PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gilbert Gabriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaka Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gabriel
vs
Zulu

183 cm
21
173 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gilbert Gabriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shaka Zulu!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zulu looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gabriel keeping moving, preventing Zulu from controlling successfully.
Zulu is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Zulu is fighting to break Gabriel's control of his arms but Gabriel is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gabriel keeping moving, preventing Zulu from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gabriel is on top in guard.
Zulu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gabriel manages to get himself to full guard.

Gabriel had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Zulu is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gabriel Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Zulu's back instead.
Zulu controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zulu showing good submission defense here.
Gabriel is hanging on to Zulu's back as he tries to escape.

Gabriel working for a choke but Zulu is defending well.
Zulu is in bad spot here.
Zulu manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gabriel's guard. Nice work there by Zulu.
Zulu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zulu has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gabriel is proving hard to escape from.
Gabriel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zulu is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zulu trying to control but Gabriel is working from the bottom.
Zulu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gabriel is keeping the position for now.
Zulu trying to control the position from guard on top but Gabriel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zulu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gabriel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gabriel gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zulu counters with a head kick. That will keep Gabriel thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Gabriel misses with a takedown

and Zulu counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gabriel!
Gabriel is breathing heavily.
Gabriel tries to reverse the position but Zulu maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu throwing strikes here but Gabriel is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Zulu misses with a head shot.
Zulu unloading with bombs!

Zulu looking for a guillotine from mount but Gabriel is having none of it.
Zulu controlling his opponent.

Zulu goes for an armbar but Gabriel turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Gabriel.
Zulu is trying to control the position but Gabriel postures up.

Zulu looking for a guillotine here but Gabriel defends easily.

That's four 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.
Gabriel works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zulu is staying active underneath Gabriel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Zulu looking for submissions off his back.

Zulu is defending against the submission attempts here by Gabriel.
Gabriel wants to take a breather but Zulu is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shaka Zulu will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gabriel fails with the takedown

and Zulu counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gabriel won't be happy with that.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Gabriel is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Zulu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gabriel keeps working.
Gabriel parries the strikes from Zulu easily there. Zulu is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gabriel to escape.
Gabriel gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Zulu tries to control but Gabriel wriggling away.
Zulu with good strikes from the mount here!
Zulu lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Zulu can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gabriel is looking to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu works his way to his opponent's back.
Zulu controlling well, preventing Gabriel from escaping the position.
Zulu is trying to stick to Gabriel's back but Gabriel is turning into Zulu. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Zulu's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gabriel.
Zulu trying to control the position.
Gabriel works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gabriel tries to pass to full mount but Zulu defends it.
Zulu trying to control from the bottom.
Zulu tries to get to full guard but Gabriel has control of the leg.
Gabriel has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zulu sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Zulu trying to control but Gabriel postures up.
Zulu is not content to let Gabriel control the position.

Zulu looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Zulu looking to control.
Gabriel trying to control but Zulu is working from the bottom.

Zulu has his foot on Gabriel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gabriel works his way back into a safe position though.
Zulu doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Gabriel shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zulu is trying to defend but Gabriel finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Zulu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulu won't allow Gabriel to pass to mount.

Zulu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zulu is in trouble now - Gabriel has advanced to mount!

Gabriel jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Zulu manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Zulu is trying to control Gabriel's posture but Gabriel avoids it.
Zulu tries to buck Gabriel off but Gabriel is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaka Zulu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gabriel fails with the takedown

and Zulu counters by clinching up.
Gabriel has Zulu pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Zulu manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gabriel is trying to drag Zulu to the mat but Zulu just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilbert Gabriel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gabriel is looking to control Zulu's arms but Zulu gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gabriel has his back to the ropes.
Gabriel tries to score a body lock takedown but Zulu shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zulu jumps into guard, dragging Gabriel to the mat.

Zulu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shaka Zulu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zulu looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Gabriel is defending well. Zulu quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Gabriel has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Zulu celebrates on the ropes, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Shaka Zulu!