PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maximus Varillius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dje Je Ba Zapelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maximus Varillius has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Varillius
vs
Je Ba Zapelo

183 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 Montreal, Maximus Varillius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dje Je Ba Zapelo!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zapelo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Varillius paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Varillius feints and as Zapelo raises his hands in defense, Varillius changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Varillius gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Varillius scores a takedown into full mount!
Zapelo tries to lock up and control but Varillius gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zapelo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Varillius trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Varillius avoids the attempt from Zapelo to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Varillius there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Zapelo 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.
Well, if Varillius is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Zapelo is doing well to control the position and prevent Varillius from advancing to side control.
Zapelo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Zapelo wants to get back to his feet but Varillius is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Zapelo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapelo trying to control the position.
Zapelo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Varillius's guard.
Varillius is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Varillius has a closed guard, preventing Zapelo from standing up.
Zapelo trying to control the position from guard on top but Varillius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapelo stopping the sweep attempt from Varillius.

Zapelo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Varillius, up you get!
Zapelo fails with the takedown

and Varillius counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Zapelo is staying active underneath Varillius, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zapelo manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Zapelo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Varillius is breathing heavily.
Zapelo pulls Varillius in close to his closed guard and prevents Varillius from doing any damage or advancing position.
Varilliusis looking to pass into half guard but Zapelo pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Zapelo is in guard.
Varillius wants to stand but Zapelo is controlling the position.
Zapelo passes Varillius's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Varillius shoots in and drives through. Zapelo sprawls well.
Horrible takedown by Zapelo or perhaps it was just good defense by Varillius which made him look bad.
Zapelo falls off balance throwing a combination

and Varillius holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Zapelo fails to pull guard.

Varillius pulls guard.
Zapelo stops Varillius from standing up.
Zapelo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Varillius is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zapelo stands and throws Varillius's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Varillius stops Zapelo from passing to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varillius is trying to improve his position.
Zapelo content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Zapelo has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Varillius gets caught flat footed, as Zapelo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Varillius is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zapelo gets to his feet - Varillius follows without any prompting.
Zapelo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Varillius has his takedown stuffed

and Zapelo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Zapelo lands strikes from half guard.
Zapelo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varillius wants to control but Zapelo is keeping busy.
Well, if Zapelo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Let's hope that Zapelo has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nice strikes from Zapelo there.
Well, if Zapelo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Varillius flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Zapelo decides to return to a standing position.
Maximus Varillius is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Varillius fails with the takedown

and Zapelo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dje Je Ba Zapelo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Zapelo tries to clinch there but Varillius circles away.

Zapelo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Varillius knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zapelo on the ground.
Zapelo in side control lands a decent elbow.
Zapelo content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Varillius manages to get back to half guard.
Nice strikes from Zapelo there.

Zapelo postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Varillius to stand up.
Varillius lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapelo misses with a leg kick

and Varillius counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zapelo won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zapelo wants to control but Varillius postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zapelo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Zapelo is trying is best to control the position here.
Zapelo gets back to full guard.
Zapelo pulls Varillius in close to prevent any damage.

Despite being in the dominant position, Dje Je Ba Zapelo just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zapelo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Varillius looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Zapelo works to advance to full mount. Varillius defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapelo looking to control and managing it successfully.

Zapelo working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Varillius turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Zapelo off and cradles Varillius's limp body as Zapelo celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Dje Je Ba Zapelo!