PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yayi Zinsou (ranked 1558 p4p, 1280 weight class) and Balal Lama (ranked 215 p4p, 179 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zinsou
vs
Lama

199 cm
41
273
37 - 47 - 0

195 cm
32
220
13 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 47 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yayi Zinsou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Balal Lama!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lama closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zinsou did well to prevent Lama getting side control.
Lama frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Zinsou is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zinsou can't escape the position.
Zinsou is working hard here to advance position.
Lama tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zinsou is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lama controlling the pace for now.
Zinsou is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lama with good strikes from the mount here!
Zinsou sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Zinsou has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lama is working away from the top position though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lama in particular looking to stall.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Lama working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zinsou wants to get back to his feet.
Zinsou makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zinsou.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zinsou looking for a sweep. Not yet Zinsou, not yet.
Zinsou is pulling down on Lama's head. It's preventing any offense from Lama, at least for the moment.
Lama wants to control from the top but Zinsou keeps moving.
Zinsou 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.
Lama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zinsou looking for a sweep. Not yet Zinsou, not yet.
Lama is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zinsou definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Lama preventing the sweep.
Zinsou is trying to control the position but Lama postures up.
Zinsou keeping moving, preventing Lama from controlling successfully.

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.
Zinsou looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lama is one step ahead there.
Zinsou wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Lama postures up and lands a big shot to Zinsou's brow.
Lama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zinsou lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zinsou's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lama tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zinsou working some strikes from top position.

Lama is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zinsou is aware though and is defending well.

Lama manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Lama throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zinsou.
Zinsou feinted with a counter takedown.
Lama misses with a low kick.
Lama misses with a wild body shot.
Balal Lama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lama closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zinsou's guard.
Zinsou looking for a sweep. Not yet Zinsou, not yet.
Zinsou is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lama is working Zinsou over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lama preventing the sweep.
Zinsou keeping moving, preventing Lama from controlling successfully.
Lama scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zinsou wants to stand up but Lama is controlling him.
Lama pushing down on Zinsou's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Lama is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zinsou is just riding it out for now. Lama eventually gives up the hold.
Lama seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lama thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zinsou's head.
Zinsou makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zinsou.
Zinsou is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zinsou 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.
Lama tries to free his leg and advance position but Zinsou is retaining full guard.
Lama wants to control from the top but Zinsou keeps moving.
Lama preventing the sweep.
Zinsou utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zinsou wants to sweep but no luck.
Lama lands a couple of elbows.
Lama stands and throws Zinsou's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lama prevents Zinsou from escaping the position.
Lama working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Balal Lama dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lama shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Zinsou gets back to full guard.
Zinsou wants to get back to his feet but Lama passes into half guard.
Lama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zinsou keeps working.

Lama is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zinsou defends it well.
Zinsou tries to roll over but Lama keeps him under control.
Zinsou trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zinsou throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Zinsou is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zinsou keeps working.
Lama drops an elbow to the side of Zinsou's head.
Lama has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lama is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Zinsou keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Balal Lama has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lama can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zinsou is looking to escape.
Lama prevents Zinsou from getting the reversal.
Zinsou wants to control but Lama is having none of it.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Lama. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Lama tries to control but Zinsou wriggling away.
Lama landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lama in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Zinsou is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Lama tries to control but Zinsou wriggling away.
Lama controlling from the full mount.
Lama trying to control but Zinsou is having none of it.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Zinsou defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Lama.
Lama sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lama looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Lama content just to control the position here.
Lama tries to control but Zinsou wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou is looking to get to half guard.
Lama has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lama can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zinsou is looking to escape.
Lama with a couple of short strikes.
Zinsou wants to control but Lama is having none of it.
Lama postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Zinsou looks a forlorn figure.
Zinsou prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Lama looking to control but Zinsou is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zinsou regains half guard.
Lama trying to control from half guard but Zinsou is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou taking some punishment here, with Lama in his half guard.
Lama wants to take a breather but Zinsou is having none of it.
Lama lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zinsou manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lama seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Zinsou is trying to control the position but Lama postures up.
Lama preventing the sweep.
Zinsou tries to strike from the bottom.
Zinsou keeping moving, preventing Lama from controlling successfully.
Zinsou looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lama chips away with some ground and pound.
Zinsou keeping moving, preventing Lama from controlling successfully.
Zinsou tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Balal Lama 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!

Lama takes a swing at Zinsou's ribcage but misses.
Lama connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lama goes for a double leg but Zinsou avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zinsou continues to drive forward.
Zinsou dives in for a single leg takedown but Lama sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Zinsou ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Zinsou no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lama trying to control the position from guard on top but Zinsou is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zinsou wants to sweep but no luck.
Lama showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zinsou wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lama postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zinsou wants to sweep but no luck.
Lama is working Zinsou over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lama trying to control but Zinsou is working from the bottom.
Zinsou wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Lama with a nice head shot there.
Lama passes Zinsou's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zinsou keeping hold of Lama's head, controlling as best he can.
Lama is looking to advance position but Zinsou won't allow it.
Lama prevents Zinsou from improving his position.
Lama looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Lama is thwarting Zinsou's attempts to control the position.
Lama prevents Zinsou from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zinsou tries to kick Lama off but Lama keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Lama seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Zinsou is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Balal Lama!
After the big win, Balal Lama made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Altitude Clothing and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.