PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Handler (ranked 3451 p4p, 1965 weight class) and Olan Zapina (ranked 373 p4p, 242 weight class). Olan Zapina is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Handler
vs
Zapina

172 cm
19
165
2 - 0 - 0

174 cm
26
150
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

HELLBENT
Nutritional Shaved Ice

Nutritional Shaved Ice

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jacob Handler!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Olan Zapina!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zapina is looking to clinch but Handler is avoiding it.

Zapina has Handler up against the cage in a clinch.
Handler blocks an elbow strike from Zapina.
Zapina lands an elbow that stopped Handler in his tracks for a moment.
Zapina lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Handler tries to circle away but Zapina has him pinned against the cage.

Handler lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zapina can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zapina taking some punishment here, with Handler in his half guard.
Handler prevents Zapina from improving his position.
Handler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Handler controlling the action here.
Handler scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handler content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Handler not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Handler lands strikes from half guard.
Handler winds up and cracks Zapina with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Handler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zapina's head.
Handler is taking a breather. Zapina says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two 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.
Handler winds up and cracks Zapina with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Handler trying to control the pace.
Handler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Handler lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Handler takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapina keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Handler takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zapina looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Handler stalling.
Zapina is looking to improve his position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Well, if Handler 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zapina tries to clinch up
and Handler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zapina fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zapina wants to clinch.
Handler went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Zapina tries to clinch but Handler moves out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zapina tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zapina tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Handler counter with a right hand.
Handler lands with a nice body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Handler dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zapina tries to clinch
and Zapina takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zapina tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Handler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zapina tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Handler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zapina moves to clinch but Handler breaks away
and Handler counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zapina tries to close the distance and clinch up but Handler swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zapina defending well as Handler loads up on a big left hand.
Handler swats away the attempt to clinch by Zapina.
Handler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It looked like Handler was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Zapina.
Zapina fails in his attempt to clinch.
Handler appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Zapina moves in looking to clinch but Handler pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zapina closes the distance but Handler moves to the side
and Handler counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Handler circles away from the clinch attempt
and Handler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zapina tries to close the distance and clinch but Handler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zapina moves away.
Zapina thinks about the counter body kick.
Handler misses the shot to the body.
Zapina wants to clinch.
Zapina moves in looking to clinch but Handler pushes him off.
Handler keeps the fight on the outside.
A little feinted left hand from Handler on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Handler connects with a body shot that sends Zapina's belly button to the back.
It looks like Handler has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Zapina tries to close the distance and clinch but Handler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Handler swats away the attempt to clinch by Zapina.
Handler keeps the fight on the outside.
Zapina wants to clinch up but Handler keeps it at a distance.
Zapina wants to clinch but Handler slips to the side
enabling Handler to counter with a crisp jab.
Olan Zapina seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zapina steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Handler.

Zapina rushes Handler and presses him up against the cage.
Handler is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zapina pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zapina throws an elbow but misses.
Handler blocks the elbow strike.
Handler is trying to break the clinch but Zapina has him pressed against the cage.
Handler avoids the elbow strike from Zapina, against the cage.
Zapina misses with an elbow strike.
Zapina misses with an elbow over the top.
Handler is trying to break the clinch but Zapina has him pressed against the cage.
Handler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zapina can do to turn this around?
Zapina lands an elbow just above Handler 's eye.
Zapina lands an elbow that stopped Handler in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zapina looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zapina is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Handler blocks the elbow strike.
Handler drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zapina pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacob Handler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zapina fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zapina tries to clinch but Handler moves out of range.
Zapina moves out of range as Handler strikes.
Zapina is looking to clinch.
Handler throws a shot from downtown. Zapina moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zapina tries to clinch but Handler is having none of it.
Zapina fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zapina fails in his attempt to clinch.
Olan Zapina is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zapina is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Handler.
Zapina tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Handler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zapina tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Handler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A cross from Handler lands.
Handler swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jacob Handler is winning the standup battle so far.
Zapina closes the distance looking to clinch
and Handler counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zapina tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Handler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice body punch from Handler.
Handler scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Zapina tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zapina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zapina tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Handler counters with a lovely shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zapina tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Handler counters with a left to the body.
Handler just misses with a punch to the body.
Zapina tries to clinch up but Handler circles away and keeps his distance.
A counter left hand to the body from Handler misses its target.
Zapina is looking to clinch but Handler is avoiding it.
Zapina moves to clinch but Handler breaks away
and Handler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Handler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Handler keeps the fight on the outside.
Handler is looking to counter punch.
Handler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zapina moves away.
Handler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zapina was well out of range. Poor timing from Handler.
Zapina tries to clinch up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Handler dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Handler takes a swing at Zapina's ribcage but misses.
Zapina closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Handler to counter with a crisp jab.
Handler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zapina circles away.
Zapina tries to close the distance and clinch up but Handler swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A little feinted left hand from Handler on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zapina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Handler was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Zapina wants to clinch
and Handler counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zapina is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zapina is looking to clinch.
Zapina wants to clinch but Handler slips to the side
enabling Handler to counter with a crisp jab.
Zapina is looking to clinch but Handler is avoiding it.
Handler was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Zapina tries to close the distance and clinch but Handler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zapina tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Handler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A counter left hand to the body from Handler misses its target.
Zapina tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Handler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zapina is looking to clinch but Handler is avoiding it.
Handler fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zapina avoids it really well and circles away.
Handler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Handler connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zapina's hands.
Zapina looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Zapina tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Zapina closes the distance and pushes Handler back into the cage.
Zapina throws an elbow but it misses.
Handler goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zapina prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacob Handler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Handler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Handler keeps the fight on the outside.
Zapina tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Handler paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It looked like Handler was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Zapina.
Zapina tries to clinch but Handler is having none of it.
Zapina tries to close the distance and clinch but Handler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Handler is looking to counter punch.
Zapina darts in trying to clinch
and Handler counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Zapina thinking.
A looping hook to the body misses from Handler. Zapina does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zapina tries to close the distance and clinch up but Handler swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Handler circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zapina is looking to clinch but Handler is avoiding it.
Zapina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Handler swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Handler keeps the fight on the outside.

