PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Azizi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renan Zapelini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Azizi
vs
Zapelini

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Abdul Azizi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Renan Zapelini!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Sandra Marshall and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Zapelini misses.
No luck for Zapelini with that takedown attempt.
A combination from Zapelini does no damage.
Zapelini has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Azizi gets tackled into the cage by Zapelini. Zapelini maintains the clinch.
Zapelini is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Azizi to keep the fight standing.
Zapelini working hard to break the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Azizi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Azizi lands an elbow inside that Zapelini shrugs off.
Zapelini drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Azizi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Abdul Azizi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renan Zapelini.
Azizi lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Renan Zapelini has been cut.
Zapelini tries for a takedown but Azizi manages to get underhooks.
Zapelini is looking to take this one to the mat.
Zapelini tries to pull guard but Azizi won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azizi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zapelini fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Azizi avoids it really well and circles away.

Azizi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zapelini has a couple of punches blocked by Azizi.
Zapelini is looking to control Azizi's arms but Azizi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zapelini has his back to the cage.

Azizi breaks from the clinch.

Azizi rushes Zapelini and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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

Azizi closes the distance and pushes Zapelini back into the cage.
Zapelini tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zapelini tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Azizi smiles and moves away.
Zapelini shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Azizi sprawls well. Azizi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zapelini gets slowly back to his feet.
Zapelini looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapelini shoots in looking for a takedown. Azizi tries to sprawl out of it but Zapelini keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Azizi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zapelini takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Azizi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zapelini, pushing him back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
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!
Azizi prevents a takedown attempt there.
Azizi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azizi missing with knees to the body.

Zapelini pulls Azizi into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Azizi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Zapelini had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Azizi defends it easily.
Azizi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Azizi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zapelini on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zapelini looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Zapelini is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Azizi is aware though and is defending well.
Azizi controls from within his opponent's guard.
Azizi trying to control but Zapelini is working from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zapelini is looking for a triangle but Azizi pushes his legs off easily.
Azizi is looking to work some ground and pound but Zapelini has wrist control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azizi postures up.
Azizi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Zapelini is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Azizi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Renan Zapelini's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Azizi scoring well with a low kick there.
Azizi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zapelini.
Zapelini is trying hard to land a takedown here. Azizi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Renan Zapelini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azizi keeps Zapelini at a distance using the push kick.
Zapelini shoots in but no luck this time.
Abdul Azizi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renan Zapelini.

Azizi has Zapelini up against the cage in a clinch.
Azizi slows down the pace here.
Zapelini is breathing heavily.
Zapelini managing to block the knees to the body from Azizi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapelini misses with the head strike.
Azizi stalling the fight.
Azizi using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Azizi lands a knee to the head.
Zapelini has Azizi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Azizi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Azizi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zapelini dives in for a single leg takedown but Azizi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Azizi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zapelini's defenses.

Azizi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zapelini has a takedown stuffed.
Abdul Azizi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Azizi tries to clinch there but Zapelini circles away.

Azizi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Azizi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Azizi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zapelini's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azizi is trying to control the action in half guard but Zapelini is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Zapelini trying to control here.
Azizi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zapelini wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azizi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

We're going to have a standup here because Abdul Azizi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Zapelini tries for a takedown but Azizi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Azizi stuffs the takedown attempt from Zapelini. Zapelini gets slowly back to his feet.

Azizi rushes Zapelini and presses him up against the cage.
Azizi lands a good knee to the midsection. Zapelini won't want to take too many of those.
Azizi landing knees to the body.

Azizi manages to break the clinch.
Zapelini avoids the head kick by Azizi.

Azizi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Azizi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zapelini shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Azizi defends it nicely.

Azizi darts in and clinches Zapelini up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zapelini lands a nice uppercut.
Azizi lands a nice knee to the body.
Zapelini is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Azizi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Azizi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Azizi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Azizi stalling against the cage.
Azizi seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zapelini is looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Azizi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Renan Zapelini's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zapelini shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Azizi pinned against the cage. Azizi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zapelini has a takedown stuffed.
Azizi is looking to clinch.

Azizi moves into the clinch.
Azizi missing with knees to the body.
Azizi's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A frustrated look appears on Zapelini's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Zapelini.
Zapelini avoiding damage as Azizi throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapelini looking for a takedown.
Abdul Azizi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renan Zapelini.
Zapelini is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Azizi pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Zapelini takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Azizi manages to break the clinch.
Azizi is looking to clinch.
Zapelini tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Azizi swivels and escapes.

Azizi instigates a clinch.
Azizi is struggling to control the position.
Azizi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Azizi is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Azizi is pressed up against the cage. Zapelini has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Azizi down to the mat. Azizi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Zapelini gets tackled into the cage by Azizi. Azizi maintains the clinch.

Azizi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapelini takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Azizi clinches.
Abdul Azizi has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Azizi manages to break the clinch.

Azizi closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Azizi crunches a lovely knee into Zapelini's ribcage.
Azizi slowing the pace effectively.

Zapelini pulls Azizi into guard.
Zapelini preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Azizi trying to control but Zapelini is working from the bottom.

Zapelini has his foot on Azizi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Azizi works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zapelini is looking for a triangle here but Azizi uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Zapelini struggling a bit here.
Zapelini takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Azizi misses with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Azizi in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Zapelini gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Zapelini looking for submissions off his back.
Azizi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azizi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zapelini defending well though.
Zapelini is trying to control but can't.
Zapelini wants to get back to his feet.
Zapelini avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Azizi.
Azizi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azizi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Zapelini is refusing to be controlled, as Azizi sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Azizi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Azizi 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdul Azizi!