PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alonzo Guerra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zahos Katsaounis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zahos Katsaounis has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Guerra
vs
Katsaounis

208 cm
24
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alonzo Guerra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zahos Katsaounis!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, David Schapiro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Katsaounis fails with a takedown attempt.
Katsaounis thows a leg kick but Guerra checks it

and Guerra counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Katsaounis breaks the clinch.
Guerra wants to clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Guerra checks a leg kick.
Katsaounis goes for a double leg but Guerra avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Guerra continues to drive forward.

Guerra jumps into guard, dragging Katsaounis to the mat.
Katsaounis looking to sit in guard and control but Guerra gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Katsaounis controls Guerra momentarily but Guerra frees himself.

Katsaounis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katsaounis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Guerra is stalling in the full guard.
Katsaounis controlling the position.

Katsaounis scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Katsaounis throws an off balance right hand
and Guerra counters with a two punch combo.
Guerra tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Katsaounis swivels and escapes.
Katsaounis tries to clinch there but Guerra circles away.
Katsaounis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alonzo Guerra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zahos Katsaounis.
Katsaounis is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katsaounis closes the distance and clinches up with Guerra, looking for a takedown. Katsaounis pushes Guerra against the cage but Guerra circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Guerra closes this distance looking for a takedown but Katsaounis circles away.
Guerra misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Guerra really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katsaounis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Guerra tries to clinch there but Katsaounis circles away.
Guerra fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Katsaounis misses with a takedown attempt - Guerra sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Katsaounis goes for a double leg but Guerra avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Guerra continues to drive forward.
Katsaounis looks winded!
Katsaounis jumps guard but Guerra stands there with Katsaounis around his waist. Katsaounis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guerra working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Guerra takes a shot to the head.
Katsaounis is trying to break free.
Guerra will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Katsaounis up against the cage.
Guerra wants a takedown but no success here.
Guerra is trying to pull guard but Katsaounis turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Katsaounis gets underhooks to prevent Guerra's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katsaounis tries to work over Guerra's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Guerra can't get the takedown.
Guerra stalling in the clinch.

Guerra breaks the clinch.
Katsaounis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Katsaounis throws a right hand that Guerra ducks under and follows up with a left that Guerra also avoids with ease.
Guerra tries to clinch up.
Katsaounis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Guerra swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Katsaounis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Guerra sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A low kick from Katsaounis misses
and Guerra counters with an outside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Guerra.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alonzo Guerra will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Katsaounis moves to clinch but Guerra breaks away
and Guerra counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That kick from Guerra tenderised Katsaounis's leg. Katsaounis is trying to keep his angry face on.
Katsaounis swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Guerra shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Katsaounis sprawls well. Katsaounis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Guerra gets slowly back to his feet.
Guerra tries to clinch there but Katsaounis circles away.

Katsaounis gets tackled into the cage by Guerra. Guerra maintains the clinch.
Katsaounis swings wildly with an uppercut but Guerra uses good head movement to avoid it.
Guerra is trying to stall.
Katsaounis gets underhooks to prevent Guerra's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Guerra breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Katsaounis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Katsaounis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Guerra sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Katsaounis throws a nice looking combination but Guerra bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Guerra forces Katsaounis back against the cage and clinches.
Katsaounis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Katsaounis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Guerra just stands there and leans against the cage.
Alonzo Guerra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zahos Katsaounis.

Guerra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice sprawl there from Katsaounis as Guerra shoots in.
Guerra circles away from the clinch attempt.
Katsaounis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Guerra sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Katsaounis somewhat.
Katsaounis is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Guerra clinches.
Katsaounis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Katsaounis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Guerra shoots in for a takedown but Katsaounis shows good takedown defense.
Katsaounis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Guerra as he avoids it easily.
Guerra keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Guerra closes the distance and clinches up with Katsaounis, looking for a takedown. Guerra pushes Katsaounis against the cage but Katsaounis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Guerra tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Alonzo Guerra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
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!
Guerra shoots in for a takedown but Katsaounis shows good takedown defense.

Katsaounis clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Guerra breaks from the clinch.
Guerra stuffs the takedown attempt from Katsaounis. Katsaounis gets slowly back to his feet.
Katsaounis bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Katsaounis fails with the takedown.
Katsaounis darts in looking for a takedown but Guerra gets double underhooks and turns Katsaounis into the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Guerra.
Katsaounis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Katsaounis gets underhooks to prevent Guerra's takedown attempt.
Guerra has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Katsaounis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katsaounis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Katsaounis is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Guerra pulls guard effortlessly.
Guerra is pulling down on Katsaounis's head. It's preventing any offense from Katsaounis, at least for the moment.
Guerra's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Guerra controls Katsaounis momentarily but Katsaounis frees himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Guerra working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Katsaounis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Katsaounis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alonzo Guerra dominated that second round.
That's time! Guerra's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Guerra has had enough of the clinch but Katsaounis keeps him there for the moment.
Katsaounis tries to pull guard but Guerra forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Katsaounis working hard to break the clinch.
Katsaounis tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Guerra smiles and moves away.
Guerra shoots in for a takedown but Katsaounis shows good takedown defense.
Katsaounis moves in looking to clinch but Guerra pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guerra tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Katsaounis swivels and escapes.
Nice takedown defense from Guerra. No joy for Katsaounis on that attempt.
Alonzo Guerra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zahos Katsaounis.
Guerra uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Katsaounis.
Katsaounis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Guerra circles away.
Katsaounis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Guerra is looking to clinch but Katsaounis is avoiding it.
Guerra connects with a high kick.

It looks like Zahos Katsaounis has been cut.
Katsaounis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Guerra tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Katsaounis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Katsaounis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice takedown defense from Katsaounis. No joy for Guerra on that attempt.
Guerra dives in for a single leg takedown but Katsaounis sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Guerra successfully pulls guard.
Katsaounis trying to control the position from guard on top but Guerra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Guerra is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Katsaounis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Guerra looking to control.
Guerra wants to sweep here but Katsaounis controlling him for the moment.

Katsaounis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katsaounis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Katsaounis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Guerra swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Guerra is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Guerra will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Katsaounis gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Katsaounis has an active guard here but Guerra has managed to pass into half guard.
Katsaounis tries to kick Guerra off but Guerra keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Guerra looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Katsaounis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Guerra is working away from the top position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alonzo Guerra.
Well Guerra has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alonzo Guerra!