Zapina pushes Handler up against the cage in a clinch.
Handler looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handler wants a takedown.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zapina.
Handler can't get the takedown.

Handler breaks from the clinch.
Zapina closes the distance but Handler moves to the side
and Handler counters with a straight right hand.
Handler circles away from the clinch attempt.
Handler keeps the fight on the outside.
Zapina moves in looking to clinch but Handler pushes him off.
Handler missing with a left hand there. Zapina was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zapina wants to clinch.
A jab from Handler misses.
Zapina tries to clinch up.
Handler shoots in looking for a takedown but Zapina manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Handler's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Handler dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zapina doesn't manage to clinch there - Handler circles away.

Handler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Handler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zapina trying to keep a closed guard but Handler is proving a slippery customer.
Handler throwing strikes but missing.
Handler with a nice head shot there.
Handler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Handler clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zapina tries to clinch but Handler moves out of range.
Handler throwing a counter right hand but Zapina manages to avoid it.
Handler throws a body shot but no joy.
Zapina tries to clinch but Handler moves out of range.
Handler circles away from the clinch attempt
and Handler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zapina fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zapina tries to clinch
and Handler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zapina wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zapina is looking to clinch but Handler is avoiding it.

Handler throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zapina was covering up waiting for the punch and Handler finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Handler trying to control the position from guard on top but Zapina is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapina looking for a sweep. Not yet Zapina, not yet.
Handler throwing strikes from guard but Zapina blocks nicely.
Handler throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Handler's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
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.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Handler landing with the ground and pound.
Zapina is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Handler postures up in Zapina's guard and throws a big left but Zapina blocks it.
Handler is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Handler not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Zapina preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handler is in close to Zapina's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Handler working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Handler is looking to work some ground and pound but Zapina has wrist control.
Handler throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zapina tries to clinch but Handler is having none of it.
Zapina is looking to clinch.
Zapina takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Zapina fails with an attempt to clinch.
Handler swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zapina fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zapina is looking to clinch.
Handler swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Handler throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zapina tries a quick counter leg kick but Handler is wise to it.
Zapina wants to clinch but Handler slips to the side
and Zapina takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zapina is looking to clinch.
Zapina darts in trying to clinch
and Handler counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zapina wants to clinch but Handler slips to the side
and Handler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Handler throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zapina moves to clinch but Handler breaks away
and Handler makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zapina moves in looking to clinch but Handler pushes him off.
Zapina tries to clinch up but Handler circles away and keeps his distance.
Handler fails with the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Handler misses with a wild body shot.
Zapina tries to close the distance and clinch but Handler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zapina doesn't manage to clinch there - Handler circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Handler had his way with Olan Zapina in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Zapina tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Handler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zapina wants to clinch up but Handler keeps it at a distance.
Zapina tries to clinch but Handler is having none of it.
Zapina has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Handler shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zapina napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Handler scoring with punches from side control.
Handler landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Handler throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Zapina's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zapina is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handler trying to control the action but Zapina is working from the bottom.
Jacob Handler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Handler in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Handler fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Handler in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Handler cracks Zapina with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Handler working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Zapina wants to control but Handler postures up.
Handler throws an elbow but Zapina slips to the side and avoids it well.
Handler staying calm.
Handler cracks Zapina with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handler works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Zapina takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Handler tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Handler in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Handler scoring with punches from side control.
Handler in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Handler has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Handler throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Handler slows the pace down.
Handler trying to control the action but Zapina is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Handler throws a body shot but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Handler just misses with a punch to the body.
Handler swats away the attempt to clinch by Zapina.
Olan Zapina has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Handler jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob Handler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Handler, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Josh West scores the fight 50:44
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 50:44
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 50:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacob Handler!
Jacob Handler is the new lightweight champion!
An out of breath Jacob Handler thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.