PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark ZeMen (ranked 3351 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bubble McPower (ranked 6166 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.

ZeMen
vs
McPower

190 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mark ZeMen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bubble McPower!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ZeMen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McPower looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
McPower tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but ZeMen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
ZeMen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

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

McPower is rocked!

It looks like Bubble McPower has been cut.
McPower misses with a series of wild punches.
McPower is still on wobbly legs! Can ZeMen finish him?
McPower has his takedown stuffed

and ZeMen counters by clinching up.
McPower seems to have recovered his senses.

ZeMen pulls guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McPower prevents ZeMen from getting back to his feet.
ZeMen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McPower on the ground.
ZeMen looking to control but McPower passes into half guard.
ZeMen trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McPower blocks the strikes from ZeMen.
ZeMen wants to improve his position but McPower is controlling well.
ZeMen is trying to control but McPower passes into side control!
McPower should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
ZeMen is looking to regain half guard here but McPower keeps moving and retains side control.
McPower working away.
ZeMen is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
ZeMen wants to control but McPower postures up.
ZeMen is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on ZeMen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
ZeMen parries the strikes from McPower easily there. McPower is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable ZeMen to escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
McPower displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from ZeMen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McPower fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
ZeMen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
ZeMen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

McPower shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in ZeMen's guard.
ZeMen wants to get back to his feet but McPower is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
ZeMen wants to get back to his feet but McPower passes into half guard.
ZeMen tries to get to full guard but McPower has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McPower moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from ZeMen.
ZeMen can't do much from the bottom here.
ZeMen is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark ZeMen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bubble McPower's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McPower doesn't manage to clinch there - ZeMen circles away.
McPower leaves ZeMen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McPower defends well against a solid takedown attempt from ZeMen.
ZeMen throws a series of strikes that have McPower backpedaling.
Mark ZeMen is winning the standup battle so far.
McPower tries to score a power double leg takedown but ZeMen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McPower somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
ZeMen tries to bum rush McPower with a series of wild strikes but McPower uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
ZeMen misses with a series of wild punches.
McPower tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
ZeMen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McPower as he jumps to the side.
McPower tries to counter by closing the distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark ZeMen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McPower is looking to clinch.
ZeMen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mark ZeMen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McPower swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and ZeMen finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from ZeMen is defended easily by McPower.
McPower throws a big counter head kick but ZeMen avoids it with no problem.
McPower scores with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McPower tries to move into range but ZeMen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
McPower is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
ZeMen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
ZeMen leaves McPower with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
ZeMen shoots in and drives through. McPower sprawls well.
ZeMen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McPower can do to turn this around?

ZeMen has managed to clinch.
McPower's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
ZeMen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McPower's efforts to push away.
McPower tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. ZeMen smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

ZeMen clinches with his opponent.
ZeMen lands with a right to the head.
McPower is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables ZeMen to keep the fight standing.
ZeMen wants a takedown but no success here.
ZeMen wants to take the fight to the mat but McPower manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
McPower has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by ZeMen after a bit of a struggle.
ZeMen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning McPower up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McPower jumps guard but ZeMen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
ZeMen has McPower pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. McPower manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
McPower is trying to pull guard but ZeMen has him pressed against the cage.

ZeMen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McPower avoids the head kick by ZeMen.
ZeMen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

ZeMen pushes McPower up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark ZeMen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bubble McPower's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

ZeMen shoots in but McPower avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McPower tries to close the distance and clinch up but ZeMen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McPower scores with a body shot.
ZeMen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on McPower's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

ZeMen has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

ZeMen successfully pulls guard.
ZeMen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
ZeMen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ZeMen keeping moving, preventing McPower from controlling successfully.
McPower is looking to stand up but ZeMen won't let him.
ZeMen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
ZeMen is trying to hold McPower in close to prevent damage but McPower has managed to pass into half guard.
ZeMen holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
ZeMen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McPower is working away from the top position though.
McPower is keen to just control but ZeMen is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
ZeMen moves out of range of the leg kick from McPower.
ZeMen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McPower swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark ZeMen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
ZeMen misses with an attempted mid kick.
McPower looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
ZeMen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

McPower tries to keep at a distance but ZeMen has taken the fight into the clinch.
McPower is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but ZeMen is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ZeMen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
ZeMen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
ZeMen slowing the pace effectively.
ZeMen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McPower is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

ZeMen breaks from the clinch.
ZeMen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and McPower cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McPower shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with ZeMen but ZeMen pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ZeMen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McPower sprawls well. McPower wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. ZeMen gets slowly back to his feet.
ZeMen punishes McPower's body with a nice straight punch.
ZeMen shoots in looking for a takedown but McPower manages to keep the fight standing, pushing ZeMen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

ZeMen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

ZeMen goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, McPower rolls with the submission and now he's on top in ZeMen's guard! Nice work there by McPower!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mark ZeMen.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for ZeMen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark ZeMen!