PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nikolay Pletnev (ranked 4965 p4p, 6001 weight class) and Shaka Zullu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pletnev
vs
Zullu

184 cm
25
191
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
188
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nikolay Pletnev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shaka Zullu!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pletnev pushes Zullu up against the cage in a clinch.
Pletnev taking a breather.
Pletnev leaning against his opponent.
Pletnev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Pletnev dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Pletnev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Pletnev lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zullu 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.
Pletnev lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pletnev.
A short right from Pletnev.
Pletnev is leaning against Zullu and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Pletnev lands an uppercut.
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!
Pletnev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Zullu with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pletnev lands with a short shot to the head.
Pletnev stalling in the clinch.
Zullu's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Still in the clinch, Pletnev scores with a nice short uppercut.
Pletnev prevents Zullu from breaking the clinch.
Pletnev lands with a left to the head.
Zullu's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zullu is trying to pull guard but Pletnev turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Pletnev lands a shoulder strike.
A right hand to the body from Zullu.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pletnev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zullu takes a shot to the head.

Zullu is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pletnev slows down the pace here.
Zullu is still on wobbly legs! Can Pletnev finish him?
Pletnev avoids the elbow strike from Zullu, against the cage.
Zullu seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zullu can't get the takedown.
A short left from Pletnev.
Pletnev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zullu backwards.
Zullu takes a shot to the head.
Pletnev blocks an elbow strike from Zullu.
Pletnev lands a nice uppercut.
Zullu fails to pull guard.
Nikolay Pletnev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaka Zullu.
Pletnev is pushing Zullu up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The referee calls for Pletnev to work.
Pletnev gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Pletnev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pletnev taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Zullu working hard to break the clinch.
Pletnev holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Pletnev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zullu backwards.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Pletnev taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Nikolay Pletnev.
Zullu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zullu drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Pletnev closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pletnev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pletnev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zullu backwards.
A short left from Pletnev.
Pletnev lands a hook that snaps the head of Zullu backwards.
Pletnev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zullu backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pletnev is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A shot in the inside from Pletnev.
Pletnev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zullu backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pletnev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pletnev taking a breather.
Pletnev has Zullu pressed against the cage, preventing Zullu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Pletnev 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.

Zullu fails with the takedown.

Pletnev waves his right hand out in front of him, looking to distract Zullu. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Zullu to the canvas! Can he finish him!?
Pletnev wants to stand but Zullu is controlling his posture from full guard.
Pletnev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Pletnev wants to stand but Zullu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pletnev wants to stand and escape but instead Zullu has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Zullu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Pletnev, as that shot connected.

Zullu shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pletnev manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Pletnev wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Zullu manages to pass to side control.

Pletnev holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Zullu wants to free his trapped foot but Pletnev is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pletnev trying to control here.
Pletnev controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Zullu trying to control from half guard but Pletnev is working away.
Pletnev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zullu on the ground.
Pletnev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pletnev is staying active underneath Zullu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pletnev is trying to stand back up but Zullu is controlling him

Zullu decides to stand and escape the position.
Pletnev throws a jab when Zullu was well out of range.
And Zullu tries to counter it with a takedown but Pletnev pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Pletnev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A nice side step and Zullu releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Nice cross by Pletnev.
Zullu tries a head kick but it misses.
Zullu tries to clinch but Pletnev moves out of range.

Pletnev gets a clinch.
Pletnev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Zullu is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Good body shot from Pletnev.
Zullu is breathing heavily.
Pletnev lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pletnev lands a left hand.
Pletnev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zullu can do to turn this around?
Pletnev makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pletnev stalling.
Pletnev is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Pletnev lands a hook to the side of the head.
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!
Pletnev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zullu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pletnev pushes Zullu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pletnev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pletnev lands with a short shot to the head.
Pletnev dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Pletnev.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Pletnev dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Pletnev feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zullus jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Pletnev throws out a powerful jab.

Pletnev takes the fight into the clinch.
Pletnev scores with a shot to the side of Zullu's head.
Pletnev holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Pletnev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zullu backwards.
Zullu tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pletnev smiles and moves away.
Pletnev circles and sees the opportunity to plant his feet and throw a really nice straight left hand that drops Zullu to the canvas! Zullu doesn't know where he is but he's trying to survive - Pletnev keeps piling on the pressure and forces the referee to step in! This one is aaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nikolay Pletnev!
A relieved looking Nikolay Pletnev thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.