PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafal Zamana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zamana kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Modestep - Show Me A Sign. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Tom Cage was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Zamana
vs
Cage

180 cm
24
181 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

183 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rafal Zamana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tom Cage!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zamana decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cage punching from the bottom.
Zamana looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cage is looking to improve his position.
Zamana not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cage punching from the bottom.
Cage wants to control but Zamana is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Zamana is trying to work for a kimura but Cage is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage manages to get to full guard.
Cage throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zamana tries to free his leg and advance position but Cage is retaining full guard.
Cage wants to sweep but no luck.
Zamana prevents Cage from getting back to his feet.
Zamana preventing the sweep.
Cage really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zamana. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cage throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Zamana is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Barbell Brigade - $1000 that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Cage throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cage tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zamana sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cage somewhat.
Cage has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Zamana is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Cage shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zamana on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zamana blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cage.
Zamana regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cage chips away with some ground and pound.
Zamana tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cage accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zamana avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cage trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cage works over Zamana with some ground and pound from guard.
Cage is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zamana not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cage throwing strikes from guard but Zamana blocks nicely.
Cage throws an elbow that misses. Zamana uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cage's guard. Nice move by Zamana!

Zamana wants to control from the top but Cage keeps moving.
Cage thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Zamana content to stall in guard here.
Cage keeping moving, preventing Zamana from controlling successfully.
Cage throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's four 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.
Cage punching from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cage can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cage throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Zamana pushes down on Cage's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Zamana is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cage punching from the bottom.
Cage striking from the bottom.
Zamana passes to full mount!
Zamana forces the positional change into back control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zamana is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Cage has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafal Zamana dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cage bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Zamana struggling a bit here.
Zamana wants to get back to his feet.
Cage working away.
Zamana manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage drops an elbow to the side of Zamana's head.
Zamana gets back to full guard.
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Zamana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cage's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zamana preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zamana bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cage's guard.

Cage tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cage doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Zamana showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cage looking to control.
Cage throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cage trying to keep a closed guard but Zamana is proving a slippery customer.
Cage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zamana is one step ahead there.
Cage is breathing heavily.
Cage has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Zamana has passed into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zamana in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Zamana blocks the strikes from Cage.
Zamana is looking to take a break and control but Cage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cage is looking for a sweep.
Cage is being controlled here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zamana wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cage, who protects the arm well.
Cage is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cage wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Zamana trying to control the position but Cage is working away.

That's four 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.
Zamana working away.

Zamana tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cage holds on to Zamana's head and controls the position momentarily.
Cage is trying to improve his position.
Zamana avoids the strikes from the bottom by Cage.
Cage tries to improve position but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cage is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zamana connects with a decent elbow.

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

Zamana looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafal Zamana dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cage goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zamana tries to clinch but Cage is having none of it.

Zamana gets a takedown into half guard.
Cage is trying to stand back up but Zamana is controlling him

Zamana is working for a kimura but Cage is defending it quite comfortably.
Cage tries to kick Zamana off but Zamana keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage tries to get to full guard but Zamana has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zamana wants to control but Cage is keeping him busy.
Zamana blocks the strikes from Cage.
Cage is looking to control Zamana's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cage avoid being mounted?

Zamana is working for a submission of some sort.
Zamana is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cage can do to turn this around?
Cage is trying to stand back up but Zamana is controlling him

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.
Cage is concentrating on defense, preventing Zamana from advancing position.
Zamana trying to control the action but Cage is working from the bottom.
Zamana prevents Cage from improving his position.
Cage takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zamana seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cage does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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

Zamana gets a takedown into half guard.
Zamana wants to take a breather but Cage is having none of it.
Cage wants to control but Zamana is keeping busy.
Cage tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Zamana moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Cage.
Cage takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Cage misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Cage is being controlled here.
Cage is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Zamana landing strikes.

Zamana has hold of Cage's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Cage tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Zamana cranks the arm and Cage screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Cage, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Rafal Zamana!
Rafal Zamana very nearly forgot to thank M.O. Fight Wear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
The defeated Tom Cage had this to say: 'fair game, we lose and win dat is the part of game, love to my fans and coaches!!!####'.