PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Grant Dukes (ranked 1306 p4p, 1428 weight class) and Killua Zoldyk (ranked 154 p4p, 165 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Dukes
vs
Zoldyk

168 cm
22
157
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
24
152
10 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Core Combat
Threads of HARDCORE

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grant Dukes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Killua Zoldyk!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dukes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zoldyk blocks a jab.
Dukes takes a swing at Zoldyk's ribcage but misses.
Zoldyk misses with a two punch combination.
Dukes appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Dukes swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Zoldyk counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Dukes scores with a jab to the head.
Zoldyk avoids the body shot from Dukes.
Zoldyk's jab looks to have found its range, popping Dukes under the eye.

Dukes closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Zoldyk quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zoldyk is trying to get back to full guard.
Zoldyk is staying active underneath Dukes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Dukes 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.
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!
Zoldyk gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dukes looking to pass the guard.
Zoldyk is trying to control the position but Dukes postures up.
Zoldyk keeping full guard, as Dukes tries to pass.
Zoldyk tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zoldyk has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Dukes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two 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.
Zoldyk looking to control but Dukes passes into half guard.
Zoldyk tries to get to full guard but Dukes has control of the leg.
Zoldyk controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Zoldyk trying to control but Dukes postures up.
Zoldyk tries to get to full guard but Dukes has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoldyk is pressing down on Dukes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dukes wants to control from the top but Zoldyk keeps moving.
Dukes stands and throws Zoldyk's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Zoldyk struggling a bit here.
Dukes trying to control the position but Zoldyk is working away.
Zoldyk is looking for a sweep.

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.
Zoldyk is not content to let Dukes control the position.
Dukes tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Dukes tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dukes has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Zoldyk is looking for a sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zoldyk can't do much from the bottom here.

Dukes wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zoldyk, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Dukes dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zoldyk slaps away a takedown attempt from Dukes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dukes with a nice cross.
Zoldyk looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zoldyk takes one to the chin there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zoldyk. Dukes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zoldyk lands a nice looking kick to the body. Dukes takes a step back to recover.
Zoldyk just misses with a punch to the body.
Zoldyk moves away from the strike by Dukes.
Dukes staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zoldyk showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dukes.
Zoldyk misses with an uppercut. Dukes saw that one coming.
Dukes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zoldyk lands a really nice looking cross but Dukes seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dukes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zoldyk.
A jab from Zoldyk misses.
Donk. Dukes catches Zoldyk right on the button with a cross.
Zoldyk misses the jab.
Dukes goes for a double leg but Zoldyk avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zoldyk continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grant Dukes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dukes shoots in looking for a takedown but Zoldyk manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dukes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zoldyk throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zoldyk doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Dukes uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Zoldyk misses with a double jab.
Zoldyk fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dukes manages to avoid it.
Dukes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Zoldyk manages to circle out of the way.
Dukes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zoldyk sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dukes somewhat.
A countering left hand to the body from Zoldyk misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dukes misses with a wild body shot.
Dukes connects with a body shot that sends Zoldyk's belly button to the back.
Zoldyk tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dukes was well out of range. Poor timing from Zoldyk.
Donk. Dukes catches Zoldyk right on the button with a cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zoldyk avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zoldyk takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zoldyk misses with a double jab.
Zoldyk misses with a looping left.
Dukes connects with the punch.
Zoldyk takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zoldyk throws the left hand but Dukes avoids the punch easily.
As Zoldyk tries to get set, Dukes tries to push him back and clinch up but Zoldyk manages to avoid the attempt.
Zoldyk moves out of range as Dukes strikes.
Zoldyk throws a head kick that misses.
Zoldyk displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dukes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zoldyk! But no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dukes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Dukes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Dukes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zoldyk can do to turn this around?
Zoldyk tries to improve position but can't.
Zoldyk manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Dukes wants to get back to full guard.

Dukes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Dukes wants to improve his position but Zoldyk is controlling well.
Dukes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zoldyk prevents Dukes from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dukes is trying to control but can't.
Zoldyk not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zoldyk prevents Dukes from improving his position.
Zoldyk wants to take a breather but Dukes is having none of it.
Zoldyk is nestled in close to Dukes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Dukes is looking to improve his position.
Zoldyk lands with a punch from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zoldyk is looking to take a break and control but Dukes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Grant Dukes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zoldyk winds up and cracks Dukes with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Grant Dukes will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zoldyk on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zoldyk avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dukes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dukes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zoldyk.
Zoldyk circles away from the clinch attempt.
Grant Dukes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dukes defending well as Zoldyk loads up on a big left hand.
Grant Dukes is winning the standup battle so far.
Zoldyk waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dukes.
Zoldyk misses with a wild body shot.
Zoldyk moves away from the strike by Dukes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dukes looks to score with a jab to the body but Zoldyk is just out of range.
Zoldyk waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dukes.
Dukes dives in for a single leg takedown but Zoldyk sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zoldyk throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zoldyk feints a jab promting Dukes to slip. Zoldyk then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Dukes slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Dukes there.
Dukes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zoldyk.
Dukes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zoldyk sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A big left from Dukes misses.
Dukes avoids the head kick by Zoldyk.
Dukes throws a big shot that misses.
It seemed like Zoldyk was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Zoldyk ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dukes moves away.
Dukes has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grant Dukes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zoldyk slips under a jab from Dukes.
Zoldyk walks into a straight right hand from Dukes.
Dukes lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zoldyk at a distance.
Zoldyk slips a jab from Dukes.
Dukes misses with a body punch
and Zoldyk counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Killua Zoldyk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Zoldyk misses.
Dukes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zoldyk sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dukes somewhat.
Zoldyk is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Dukes with a body shot.
Dukes cracks Zoldyk with a good jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zoldyk throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dukes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Dukes misses with a wild body shot.
Despite the aggression on Zoldyk's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Zoldyk throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dukes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Dukes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zoldyk avoids the body shot from Dukes.
Zoldyk doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zoldyk gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Dukes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoldyk looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Zoldyk fails with the takedown
and Dukes counters with a nice body shot.
Zoldyk misses with an uppercut.
Dukes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zoldyk swivels and escapes.
As Dukes backs off Zoldyk throws a huge counter combo but Dukes manages to avoid it all.
Zoldyk lands with a nice body punch.
Zoldyk misses with a head kick.
Dukes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dukes. Zoldyk does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zoldyk keeps the fight on the outside.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Zoldyk.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A jab from Zoldyk does it's job there.

Dukes drives through with a takedown into Zoldyk's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dukes trying to control but Zoldyk is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zoldyk has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Dukes is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Zoldyk.
Zoldyk struggling a bit here.
Zoldyk tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dukes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Dukes advances nicely into full mount.
Zoldyk is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Zoldyk defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Dukes.
Dukes wants to take Zoldyk's back but he can't do it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grant Dukes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dukes 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grant Dukes!