PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manny Zelaya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Sucuibi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zelaya comes to the cage accompanied by Can't hold us. Manny Zelaya could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tyler Sucuibi's chin.

Zelaya
vs
Sucuibi

188 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

150 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Manny Zelaya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyler Sucuibi!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zelaya throws a sloppy head kick and Sucuibi moves out of range easily.
Sucuibi misses with a takedown attempt

and Zelaya counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zelaya.

Zelaya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zelaya blocks a jab.
Sucuibi with a poor takedown

and Zelaya moves into the clinch.
Sucuibi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zelaya avoids it.
Sucuibi is trying to push Zelaya away but Zelaya has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Zelaya manages to break the clinch.
Sucuibi tries to clinch up

and Zelaya counters with a crisp one two that drops Sucuibi! Zelaya thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Sucuibi to his feet! Sucuibi is in big trouble!
Zelaya keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Manny Zelaya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Sucuibi.
Nice sprawl there from Sucuibi as Zelaya shoots in.
Zelaya shoots in for a takedown but Sucuibi shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zelaya misses with a kick to the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sucuibi crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Zelaya - the referee stops the clock and Sucuibi gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Zelaya. Sucuibi manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Sucuibi takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sucuibi shoots in looking for a takedown but Zelaya manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sucuibi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sucuibi looks for a takedown but Zelaya sprawls well.
Sucuibi looks winded!
Sucuibi misses with a body kick.
Zelaya swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Zelaya tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sucuibi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zelaya somewhat.

Sucuibi takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zelaya manages to break the clinch.
Sucuibi tries to close the distance and clinch but Zelaya swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Sucuibi has eaten all the pies!
Zelaya with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sucuibi moves into the clinch.

Sucuibi pulls Zelaya into guard.
Sucuibi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

This has been an exciting period of action!

Zelaya manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sucuibi doesn't manage to clinch there - Zelaya circles away.
Zelaya avoids the head kick by Sucuibi.

Zelaya drives through and clinches with Sucuibi against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sucuibi tries to break free but Zelaya pushes him back against the cage.

Zelaya's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sucuibi avoids the body shot from Zelaya.
Zelaya works over Sucuibi's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Tyler Sucuibi has been cut.
Sucuibi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zelaya defends well and Sucuibi ends up having to push Zelaya into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Zelaya with a jab.
No luck for Zelaya with that takedown attempt.
Sucuibi takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Sucuibi is rocked!

Zelaya moves into the clinch successfully.
Zelaya holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sucuibi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zelaya just stands there and leans against the cage.

Zelaya escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zelaya shoots in but no luck this time.

Zelaya clinches up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sucuibi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zelaya tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sucuibi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zelaya tries for a takedown but Sucuibi manages to get underhooks.
Sucuibi tries to break the clinch but Zelaya is controlling the position.

Sucuibi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zelaya shoots in but Sucuibi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Zelaya dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tyler Sucuibi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sucuibi misses with a double jab.

Sucuibi clinches up with Zelaya and pushes him back against the cage.

Zelaya breaks from the clinch.
Zelaya shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sucuibi pinned against the cage. Sucuibi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zelaya displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sucuibi.

Zelaya rushes Sucuibi and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zelaya tries to pull guard but Sucuibi won't allow it.
Zelaya holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sucuibi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sucuibi has Zelaya pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zelaya manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sucuibi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zelaya to keep the fight standing.
Manny Zelaya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Sucuibi.

Sucuibi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zelaya or perhaps it was just good defense by Sucuibi, which made it look bad.
Zelaya tries to clinch but Sucuibi is having none of it.
Sucuibi tries to score with a low kick but Zelaya moves his leg out of the way.
Sucuibi shoots in and drives through. Zelaya sprawls well.
Sucuibi is breathing heavily.
Zelaya tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sucuibi is able to avoid easily.
Zelaya misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zelaya scores with a push kick.
Zelaya fails to land the takedown.
Zelaya leaves Sucuibi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sucuibi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sucuibi wants it to stay on the feet.
Sucuibi is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sucuibi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zelaya as he avoids it easily.
Zelaya tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Sucuibi manages to circle out of the way.

Zelaya takes the fight into the clinch.
Zelaya tries for a takedown. No joy.

Sucuibi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zelaya fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sucuibi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zelaya drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sucuibi sprawls and moves away.

Zelaya clinches with his opponent.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Zelaya holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Zelaya tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sucuibi smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sucuibi throws a body kick that misses.
Sucuibi fails to land the takedown.
Zelaya half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Zelaya looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sucuibi is fending him off so far but Zelaya persists. Nope, Sucuibi circles away and we're back to standing.
Sucuibi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sucuibi shoots for a double leg takedown but Zelaya sprawls well. He's pushed Sucuibi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sucuibi gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zelaya.

Sucuibi darts in and clinches Zelaya up against the cage.
Zelaya misses with a body punch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zelaya just leaning against Sucuibi, taking a breather.
Sucuibi tries to stall but Zelaya uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Zelaya dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tyler Sucuibi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sucuibi throws a combination that misses

and Zelaya counters by clinching up.
Zelaya missing with knees to the body.
Sucuibi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sucuibi prevents the takedown attempt.
Sucuibi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zelaya tries for a takedown but Sucuibi manages to get underhooks.
Sucuibi wants to take the fight to the mat but Zelaya manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Zelaya breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zelaya is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sucuibi can do to turn this around?
Zelaya shoots for a takedown but Sucuibi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Zelaya. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sucuibi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Zelaya throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sucuibi's waist but Sucuibi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zelaya off to one side.
Manny Zelaya is winning the standup battle so far.
Zelaya misses with a combination
and Sucuibi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zelaya drives through and clinches with Sucuibi against the cage.
Sucuibi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zelaya pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Zelaya jumps guard but Sucuibi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Zelaya holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Sucuibi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sucuibi fails with the takedown
and Sucuibi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sucuibi blocks a head kick by Zelaya.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zelaya.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sucuibi tries for a takedown but Zelaya sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sucuibi doesn't manage to clinch there - Zelaya circles away.
Sucuibi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zelaya defends well and Sucuibi ends up having to push Zelaya into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Zelaya shoots in and drives through. Sucuibi sprawls well.

Zelaya has managed to clinch.
Sucuibi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zelaya gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Zelaya breaks the clinch.
Manny Zelaya is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zelaya tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sucuibi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Despite the aggression on Sucuibi's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Zelaya fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zelaya scores with a nice right hand.
Zelaya lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zelaya moves into the clinch successfully.
Sucuibi is trying to pull guard but Zelaya has him pressed against the cage.
Sucuibi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zelaya smiles and moves away.
Sucuibi tried to score with a low kick but Zelaya checks it.
Zelaya throws a big counter combination but Sucuibi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Zelaya lands with a shot to the body.

Zelaya has Sucuibi up against the cage in a clinch.
Zelaya landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Zelaya fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sucuibi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zelaya is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sucuibi looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zelaya leaning against his opponent.

Zelaya decides to pull guard.
Zelaya trying to control the position.

Zelaya throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zelaya is looking to stand up but Sucuibi isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Zelaya showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zelaya, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Manny Zelaya!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Manny Zelaya!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Manny Zelaya!

Manny Zelaya wins by unanimous decision!
A determined Manny Zelaya didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!