PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Walker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emiliano Zapata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Walker comes to the ring accompanied by Another One Bites the Dust. The crowd seem to be enjoying Zapata's choice of entrance music: EINA. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Walker
vs
Zapata

185 cm
25
199 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

189 cm
26
190 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, John Walker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emiliano Zapata!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Walker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Walker blocks a low kick nicely.
Walker throws a big shot that misses.
Walker tries to clinch up.
Zapata flicks out a counter leg kick but Walker steps away.
Zapata displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Walker throws out the jab.

Walker moves into the clinch successfully.
Walker misses with a punch to the body.
Zapata tries to land a knee to the head but Walker blocks with his arms.
Walker scores with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walker tries to work over Zapata's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zapata creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Walker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Walker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zapata prevents a body shot from Walker.
Zapata's coach down at The SkrapBox was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Zapata's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Zapata blocks a body shot from Walker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Walker is defending well for now.
Zapata connects with a knee to the head.
Walker avoids the elbow strike from Zapata, against the ropes.
Zapata creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zapata.
Walker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zapata tries a knee to the head but Walker blocks it.
Zapata is struggling to control the position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zapata as Walker tries to tie him up.
Zapata with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Walker being controlled against the ropes.
Walker manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Zapata putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Walker in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapata throws a knee to the head but misses.
Walker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Walker misses with a punch to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Zapata throws a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Zapata tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Zapata blocks a body shot from Walker.
Walker can't find room to land a body shot as Zapata controls the action.
Walker's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Walker misses with some punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short uppercut from Walker.
Zapata is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Walker is defending well for now.
Walker misses with the head strike.
I was talking to Walker's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Zapata misses with a knee to the head.
Walker lands a body punch.
Walker struggles to land a body shot inside as Zapata controls his hands.
Zapata is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Walker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zapata's elbow.
Walker scores with a shot to the side of Zapata's head.
Walker misses with a body punch.
Zapata connects with a nasty looking knee right to Walker's face.
Walker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Walker.
Walker stalling.
Walker is working Zapata over against the ropes.
Zapata trying to stall but Walker improves his position.
Still in the clinch, Walker scores with a nice short uppercut.
A hook to the body from Walker.
Walker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Walker avoiding damage as Zapata throws knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zapata.
A short right from Walker.
Zapata is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Walker is keeping busy.
Walker is pushing Zapata up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Zapata landing knees to the body.
Walker throws a punch but it's blocked by Zapata.
Zapata creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Walker lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zapata or not.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Walker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Walker looking to stall.
Walker lands a hook to the side of the head.
Walker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Walker scores with a nice hook to the head.

