PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akono Ziyad (ranked 6700 p4p, 661 weight class) and Tom Drogo (ranked 8221 p4p, 724 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Ziyad
vs
Drogo

192 cm
25
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
22
194 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Akono Ziyad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tom Drogo!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drogo moves forwards but Ziyad connects with a nice, crisp jab.

It looks like Tom Drogo has been cut.
Drogo ducks under a wild hook from Ziyad.
Ziyad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A good leg kick by Ziyad.
Ziyad throws a poor cross that misses
and Drogo counters with an outside leg kick.
Drogo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ziyad. Ziyad obviously looking to wear him down.
Drogo checks a leg kick nicely.
Drogo was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ziyad falls off balance throwing a combination
and Drogo counters with a leg kick.
Ziyad falls off balance throwing a combination
and Drogo counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziyad throws the left hand but Drogo avoids the punch easily.
Ziyad attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ziyad throws a left and a right that both miss
and Drogo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ziyad slips a jab and a cross from Drogo.
Ziyad misses with a two punch combination.
Ziyad misses with a hook to the body
and Drogo counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ziyad throws a nice head kick!
Ziyad misses with a double jab.
Drogo lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Drogo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ziyad to score with a decent uppercut.
Ziyad tries to clinch up but Drogo circles away and keeps his distance.
Ziyad throws a lazy head kick
and Drogo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad closes the distance but Drogo moves to the side
and Drogo counters with a thumping low kick.
Ziyad shoots in but Drogo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Akono Ziyad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ziyad tries to clinch but Drogo is having none of it.
Drogo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ziyad attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Drogo was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Ziyad swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Drogo counters with a right hand to the body.
Ziyad throws a sloppy head kick and Drogo moves out of range easily.
Drogo shapes to counter with a head kick.
Tom Drogo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ziyad throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Drogo's waist but Drogo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ziyad off to one side.
Drogo shapes to counter with a head kick.
Drogo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ziyad. Ziyad obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad throws a head kick that misses
and Drogo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ziyad's knee momentarily.
Drogo misses with a head kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ziyad is defended easily by Drogo.
Drogo shapes to counter with a head kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akono Ziyad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drogo moves away from the strike by Ziyad.
Ziyad cracks Drogo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Drogo walks into a straight right hand from Ziyad.
Ziyad darts in looking for a takedown but Drogo gets double underhooks and turns Ziyad into the cage.
Drogo shapes to counter with a head kick.
Ziyad buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Drogo checks a low kick from Ziyad.
Drogo throws out a counter right but Ziyad avoids it with no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drogo checks the leg kick.
Drogo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Drogo lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Ziyad throws a lazy head kick
and Drogo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ziyad dives in for a single leg takedown but Drogo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Drogo flicks out a counter leg kick but Ziyad steps away.
Ziyad dives in for a single leg takedown but Drogo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Drogo! But no joy.
Ziyad pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drogo tries a quick counter leg kick but Ziyad is wise to it.
No joy there for Ziyad, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ziyad loads up on a big right hand but Drogo slips the punch.
Drogo flicks out a counter leg kick but Ziyad steps away.
Ziyad doesn't manage to clinch there - Drogo circles away.
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!
Ziyad tries to clinch up.
Drogo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
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 Akono Ziyad will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tom Drogo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ziyad tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ziyad throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ziyad's jab looks to have found its range, popping Drogo under the eye.
Ziyad rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Drogo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Drogo thinks about the counter body kick.
A swing and a miss from Ziyad.
Drogo unleashes a big counter combination but Ziyad bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A left lands for Ziyad.
Drogo misses with a kick to the body.
Ziyad is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ziyad misses with a takedown attempt - Drogo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Ziyad is predictable there
and Drogo counters with a nice leg kick.
Ziyad scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drogo slips a jab from Ziyad.
Ziyad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Drogo unleashes a big counter combination but Ziyad bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ziyad thows a leg kick but Drogo checks it
and Drogo makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Ziyad really felt that one!
Ziyad wants to clinch.
Drogo only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Ziyad tries to clinch there but Drogo circles away.
Drogo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ziyad misses with a jab to the body
and Drogo counters with a three punch combo that has Ziyad backing up. Ziyad nods at Drogo to acknowledge the strikes.
Ziyad misses with an uppercut
and Drogo counters with a slapping leg kick.
Ziyad throws a combination that misses
and Drogo counters with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad throws a looping overhand right but Drogo ducks down to avoid it.
Drogo is trying to counter with his kicks.
Drogo misses with a head kick.
Ziyad throws a big shot that misses.
Drogo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ziyad.
Ziyad throws a big shot that misses.
Drogo unleashes a big counter combination but Ziyad bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Drogo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ziyad doesn't manage to clinch there - Drogo circles away.
Ziyad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ziyad misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogo checks a leg kick.
Ziyad throws a head kick that misses.
Ziyad misses with the combination.
Drogo avoids the body shot from Ziyad.
Ziyad looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ziyad misses with a lunging right hand
and Drogo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ziyad, right into the meat.
Ziyad tries to clinch up.
Drogo only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Ziyad waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Drogo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Drogo counters with an outside leg kick.
Ziyad darts in trying to clinch
and Drogo counters with a nice leg kick.
A big right from Ziyad misses.
Drogo feints a counter leg kick.
Drogo checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ziyad throws a head kick that misses
and Drogo counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ziyad is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Ziyad has closed the distance and engaged Drogo in a clinch.

