PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Pounder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamal Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pounder comes to the cage accompanied by Supernatural Ass Pounder. 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.

Pounder
vs
Zulu

186 cm
24
260 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

197 cm
19
240 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jim Pounder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jamal Zulu!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Zulu.
Zulu scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zulu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pounder.
Pounder slips under a jab from Zulu.
Zulu connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Zulu looks for the body kick but Pounder saw that one coming.
Zulu throws a sloppy head kick and Pounder moves out of range easily.
Zulu on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Pounder slips a jab and a cross from Zulu.
Pounder moves out of range of the strikes.
Zulu getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Pounder checks a leg kick nicely.
Pounder misses with a straight right.
Pounder tests Zulu's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zulu is looking to land body kicks.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zulu, right into the meat.
Zulu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zulu scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Pounder showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zulu.
Pounder throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zulu sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounder throws a big shot that misses.
Zulu thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Pounder if he has to take too many more of those.
Zulu will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Pounder slips under a jab.
Pounder connects with a body shot.
Pounder will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zulu misses with a wild combination.
Pounder dodges the punch combination from Zulu.
A big right from Pounder misses.
Zulu misses with a head kick.

Pounder feints and as Zulu raises his hands in defense, Pounder changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pounder showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pounder drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zulu looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zulu looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zulu!
Pounder tries to bench press Zulu off him but Zulu keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pounder tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Pounder tries to hold on but Zulu postures up.
Zulu content just to control the position here.
Pounder is trying to escape the mount.
Zulu takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pounder wants to control but Zulu is having none of it.
Pounder is working to get back to half guard.

Zulu gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Zulu just misses with a punch to the body.
Pounder throws a jab but it's blocked by Zulu.
Good leg kick by Zulu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Pounder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zulu looks to score with a jab to the body but Pounder is just out of range.
Pounder slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Zulu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zulu will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A cross from Pounder lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zulu.
Pounder catches Zulu with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Pounder is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Pounder tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zulu was well out of range. Poor timing from Pounder.
A clash of legs there as Pounder blocks the low kick.
Pounder scores with a hook to the body. Zulu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Zulu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pounder moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pounder shoots for a takedown but Zulu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zulu throws a nice head kick!
Pounder punishes Zulu's body with a nice straight punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pounder avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pounder thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jamal Zulu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pounder ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zulu moves away.
Zulu throws a series of punches but Pounder avoids them all with ease.
Zulu lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pounder circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A punch combination from Zulu misses.
Zulu throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Pounder.
Zulu takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Pounder avoids a kick to the body.
Zulu throws a leg kick but Pounder sees it coming and moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jim Pounder will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zulu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Pounder throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zulu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Zulu throws a head kick but Pounder moves out of range.
Pounder blocks a head kick by Zulu.
Jab from Pounder.

Pounder fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zulu sprawls well initially but Pounder persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Pounder is looking to take a break and control but Zulu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pounder throwing shots but Zulu is blocking nicely.

Pounder 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.
Zulu trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu manages to get to full guard.
Zulu wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Pounder wants to pass the guard but Zulu is keeping the position.
Zulu wants to sweep here but Pounder controlling him for the moment.
Zulu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pounder stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zulu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pounder with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zulu wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Pounder throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zulu misses with a series of wild punches.
Pounder throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zulu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zulu throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pounder tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zulu was well out of range. Poor timing from Pounder.
Zulu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zulu buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zulu throws a series of punches but Pounder avoids them all with ease.
Pounder moves out of range of the body kick.
Jamal Zulu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zulu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zulu will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Pounder checks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu misses with a double jab.
Nice body kick there by Zulu.
Zulu looks to land a left hand but Pounder moved out of range nicely.
Zulu takes a jab right on the kisser.
Pounder shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zulu pinned against the cage. Zulu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zulu throws a head kick that Pounder semi-blocks.
Pounder thuds his right hand into Zulu's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Zulu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pounder moves away.
Zulu misses with a few strikes there.
Zulu misses with a head kick.
Pounder avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pounder takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Zulu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zulu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice body punch from Zulu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulu misses with a shot to the body
and Pounder makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zulu tries a head kick but it misses.
A solid body kick from Zulu.
Zulu falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pounder counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zulu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Pounder ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Pounder as he connects with a hook.
Pounder misses with a looping left.
Zulu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zulu.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pounder.
Zulu takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zulu is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pounder avoids the head kick by Zulu.
Zulu throws a combination that misses

and Pounder counters with a takedown into side control.
Zulu is being controlled here.
Pounder is putting a hurting on Zulu here, landing some big shots from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Pounder 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!

Zulu throws a nice inside leg kick.
Zulu misses with a combination
and Pounder counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Zulu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pounder moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pounder is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zulu.
Zulu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zulu wants it to stay on the feet.
Pounder chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zulu can pounce on him.
Zulu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zulu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pounder.
Pounder throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pounder has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Zulu.
Zulu throws a right and a left that Pounder avoids nicely.

Pounder shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
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 is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pounder throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu tries to roll over but Pounder keeps him under control.
Pounder wants to pass to mount but Zulu is defending the position.
Zulu is controlling Pounder's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Pounder seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zulu does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pounder throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pounder prevents Zulu from improving his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
The fighters circling - Zulu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pounder misses the jab.
Zulu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pounder at a distance.

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.
Pounder has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Pounder connects with a jab.
Zulu misses with a head kick.
Zulu falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Pounder to counter with a crisp jab.
Zulu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zulu throws a body kick that misses.
Zulu attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Zulu throws a shot to the body.
Zulu stuns Pounder with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Zulu misses with a body shot
and Pounder cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zulu lands a front kick.
Zulu walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Pounder checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zulu throws a good cross that connects.
Pounder slips a jab and a cross from Zulu.
Pounder swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Pounder.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pounder doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zulu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Pounder feints and as Zulu raises his hands in defense, Pounder changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zulu wants to sweep here but Pounder controlling him for the moment.
Zulu lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Pounder!

Zulu goes for an armbar but Pounder turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Pounder.
Zulu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zulu holds on and takes a little breather.
Jamal Zulu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounder is stalling in the full guard.
Pounder won't allow Zulu to sweep him here.

Pounder 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.
Zulu can't keep his opponent in guard - Pounder advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pounder is looking to stall here but Zulu recovers full guard.
Jim Pounder is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pounder is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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 Jim Pounder.
Well Pounder 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Pounder!