PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mao Zedong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Vieira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zedong
vs
Vieira

185 cm
31
213 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

183 cm
32
194 lbs
14 - 20 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mao Zedong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Leo Vieira!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Roger Salmon and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Vieira.
Vieira tries to clinch up.
Vieira's coach down at Brick Brawlers MMA (13 Coaches) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Vieira's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Leo Vieira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Vieira moves into range and clinches up with Zedong.
Vieira tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zedong avoids it.
Zedong avoiding damage as Vieira throws knees to the body.
Vieira landing knees to the body.

Vieira breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vieira wants to clinch

and Zedong counters by moving into the clinch.

Vieira jumps guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zedong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vieira working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zedong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zedong won't allow Vieira to sweep him here.
Zedong passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Zedong wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vieira, who protects the arm well.
Zedong misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Vieira is looking for a sweep.

Zedong is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vieira has escaped the position, nice work there.
Zedong tries to advance to mount but Vieira denies him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zedong wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vieira keeps working.
Vieira tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Zedong throws strikes from the back but Vieira rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Vieira.
Zedong in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zedong in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vieira utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zedong sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zedong landing with the ground and pound.
Zedong slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vieira keeping moving, preventing Zedong from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieira looking to control.
Zedong controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

We're going to have a standup here because Mao Zedong wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Vieira tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Zedong counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zedong trying to mount his opponent but Vieira defends it.
Ground and pound from Zedong.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zedong looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zedong wants to take a breather but Vieira is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A solid body kick from Vieira.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zedong.
Vieira tries to close the distance and clinch but Zedong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vieira tries to clinch up

and Zedong counters with a shoot takedown. Vieira fights it but they end up in guard.
Zedong is pushing down on Vieira's leg trying to pass to half guard. Vieira is fighting to maintain full guard but Zedong has managed to sneak the leg through.
Vieira moves into full guard.
Zedong looking to pass the guard.
Vieira keeping moving, preventing Zedong from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zedong throwing strikes but missing.
Zedong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vieira keeping full guard, as Zedong tries to pass.
Zedong landing some decent shots from guard.
Zedong trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieira tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zedong stops Vieira from standing up.
Zedong in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zedong in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zedong lands a couple of digs.
Zedong pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vieira is keeping the position for now.
Zedong cracks Vieira with a solid left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zedong trying to control but Vieira is working from the bottom.
Vieira working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zedong looking to pass the guard.
Vieira wants to get back to his feet but Zedong is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Vieira really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zedong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zedong throws an elbow that misses. Vieira uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zedong's guard. Nice move by Vieira!
Zedong is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zedong lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zedong wants to take a breather but Vieira is having none of it.
Vieira blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zedong.
Vieira is not content to let Zedong control the position.

Zedong wants to work for an arm triangle but Vieira is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zedong not doing much here.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mao Zedong dominated that second 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vieira is looking to clinch but Zedong is avoiding it.
Vieira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zedong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zedong circles away from the clinch attempt

and Zedong counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Zedong throwing shots but Vieira is blocking nicely.
Zedong throwing shots but Vieira is blocking nicely.
Zedong 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.
We've been hearing good reports from Zedong's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Vieira taking some punishment here, with Zedong in his half guard.

Vieira is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zedong is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Vieira is hurt! He's hurt bad - Zedong fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Vieira from any more punishment! Congratulations to Zedong! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mao Zedong!