Ziyad breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ziyad throws an overhand right that lands on Drogo's shoulder, as Drogo tries to avoid the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tom Drogo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tom Drogo's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Drogo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ziyad misses the jab.
Drogo was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Ziyad tries to clinch but Drogo moves out of range.
Drogo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ziyad has a takedown stuffed.
Ziyad looks to land a combination but Drogo avoids it well.
Ziyad misses with a body punch
and Drogo counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Ziyad throws a low kick, looking for Drogo's leg but Drogo calmly moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Ziyad.
Ziyad backing away here, and Drogo unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Ziyad tries to clinch up.
Ziyad misses with a combination
and Drogo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziyad throws an off balance right hand
and Drogo counters with a leg kick.
Akono Ziyad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ziyad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ziyad throws a left and a right that both miss
and Drogo counters with a three punch combo that has Ziyad backing up. Ziyad nods at Drogo to acknowledge the strikes.
Drogo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A slow jab from Ziyad misses its intended target.
Ziyad takes a swing at Drogo's ribcage but misses.
Ziyad backing away here, and Drogo unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Drogo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ziyad backing away here, and Drogo unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A good leg kick by Ziyad.
Drogo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad thows a leg kick but Drogo checks it
and Drogo counters with a stiff right hand.
Ziyad fails with an attempt to clinch.
Drogo tries a quick counter leg kick but Ziyad is wise to it.
A head kick misses from Ziyad.
A low kick from Ziyad is predictable there
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ziyad throws a leg kick that is checked
and Drogo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Drogo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ziyad misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ziyad misses with a right hand
and Drogo counters with an inside leg kick.
Ziyad throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Drogo counters with a slapping leg kick.
A punch combination from Ziyad misses.
Drogo follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Drogo flicks out a counter leg kick but Ziyad steps away.
Ziyad tries for a takedown but Drogo circles away easily
and Drogo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ziyad's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akono Ziyad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drogo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ziyad throws a right hand that misses
and Drogo counters with a right hand to the body.
Drogo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ziyad, right into the meat.
Ziyad throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ziyad thows a leg kick but Drogo checks it
and Drogo counters with a left and a right that stings Ziyad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad throws a left and a right that both miss
and Drogo counters with a leg kick.
Ziyad is looking to score with low kicks.
Drogo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ziyad looks to land a left hand but Drogo moved out of range nicely.
Drogo feints a counter leg kick.
Ziyad takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ziyad wants to clinch up but Drogo keeps it at a distance.
Drogo was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Drogo blocks a head kick by Ziyad.
Drogo tries a quick counter leg kick but Ziyad is wise to it.
Drogo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ziyad misses with a low kick.
Drogo was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Ziyad shoots and misses
and Drogo counters with a one-two to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Drogo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Drogo 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Drogo!