PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Billy Odom (ranked 24929 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Ziglar (ranked 5329 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Odom
vs
Ziglar

195 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Odom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Ziglar!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Odom shoots in for a double leg but Ziglar sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ziglar connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Odom's hands.
Ziglar with a poor takedown

and Odom counters by clinching up.
A bit of stalling here from Ziglar.
Odom has Ziglar pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ziglar manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Odom tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ziglar smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Odom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ziglar or perhaps it was just good defense by Odom, which made it look bad.
Odom tries to counter by clinching up but Ziglar breaks away and moves out of range.
Ziglar throws a low kick, looking for Odom's leg but Odom calmly moves out of range.
Odom thinks about countering with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ziglar has taken the fight to the clinch.
Odom is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ziglar is defending well.
Odom tries to pull guard but Ziglar won't allow it.
Ziglar lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Odom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odom tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ziglar prevents a takedown attempt there.
Odom is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ziglar pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ziglar manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Ziglar drags the fight down to the ground.
Odom stands up over Ziglar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Odom tries to stand but Ziglar is controlling from the bottom.

Odom is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Odom trying to control but Ziglar is working from the bottom.

Odom drops back looking for a leg! Ziglar is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ziglar manages to kick Odom off! Odom jumps back into Ziglar's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ziglar is on top in guard.

Ziglar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ziglar tries to free his leg and advance position but Odom is retaining full guard.
Odom will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Odom is working an open guard so Ziglar takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ziglar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ziglar looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Odom is fending him off so far but Ziglar persists. Nope, Odom circles away and we're back to standing.
Odom is looking to counter the offense by Ziglar and move into the clinch.
Ziglar shoots for a takedown but Odom saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Ziglar darts in and clinches Odom up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odom jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ziglar walks away with a smile on his face. Odom gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ziglar shoots for a double leg takedown but Odom sprawls well. He's pushed Ziglar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Odom is defended easily by Ziglar.
Odom is breathing heavily.
Ziglar throws a series of punches but Odom moves out of range.
Odom shoots in looking for a takedown. Ziglar tries to sprawl out of it but Odom keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ziglar manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Ziglar takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Odom drags the fight down to the ground.
Ziglar engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ziglar slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ziglar in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ziglar throws a strike aimed at the side of Odom's head but Odom avoids it well.
Odom is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Ziglar dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Odom slaps away a takedown attempt from Ziglar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Odom is looking for a counter combo.
Ziglar with a poor takedown

and Odom counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Odom tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ziglar just stands there and leans against the cage.

Ziglar manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Odom loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Odom trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Ziglar is looking for a triangle but Odom pushes his legs off easily.
Odom postures up in Ziglar's guard and throws a big left but Ziglar blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ziglar thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Odom working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Odom being controlled here momentarily.
Odom postures up and lands a big shot to Ziglar's brow.
Ziglar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odom throws a big elbow that misses.
Ziglar looking to control.
Ziglar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Odom is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Ziglar is working an open guard so Odom takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Ziglar has Odom up against the cage in a clinch.
Odom really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Odom is working for takedown but Ziglar is calmly controlling the position for now.
Odom tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ziglar just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Odom. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Odom gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ziglar regains guard.

Ziglar has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Odom has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Odom tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ziglar is pressed up against the cage. Odom has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ziglar down to the mat. Ziglar avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziglar scores with a sloppy right hand. Odom should have avoided that one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Odom gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ziglar counters with a series of strikes. Odom will be more careful next time no doubt.

Ziglar moves into the clinch.
Odom is trying to pull guard but Ziglar turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ziglar cracks Odom with a nice body shot.
Odom tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Odom drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ziglar gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Ziglar gets control of Odom's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ziglar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Odom being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ziglar is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Ziglar decides to pull guard.
Odom stops Ziglar from standing up.
Odom throwing strikes but missing.
Odom stopping the sweep attempt from Ziglar.

Ziglar had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Odom defends it easily.
Ziglar wants to sweep here but Odom controlling him for the moment.
Odom postures up in Ziglar's guard and throws a big left but Ziglar blocks it.
Michael Ziglar has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziglar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Odom looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Ziglar looking for a guillotine here but Odom defends easily.
Odom scoring with some ground and pound.
Odom missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Ziglar is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Odom presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Odom is trying to pull guard but Ziglar turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ziglar is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Ziglar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Odom blocks a head kick by Ziglar.
Ziglar displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Odom.
Ziglar throws a one two combo.
Odom shoots in for a takedown but Ziglar shows good takedown defense.
Odom sets himself, and Ziglar steps forward looking for the clinch! Odom avoids it this time.
Ziglar misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ziglar shoots in for a takedown but Odom shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Odom shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ziglar counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Odom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odom fails with the takedown.
Odom tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ziglar swivels and escapes.
Ziglar looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Ziglar dives in and grabs Odom's left leg, looking for a takedown. Odom pushes down on Ziglar's head and hops out.
Ziglar closes this distance looking for a takedown but Odom circles away.
Odom shoots for a takedown but Ziglar saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Odom slips a jab and a cross from Ziglar.
Michael Ziglar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ziglar will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziglar shoots in for a takedown but Odom shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Ziglar as Odom shoots in.
Ziglar is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Odom with a body shot.

Ziglar gets a clinch.

Ziglar manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Odom working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Odom loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Odom throws a big elbow that misses.
Odom missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Odom scoring with some ground and pound.
Odom scoring with some ground and pound.
Odom postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziglar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Odom throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ziglar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Odom loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Odom in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Odom shoots in for a takedown but Ziglar shows good takedown defense.
Odom throws a head kick that misses.
Ziglar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Odom stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Odom wants it to stay on the feet.
Odom shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ziglar pinned against the cage. Ziglar gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Odom stuffs the takedown.
Odom tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Ziglar manages to circle out of the way.
Odom keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Michael Ziglar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Odom doesn't manage to clinch there - Ziglar circles away.
Ziglar wants to counter the offense by Odom and move into the clinch position.
Ziglar leaves Odom with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ziglar with the counter takedown but Odom avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ziglar closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Ziglar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ziglar has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Ziglar!