with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Finisher is trying to get back to full guard.
Zertiis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Finisher wants to get back to full guard.
Finisher is refusing to be controlled, as Zertiis sits in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zertiis lands a nice short elbow.
Zertiis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zertiis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zertiis tries to pass to full mount but Finisher defends it.
Zertiis takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Finisher regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Zertiis.
Zertiis lands a couple of elbows.
Zertiis stays in close to Finisher's body and controls the position.
Zertiis trying to control the position from guard on top but Finisher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zertiis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zertiis trying to control the position from guard on top but Finisher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Finisher checks a low kick from Zertiis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desmond Zertiis dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Finisher throws a lazy head kick

and Zertiis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Finisher's guard.
Zertiis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Finisher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zertiis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zertiis works over Finisher with some ground and pound from guard.
Zertiis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zertiis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zertiis wants to control from the top but Finisher keeps moving.
Zertiis postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zertiis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Finisher with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zertiis counters by clinching up.

Zertiis gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Zertiis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Desmond Zertiis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zertiis perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Finisher on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zertiis is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Zertiis takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zertiis missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Zertiis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Finisher sees it coming and defends easily.
Zertiis performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nice strikes from Zertiis there.

Zertiis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Finisher has managed to free his arm - good work.
Zertiis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Finisher knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Zertiis is looking for a kimura but Finisher is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zertiis to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finisher is trying to stand back up but Zertiis is controlling him
Finisher wants to control but Zertiis is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zertiis is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zertiis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Zertiis lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Zertiis lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Finisher has hold of Zertiis's hands but Zertiis slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Zertiis performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Finisher pushes Zertiis off looking to stand but Zertiis dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zertiis is trying to work for a kimura but Finisher is defending well.
Still in half guard, Zertiis seems content to control.
Zertiis prevents Finisher from standing back up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zertiis trying to control the pace.
Ground and pound from Zertiis.
Zertiis slows the pace down in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Finisher is trying to stand back up but Zertiis is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desmond Zertiis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Finisher blocks a low kick nicely.
Finisher misses with a looping right.
Finisher lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Zertiis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Zertiis takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zertiis working Finisher over with strikes.
Finisher taking some punishment here, with Zertiis in his half guard.
Zertiis wants to free his trapped foot but Finisher is holding on for dear life with his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zertiis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Zertiis controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zertiis scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Zertiis controlling the action here.
Finisher blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zertiis.
Finisher pushes Zertiis off looking to stand but Zertiis dives back in and keeps control.
Zertiis winds up and cracks Finisher with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Zertiis scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Zertiis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Zertiis keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Zertiis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zertiis wants to take a breather but Finisher is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Finisher fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zertiis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Finisher!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee asks Zertiis politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Zertiis prefers to stall for the moment though.
Finisher is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Zertiis throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Zertiis in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zertiis throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Finisher is trying to escape the position but Zertiis is controlling the position.
Zertiis throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Zertiis just content to control the position.
Zertiis is looking to take a break and control but Finisher is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Zertiis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zertiis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Finisher wants to control but Zertiis postures up.

That's four 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.
Zertiis lands a nice forearm strike.
Zertiis working the ground and pound from side control.
Zertiis throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zertiis lands a nice forearm strike.
Zertiis works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Zertiis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Finisher knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Finisher regains half guard there - taking advantage of Zertiis's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Desmond Zertiis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zertiis 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Desmond Zertiis!