It looks like Emiliano Zapata has been cut.
Walker works on Zapata's body with a couple of short punches.
Zapata looking to slow down the pace here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Walker struggles to land a body shot inside as Zapata controls his hands.
Walker misses with some punches.
Zapata landing knees to the head.
Walker is trying to stall.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Zapata just misses with a elbow thrown towards Walker's brow.
Zapata taking a breather.
Zapata blocks a body shot from Walker.
Walker tries to throw a body punch but Zapata avoids it by throwing Walker back against the ropes.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zapata - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zapata misses with an elbow strike.
Walker tries a body shot but Zapata blocks it.
Walker's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Walker lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Walker lands with a light punch inside.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Walker lands a right hand.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Zapata is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Walker is keeping busy.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Walker works on Zapata's body with a couple of short punches.
Walker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zapata blocks an uppercut.
Zapata landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Walker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zapata lands a body shot.
Walker stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A shot in the inside from Zapata.
Walker misses with some punches.
Walker scores with a nice hook to the head.
Walker lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Zapata takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Walker tries to throw a body punch but Zapata avoids it by throwing Walker back against the ropes.
Walker tries to work over Zapata's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zapata blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zapata looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Walker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Walker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zapata's elbow.
Walker tries to work over Zapata's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zapata lands an elbow inside that Walker shrugs off.
Zapata lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Walker takes a knee to the side of the body.
Walker misses with the head strike.
Walker lands a nice uppercut.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Zapata.
Zapata blocks a body shot from Walker.
Zapata is trying to stall.
Zapata tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Walker avoids it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Walker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Walker can't find room to land a body shot as Zapata controls the action.
Walker avoiding damage as Zapata throws knees to the body.
Walker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Walker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zapata misses with a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zapata as Walker tries to tie him up.
Walker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zapata digs a right hand underneath Walker's ribcage. Walker let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Walker struggles to land a body shot inside as Zapata controls his hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Zapata is trying to maintain a safe position but Walker gets an underhook and turns Zapata into the ropes.
Walker will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zapata up against the ropes.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short uppercut from Walker.
Zapata misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Walker.
Zapata is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Walker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Walker lands an uppercut.
Zapata is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Walker is defending well for now.
Zapata lands a knee to the head.
Zapata lands an elbow inside.
Walker lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Walker has a couple of punches blocked by Zapata.
Zapata lands an elbow that stopped Walker in his tracks for a moment.
Walker avoiding damage.
Walker blocks an elbow strike from Zapata.
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 John Walker will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Emiliano Zapata's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Zapata uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Walker has time to react.
Walker ducks under a wild hook from Zapata.
John Walker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Walker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Walker tries to close the distance and clinch but Zapata swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Walker pushes Zapata up against the ropes in a clinch.
Walker taking a breather.
Walker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Walker avoids the elbow strike from Zapata, against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walker misses with a punch to the body.
Walker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zapata's elbow.
Zapata trying to stall but Walker improves his position.
Zapata blocks a body shot from Walker.
Walker struggles to land a body shot inside as Zapata controls his hands.
Walker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zapata misses with a punch to the body.
Zapata missing with knees to the body.
Walker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Zapata scores a nice knee to the body.
Zapata misses with an elbow over the top.
Walker tries a body shot but Zapata blocks it.
John Walker has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Walker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zapata pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Walker blocks the elbow strike.
Zapata with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Walker misses with a punch on the inside.
Walker scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Walker lands a hook to the side of the head.
Walker lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Walker struggles to land a body shot inside as Zapata controls his hands.
Zapata tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Walker avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Walker.
Zapata throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zapata is breathing heavily.
Walker struggles to land a body shot inside as Zapata controls his hands.
Walker blocks the elbow strike.
Zapata is struggling to control the position.
Walker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Walker managing to block the knees to the body from Zapata.
Zapata goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Walker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Walker is trying to maintain a safe position but Zapata gets an underhook and turns Walker into the ropes.
Walker avoids the elbow strike from Zapata, against the ropes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zapata is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Walker is defending well for now.
Zapata is looking to control Walker's arms but Walker gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zapata has his back to the ropes.
Zapata trying to land knees to the body.
Walker swings wildly with an uppercut but Zapata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zapata lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walker scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Walker.
Zapata trying to land knees to the body.
Zapata misses with a punch to the body.
Zapata lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Walker blocks an elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Walker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zapata misses with an elbow over the top.
Zapata cracks Walker with a nice body shot.
A hook to the body from Walker.
Zapata doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Walker tries a body shot but Zapata blocks it.
Zapata tries a body shot but Walker blocks it.
Zapata misses with the head strike.
Walker working aggressively here.
Zapata tries a knee to the head but Walker blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walker avoids the elbow strike from Zapata, against the ropes.
Nice body punch from Walker.
Walker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zapata blocks an uppercut.
Zapata blocks a body shot from Walker.
Walker lands a body punch in the clinch.
Walker is leaning against Zapata and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Walker can't find room to land a body shot as Zapata controls the action.
Walker tries a body shot but Zapata blocks it.
Walker tries to throw a body punch but Zapata avoids it by throwing Walker back against the ropes.
Walker lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Zapata tries a knee to the head but Walker blocks it.
Walker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Walker lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zapata blocks an uppercut.
Zapata tries to stall but Walker uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Walker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zapata backwards.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Walker throws a punch but it's blocked by Zapata.
Zapata looking to throw knees to the head but Walker is blocking nicely.
Walker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zapata backwards.
Zapata pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Walker creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Walker throws a punch but it's blocked by Zapata.
A right hook to the body lands for Walker.
Walker lands a shoulder strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Walker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Walker dodges an elbow strike from Zapata.
Walker scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Walker lands with a short shot to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Walker taking a breather.
Walker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zapata is looking to control Walker's arms but Walker gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zapata has his back to the ropes.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Zapata throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Stalling in the clinch from Walker.
Walker lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Walker on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A right hook to the body lands for Walker.
Walker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Walker throws a head punch that misses.
Zapata blocks a body shot from Walker.
Zapata misses with a hook from the clinch.
Walker has Zapata pressed against the ropes.
Walker lands with a left to the head.
Zapata is looking to control Walker's arms but Walker gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zapata has his back to the ropes.
Zapata connects with a nasty looking knee right to Walker's face.
Walker throws a punch but it's blocked by Zapata.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Zapata throws a head punch that misses.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Zapata throws an elbow but it misses.
Walker tries a body shot but Zapata blocks it.
A short body shot lands from Walker as the two fighters clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Walker fails to land.
Walker throws a head punch that misses.
Walker lands a nice uppercut.
Zapata tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Walker's elbow.
Walker avoiding damage as Zapata throws knees to the body.
Walker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Walker has a couple of punches blocked by Zapata.
Nice elbow from Zapata.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Walker blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zapata with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Walker misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Walker misses with a punch to the body.
Walker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Walker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Walker looking to stall.
Zapata lands a nice elbow.
A short right from Walker.
Walker avoiding damage as Zapata throws knees to the body.
Zapata misses with a hook to the ribs.
Walker lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zapata landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Walker misses with a punch on the inside.
Walker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Walker.
Zapata blocks a body shot from Walker.
Walker lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Walker lands with a left to the head.
Walker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Walker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zapata can do to turn this around?
Walker works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Walker lands a left hand.
Walker tries to work over Zapata's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Walker lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zapata or not.
Walker taking a breather.
Walker struggles to land a body shot inside as Zapata controls his hands.
Walker lands with a light punch inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Walker.
Walker trying to stall but Zapata improves his position.
Walker avoids the elbow strike from Zapata, against the ropes.
Zapata tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A short right from Walker on the inside.
Emiliano Zapata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Zapata is rocked!
Walker gets through Zapata's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zapata is still on wobbly legs! Can Walker finish him?
Walker tries to throw a body punch but Zapata avoids it by throwing Walker back against the ropes.
John Walker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Walker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Walker working some nice short punches in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Walker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Walker has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for John Walker!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for John Walker!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for John Walker!

John Walker wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking John Walker thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.