PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Iverson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaka Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Iverson
vs
Zulu

165 cm
24
173 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

183 cm
23
170 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Iverson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shaka Zulu!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zulu drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Iverson is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Iverson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Iverson is looking for a sweep.
Iverson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Zulu tries for a kimura but Iverson is defending well.
Iverson wants to control but Zulu postures up.
Iverson is looking for a sweep.

Zulu tries for a kimura but Iverson is defending well.
Iverson is trying to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Donk. Iverson catches Zulu right on the button with a cross.
Nice defenses there by Zulu.
Zulu takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Zulu misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zulu takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Iverson throws a looping overhand right but Zulu ducks down to avoid it.
John Iverson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Iverson throws a looping overhand right but Zulu ducks down to avoid it.
Iverson lands a glancing blow to the side of Zulu's head.
Zulu moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Iverson thows a body shot but no joy.
Iverson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zulu.
Zulu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Zulu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Iverson circles away.
Zulu shoots in for a takedown but Iverson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Iverson misses with a wild combination.
A jab from Iverson misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Iverson misses.
Iverson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Iverson connects with a right hand. Zulu shakes it off.
Iverson throws a looping overhand right but Zulu ducks down to avoid it.
Iverson misses with a double jab

so Zulu counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Zulu got a little sloppy there for a moment and Iverson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zulu has managed to get both his arms back between Iverson's legs - danger averted.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Iverson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zulu is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Iverson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zulu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Iverson is keeping the position for now.
Iverson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Iverson looking to secure an arm triangle but Zulu defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iverson prevents Zulu from getting the reversal.
Iverson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zulu is looking to escape.
A nice elbow there by Iverson.
Iverson trying to control but Zulu is having none of it.

Iverson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
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.
Iverson looking to control but Zulu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zulu tries to hold on but Iverson pushes him away.
The referee warns Zulu that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iverson avoids the attempt from Zulu to control.

Iverson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Zulu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Iverson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Zulu can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Iverson looking to control but Zulu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zulu can't escape the position.
Zulu sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Iverson is trying to control the action in half guard but Zulu is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Iverson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zulu is just riding it out for now. Iverson eventually gives up the hold.

Iverson is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Iverson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zulu throws a combination that misses
and Iverson counters with a nice uppercut.
Zulu takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zulu.
Zulu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Iverson.
Iverson tries for a takedown but Zulu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Iverson lands with a cross.

Zulu shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Iverson working a defensive guard here.
Zulu trying to control the position from guard on top but Iverson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Iverson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zulu!
Zulu working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iverson fails to take his opponent's back.
Iverson looking to finish Zulu with some ground and pound. This is bad for Zulu!
Iverson tries to control but Zulu wriggling away.
Iverson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Zulu hang on?
Zulu takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Iverson landing strikes from the mount.

Iverson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Zulu to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Zulu shrugs it off.
Iverson with a couple of short strikes.

Iverson looking for a guillotine from mount but Zulu is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zulu tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iverson looking to control but Zulu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zulu is trying desperately to improve position.
Zulu is squirming around, avoiding Iverson's attempts to control the action.
Zulu tries to hold on but Iverson postures up.
Iverson lands a big elbow.

Iverson looking for a guillotine from mount but Zulu is having none of it.
Iverson prevents Zulu from getting the reversal.
Zulu regains half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zulu has hold of Iverson's hands but Iverson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Iverson wants to work for an arm triangle but Zulu is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zulu is trying to get back to full guard.
Zulu moves into full guard.
Iverson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Iverson drops back looking for a leg! Zulu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zulu manages to kick Iverson off! Iverson jumps back into Zulu's guard.

Iverson 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 looking to hit a scissor sweep but Iverson is one step ahead there.

Zulu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Zulu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Iverson slips nicely into half guard.
Zulu is refusing to be controlled, as Iverson sits in half guard.

Iverson is looking for a kimura but Zulu is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Iverson to get the leverage.
Iverson trying to control from half guard but Zulu is working away.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zulu manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Iverson trying to control the position from guard on top but Zulu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zulu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Iverson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Zulu tries to clinch but Iverson moves out of range.
Zulu swinging wildly here.
A left lands for Iverson.
Iverson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Zulu throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Iverson lands a glancing blow to the side of Zulu's head.
John Iverson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zulu throws a push kick but Iverson slaps the foot to one side.
Zulu throws a low kick but it's checked well by Iverson.
Zulu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Iverson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zulu slips under a jab from Iverson.
Zulu throws a series of punches but Iverson avoids them all with ease.
Iverson throws a shot from downtown. Zulu moves away and avoids it.
Iverson misses with a series of wild punches.
Iverson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zulu counters with a head kick. That will keep Iverson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iverson misses with a low kick.
Iverson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Zulu counters with a single leg into guard. Iverson didn't expect that.
Iverson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Iverson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Iverson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Iverson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zulu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zulu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zulu preventing the sweep.

Zulu has gone for a leg lock! Iverson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zulu's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Iverson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Iverson wants to control from the top but Zulu keeps moving.
Iverson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zulu's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Iverson drops back looking for a leg! Zulu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zulu manages to kick Iverson off! Iverson jumps back into Zulu's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zulu has an active guard here but Iverson has managed to pass into half guard.
Zulu is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Iverson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Iverson's back!
Iverson needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.

Iverson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Zulu.

Zulu is persistently looking for the submission but Iverson is defending it well.
Iverson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Zulu is working for a guillotine from mount but Iverson frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iverson wants to control but Zulu is having none of it.
Iverson is wriggling around trying to escape.

Iverson defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Zulu.
Iverson is desperately trying to improve his position but Zulu has a good base and remains in mount.
Iverson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Iverson trying to control but Zulu postures up.

Iverson looking for submissions off his back.
Iverson gets back to full guard.

That's four 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.
Iverson keeping moving, preventing Zulu from controlling successfully.
Shaka Zulu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Iverson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zulu defends well.
Zulu trying to control the position from guard on top but Iverson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Iverson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Zulu wants to pass the guard but Iverson is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Iverson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Iverson 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Iverson!