PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rukah Padero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Zangief (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Padero might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Midnight Conspiracy - Discord (At Dawn We Rage Remix). Zangief comes into a darkened arena with his song building. We Own It kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Padero
vs
Zangief

176 cm
25
152 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

170 cm
28
150 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Conviction
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rukah Padero !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Travis Zangief!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zangief lands with a straight right. Padero didn't see that one coming.
Padero circles away from the clinch attempt.

Padero closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zangief wants to break the clinch but can't.
Padero blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Padero jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zangief walks away with a smile on his face. Padero gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zangief misses with a leg kick
and Padero makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Zangief really felt that one!
Padero uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zangief has time to react.

Zangief lands a big head kick that sends Padero tumbling to the mat! Zangief takes a step backwards and waves Padero back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Padero is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zangief throws a hook but Padero avoids it easily.
Oh Padero is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Padero lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Some bone on bone action there as Padero checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A little feinted left hand from Padero on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zangief.
Padero throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Padero seems to have got his legs back now.
We've been hearing reports that Padero has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Zangief fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zangief pivots, looking for a leg kick but Padero is out of range and Zangief settles back down.
Padero feinted with a counter takedown.

Padero closes the distance and clinches.
Zangief with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zangief looking to throw knees to the head but Padero is blocking nicely.
Zangief misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Zangief fails to land.

Padero drags the fight down to the ground.

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

Padero working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zangief doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zangief manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Padero wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Padero working for a triangle but Zangief defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Padero is pulling down on Zangief's head to control his posture.
Padero trying to keep a closed guard but Zangief is proving a slippery customer.
Zangief wanted to stand there but Padero had control of the position.

Padero working for a triangle but Zangief defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Padero is trying to keep Zangief in close.

Padero is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zangief is aware though and is defending well.
Zangief wants to control from the top but Padero keeps moving.

Padero is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zangief defends well.

Padero is looking for a triangle here but Zangief uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zangief slows the pace down.
Zangief gets to mount! Padero was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Padero tries to lock up and control but Zangief gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Padero reaches up to try and control the position but Zangief seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Padero rolls and tries to escape and now Zangief has his back!
Padero trying to control the hands but Zangief breaks the grip.
Padero is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Zangief is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Zangief controlling well, preventing Padero from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Zangief 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.

Padero avoids a kick to the body.
Padero scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zangief doesn't seem bothered though.
A slapping leg kick lands for Zangief.
Travis Zangief seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zangief misses with a kick to the body.
Zangief scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Travis Zangief seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Padero slips under a jab from Zangief.
Zangief has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zangief with a hook.
Padero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zangief's waist but Zangief gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Padero off to one side.
Zangief throws a leg kick that is checked

and Padero counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Padero misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Padero tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Padero working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zangief stops Padero from passing to mount.
Zangief 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.
Padero working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Padero goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Zangief has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Padero but great work by Zangief.
Rukah Padero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zangief trying to control the action but Padero is working from the bottom.
Padero gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Zangief wants to free his trapped foot but Padero is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Padero wants to control but Zangief is keeping busy and won't allow it.
It looks like Zangief is going to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zangief is controlling the pace.
Padero is looking to control Zangief's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Padero avoid being mounted?
Padero preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Zangief tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Padero .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Padero keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Padero keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Padero has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zangief misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Padero .
Zangief with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Padero prevents a body shot from Zangief.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zangief misses with an elbow strike.
Zangief lands a nice knee to the body.
Padero avoids a wild elbow strike from Zangief.
Padero throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Zangief showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Padero scores with a body shot.
Zangief throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zangief looks to land a left hand but Padero moved out of range nicely.
Zangief motions for Padero to come forward. Zangief throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zangief throws a shot from downtown. Padero moves away and avoids it.
A lazy body kick from Zangief

and Padero counters with a shoot takedown. Zangief fights it but they end up in guard.
Padero engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Padero has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Padero loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zangief keeping moving, preventing Padero from controlling successfully.
Padero controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zangief looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zangief shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Padero circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Padero fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zangief looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zangief wants to clinch up but Padero keeps it at a distance.
Padero tries to counter with a takedown but Zangief is quick to defend against it.
Zangief throws a front kick aimed at Padero 's knee but Padero avoids it well.
Zangief tries a head kick but it misses.
Zangief throws a sloppy head kick and Padero moves out of range easily.
Zangief fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Padero .
Zangief throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Padero counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zangief won't be happy with that.

Padero wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zangief, who protects the arm well.
Zangief regains half guard.
Zangief is staying active underneath Padero , who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zangief trying to control but Padero postures up.

Padero is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zangief is just riding it out for now. Padero eventually gives up the hold.
Travis Zangief is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zangief wants to control but Padero is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Padero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zangief keeps working.
Padero throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Padero is trying to work for a kimura but Zangief is defending well.
Rukah Padero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Padero is pressing down on Zangief's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zangief is holding on for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zangief checks a leg kick.
Zangief fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Padero is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rukah Padero showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zangief has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Zangief!
Travis Zangief looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Great to get another win again. Feels like its been ages. Props to my opponent he brought it tonight but my plan was to push the pace and stay aggresive. Thank you Los Angeles!! Let's party tonight!!!'.