PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Athrun Zala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marko Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Zala might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Drowning Pool - Bodies. Gracie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Green kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! On his way into the cage it seems that Athrun Zala has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Athrun Zala seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Zala
vs
Gracie

185 cm
25
220 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

192 cm
26
222 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Athrun Zala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Marko Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zala.

Zala shoots in and bounces Gracie off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zala defends it easily.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Zala postures up.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Zala controlling him for the moment.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Zala wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Zala lands a couple of elbows.

Gracie working for a triangle but Zala defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zala accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Zala drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zala jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie working for a triangle but Zala defends it easily.
Zala tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zala showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zala advances position into side control!
Gracie is trying to control Zala's posture but Zala avoids it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie taking a bit of punishment here - Zala scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Zala working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Zala cracks Gracie with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zala tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Zala wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Zala is controlling well.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
Gracie is trying to keep Zala in close.
Zala wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zala makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Gracie wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Zala is now in half guard.
Zala trying to pass the guard but Gracie defending well.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zala's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zala's back!
Zala trying to control the position but Gracie manages to sink in the hooks.
Zala controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.
Zala is taking damage to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Zala is defending well though. Gracie let's go of the attempt for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gracie tightening his grip on Zala, looking for the choke.
Gracie has good solid back control here.
Zala trying to survive by controlling the hands.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Zala takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Gracie missing with strikes from the back.

Gracie is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Zala knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Zala for a finish.

Gracie looking to break Zala's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Zala remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gracie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Gracie is punishing Zala with strikes - can he finish him?!
Zala is trying to get back to his feet but Gracie has full control of the position and if anything, Zala has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Zala fending off the submission attempt from Gracie.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gracie looking for the RNC.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Zala defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Zala throws a big elbow that misses.
Zala preventing the sweep.
Zala trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zala is pushing down on Gracie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gracie is fighting to maintain full guard but Zala has managed to sneak the leg through.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zala pulls his head out easily.
Zala scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Zala tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
Gracie is not content to let Zala control the position.
Zala prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Zala working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zala works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Zala is controlling well.
Zala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zala.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zala blocks the strikes from Gracie.
Zala not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie is not content to let Zala control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zala wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie pulls Zala in close to prevent any damage.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie looks gassed!
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Zala from controlling successfully.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Zala throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zala desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Zala is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zala keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Gracie 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.

Zala scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zala wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
Zala trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zala trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zala lands a couple of digs.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Zala from controlling successfully.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Zala tries to pass.
Zala throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zala manages to get himself to full guard.
Zala is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zala looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zala looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zala!
Zala working the ground and pound from side control.
Gracie takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Gracie taking a bit of punishment here - Zala scoring with strikes.
Gracie is trying to control Zala's posture but Zala avoids it.
Gracie taking a bit of punishment here - Zala scoring with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zala working the ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Zala is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Zala won't allow it.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Zala is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Zala defends the submission attempt.
Zala trying to control but Gracie postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zala defends it well.
Zala is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
Zala regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Gracie.
Gracie lands a couple of elbows.
Zala is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gracie postures up in Zala's guard and throws a big left but Zala blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a strike but Zala rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gracie wants to hit a switch here but Zala passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gracie there!
Zala lands with some strikes.
Zala breaks from Gracie's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zala is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gracie can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zala connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Zala lands with some strikes.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control but Zala is having none of it.
Zala has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gracie's face.

Gracie is rocked!
Zala lands a nice shot to the head.
Gracie is still in real trouble! Can Zala finish him?
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Athrun Zala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Zala wants to finish this one by submission but Gracie is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Zala.
Gracie tries to hold on but Zala pushes him away.
Gracie can't escape the position.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Zala prevents Gracie from standing back up.
Zala sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zala working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nice strikes from Zala there.
Zala wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie has hold of Zala's hands but Zala slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zala winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zala is one step ahead there.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Zala wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Zala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zala slips nicely into half guard.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Zala lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie is in trouble now - Zala has advanced to mount!
Gracie seems to have recovered his senses.
A nice elbow there by Zala.
Zala unloading with bombs!
Zala landing punches.
Gracie is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zala with a couple of short strikes.
Zala avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
BOOM! Zala connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Zala pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Zala trying to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Zala with the ground and pound from mount.
Zala with shots to the head and body - Gracie looks very uncomfortable down there.
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!
Zala lands a big shot to the head and Gracie winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Athrun Zala!