PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Amir Verdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emmanuel Zsorats (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emmanuel Zsorats has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Verdum
vs
Zsorats

185 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

181 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $150)

Skin-Clothes Designing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Amir Verdum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Emmanuel Zsorats!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Verdum.
Verdum checks a leg kick.

Zsorats shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Zsorats scoring with strikes but Verdum is staying in there.
Zsorats trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Verdum takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Zsorats looking for a guillotine from mount but Verdum is having none of it.
Verdum tries to reverse the position but Zsorats maintains control.
Zsorats controlling the position easily from mount.
Verdum is trying desperately to improve position.
Zsorats trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zsorats content just to control the position here.
Zsorats's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Emmanuel Zsorats has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Zsorats closes the distance and pushes Verdum back into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Verdum's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Zsorats escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Verdum enables Zsorats to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Verdum manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Verdum escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zsorats gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Verdum has his foot on Zsorats's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zsorats works his way back into a safe position though.
Zsorats stops Verdum from standing up.
Verdum looking for a sweep. Not yet Verdum, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zsorats looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Zsorats has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Verdum pulls Zsorats in close to prevent any damage.
Zsorats pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Verdum is keeping the position for now.
Zsorats trying to control the position from guard on top but Verdum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Emmanuel Zsorats hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Verdum attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
The fighters circle momentarily. Verdum darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Zsorats drives through with a takedown into guard.

Verdum escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zsorats gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zsorats wants to control from the top but Verdum keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zsorats controls from within his opponent's guard.
Verdum wants to stand but Zsorats is controlling the position.
Zsorats wants to control from the top but Verdum keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Emmanuel Zsorats.
Verdum fails to land with a series of punches.
Verdum lands a head shot.
Verdum misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Zsorats fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Verdum, pushing him back against the cage.
Zsorats wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zsorats is trying to drag Verdum to the mat but Verdum just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zsorats wants a takedown.
Amir Verdum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emmanuel Zsorats.

Zsorats works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Zsorats wants to control from the top but Verdum keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zsorats stands and throws Verdum's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Zsorats is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Verdum managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zsorats.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Verdum misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Verdum just misses with a punch to the body.
Zsorats ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Verdum moves away.

Zsorats dives in and scores a takedown into Verdum's guard.

Verdum looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Verdum is wriggling around but Zsorats manages to pass to half guard.
Verdum is not content to let Zsorats control the position.
Verdum wants to control but Zsorats is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zsorats stalling.
Verdum is not content to let Zsorats control the position.
Zsorats prevents Verdum from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Verdum is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zsorats pulls his head out easily.

Zsorats is looking for a kimura but Verdum is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zsorats to get the leverage.
Zsorats tries to pass to full mount but Verdum defends it.
Zsorats is keen to just control but Verdum is a slippery customer.
Verdum regains full guard. Nicely done.

Verdum looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Zsorats passes into side control.
Verdum is trying to control Zsorats's posture but Zsorats avoids it.
Zsorats wants to control but Verdum is keeping him busy.
Verdum is trying to get back to half guard.
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.
Zsorats staying calm.
Verdum is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zsorats's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zsorats trying to control the action but Verdum is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Verdum trying to control but Zsorats postures up.
Verdum regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Verdum not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verdum keeping moving, preventing Zsorats from controlling successfully.

Zsorats is sitting in close to Verdum's body. Verdum has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Zsorats is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Zsorats is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Verdum.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Amir Verdum!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Amir Verdum waved his t-shirt featuring Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $150)'s logo in front of the cameras.