PBP Commentary

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

Awahalla
vs
Zombie

182 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

195 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anakoni Awahalla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Zombie!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Awahalla gets caught flat footed, as Zombie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Awahalla is trying to keep Zombie in close.
Awahalla avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zombie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zombie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zombie passes Awahalla's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Awahalla might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Awahalla wants to get back to full guard.
Zombie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Awahalla looks like he's trying to stand up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zombie shoots for a takedown but Awahalla saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Zombie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Zombie is looking to advance position but Awahalla won't allow it.
Awahalla has his hands clasped together around Zombie's back. He's all about the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zombie prevents Awahalla from improving his position.
Awahalla is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zombie scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zombie controlling the action here.
Zombie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Awahalla has one foot on Zombie's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Awahalla keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zombie looks gassed!
Awahalla lands a with a good body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Awahalla tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zombie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Anakoni Awahalla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Zombie.
Nice takedown defense from Zombie. No joy for Awahalla on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Zombie. No joy for Awahalla on that attempt.
Zombie shoots and misses

and Awahalla counters by clinching up.
Awahalla wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Awahalla looking to slow down the pace here.
Zombie gets underhooks to prevent Awahalla's takedown attempt.

Awahalla breaks the clinch.

Zombie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Awahalla looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Zombie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Awahalla looking for a guillotine here but Zombie defends easily.
Awahalla is trying to keep Zombie in close.
Awahalla is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zombie landing with the ground and pound.
Zombie trying to control but Awahalla is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zombie postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Zombie takes the fight into the clinch.

Zombie pulls guard.

Zombie is looking for a triangle but Awahalla pushes his legs off easily.
Awahalla is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Awahalla is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Zombie dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zombie clinches with his opponent.

Zombie decides to pull guard.
Zombie keeping moving, preventing Awahalla from controlling successfully.

Zombie working for a triangle but Awahalla defends it easily.

Zombie has his foot on Awahalla's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Awahalla works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zombie wants to stand but Awahalla is controlling the position.
Zombie striking off his back but it's not causing Awahalla any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Awahalla has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zombie is proving hard to escape from.
Awahalla tries to free his leg and advance position but Zombie is retaining full guard.
Awahalla trying to control the position from guard on top but Zombie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Awahalla postures up in Zombie's guard and throws a big left but Zombie blocks it.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Awahalla fails with the takedown

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

Zombie decides to stand back up. Zombie steps back and let's Awahalla get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zombie moves forwards but Awahalla connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Anakoni Awahalla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zombie has a takedown stuffed.
Zombie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Awahalla clinches but Zombie breaks the clinch

and Zombie counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Zombie is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Zombie gets underhooks to prevent Awahalla's takedown attempt.
Zombie throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Awahallas head.

Zombie manages to break the clinch.
Zombie keeps the fight on the outside.
Zombie looks for a takedown but Awahalla sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Awahalla!
Awahalla has his takedown stuffed

and Zombie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anakoni Awahalla. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Awahalla is pulling down on Zombie's head to control his posture.

Zombie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zombie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zombie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zombie postures up in Awahalla's guard and throws a big left but Awahalla blocks it.
Zombie trying to control the position from guard on top but Awahalla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zombie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Awahalla has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zombie off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Awahalla connects with a solid leg kick.
Zombie shoots in but Awahalla avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Awahalla has his takedown stuffed

and Zombie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zombie is keen to just control but Awahalla is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Awahalla keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Zombie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Zombie tries to close the distance and clinch but Awahalla swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Awahalla wants to clinch up but Zombie keeps it at a distance.
Awahalla misses with a takedown

and Zombie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Awahalla's guard.
Zombie forces his way into half guard.
Zombie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Awahalla does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zombie is nestled in close to Awahalla, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Zombie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Awahalla defends it well.

Zombie 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Awahalla is trying to stand back up but Zombie is controlling him
Awahalla taking some punishment here, with Zombie in his half guard.
Zombie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Awahalla keeps working.
Zombie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Awahalla wants to clinch.

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.
Awahalla fails with the takedown

and Zombie counters with a single leg into guard. Awahalla didn't expect that.
Zombie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Awahalla pushes Zombie off and scrambles back to his feet.
Zombie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Awahalla lands with a slapping head kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Awahalla is looking to control Zombie's arms but Zombie gets an underhook and turns him. Now Awahalla has his back to the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zombie pulls guard.
Zombie throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Awahalla trying to control the position from guard on top but Zombie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Awahalla looking to sit in guard and control but Zombie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zombie decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Zombie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Awahalla is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zombie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zombie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zombie trying to control the action but Awahalla is working from the bottom.
Awahalla on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
John Zombie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Awahalla trying to control but Zombie postures up.
Zombie controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Zombie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zombie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Zombie!