PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Amir Zuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and J Blunts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blunts has chosen Bob Marley - Three Little Birds as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Zuka
vs
Blunts

188 cm
26
185 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

182 cm
22
196 lbs
9 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Golden Lilium

Rivers Edge Nutrition

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Amir Zuka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, J Blunts!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blunts shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Blunts throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Blunts comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Blunts waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zuka.
Blunts throws out a loose jab but Zuka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zuka fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Blunts.
Zuka throws a sloppy head kick and Blunts moves out of range easily.
Zuka tries to close the distance and clinch but Blunts swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zuka tries to clinch but Blunts moves out of range.
Zuka throws a sloppy head kick and Blunts moves out of range easily.
Zuka slaps away a takedown attempt from Blunts, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Blunts fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Blunts looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zuka thows a leg kick but Blunts checks it

and Blunts counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Blunts postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blunts pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zuka is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blunts throws a big right hand that misses.
Blunts trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zuka is looking to stand up but Blunts isn't so interested in that idea.
Blunts thows a big elbow that misses.
Zuka is looking to stand up but Blunts isn't so interested in that idea.
Blunts has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Blunts trying to control the position from guard on top but Zuka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zuka lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zuka throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Amir Zuka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zuka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Blunts on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zuka. Zuka obviously looking to wear him down.
Zuka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Blunts drives through with a takedown into guard.
Blunts looking to pass the guard.
Zuka wants to sweep but no luck.
Blunts wants to control from the top but Zuka keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuka wants to get back to his feet but Blunts is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Blunts tries to free his leg and advance position but Zuka is retaining full guard.
Blunts won't allow Zuka to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zuka throws a sloppy head kick and Blunts moves out of range easily.
A good leg kick by Blunts.
Blunts takes a swing at Zuka's ribcage but misses.
Zuka lands a head kick!
Blunts circles away from the clinch attempt
and Blunts counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Blunts lands the left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blunts checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Zuka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zuka drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zuka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zuka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Blunts.
Zuka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blunts swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Blunts misses the jab.
Zuka throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Blunts.

Blunts scores with a takedown into Zuka's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blunts stands and throws Zuka's legs to the side, diving into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Blunts tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

J Blunts dominated that round.
That's time! Zuka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zuka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zuka lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Blunts checks a leg kick.
Zuka misses with a straight left.
Zuka looks to clinch
and Blunts counters with a right hand to the body.
Blunts blocks a head kick by Zuka.
Blunts takes a kick to the side of the head.
Blunts stuns Zuka with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Blunts digs a good hook to Zuka's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blunts throws a jab when Zuka was well out of range.
Zuka is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Zuka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Blunts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuka misses with a head kick.

Blunts throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zuka was covering up waiting for the punch and Blunts finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Blunts postures up in Zuka's guard and throws a big left but Zuka blocks it.
Blunts pushes down on Zuka's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zuka wants to get back to full guard.
Blunts sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zuka defending well though.
Zuka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Blunts.

Blunts is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zuka doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Blunts.
Zuka trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blunts thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zuka's head.
Zuka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Blunts.
Blunts is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Blunts works his way into full mount!
Blunts can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zuka is looking to escape.
Blunts throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuka takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Poor strikes thrown by Blunts there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Zuka wants to hold on but Blunts pushes him away.
Zuka is in a horrible position here. Blunts smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zuka avoids a series of strikes thrown by Blunts.
Zuka is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Blunts scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Blunts wants to control the pace but Zuka is squirming around nicely.
Zuka gets back to half guard.
Blunts throwing shots but Zuka is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blunts is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Blunts wants to free his trapped foot but Zuka is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Blunts is breathing heavily.
Blunts works his way into full mount!
Zuka is desperately trying to improve his position but Blunts has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zuka is in a horrible position here. Blunts smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

J Blunts showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

A nice inside leg kick there by Zuka. That's going to slow Blunts down.
Zuka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zuka on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Zuka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blunts.
Zuka tries to clinch there but Blunts circles away.

Zuka gets caught flat footed, as Blunts shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Blunts drops back looking for a leg! Zuka is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zuka manages to kick Blunts off! Blunts jumps back into Zuka's guard.
Zuka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Blunts takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blunts pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zuka is keeping the position for now.
Blunts is looking to work some ground and pound but Zuka has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuka wants to get back to his feet but Blunts is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Blunts advances position into side control!
Blunts tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Blunts thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Zuka pushes Blunts away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Blunts gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Blunts tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Blunts prevents Zuka from escaping the position.

That's two 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.
Zuka is looking for a sweep.
Blunts lands a nice forearm strike.
Zuka parries the strikes from Blunts easily there. Blunts is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Zuka to escape.
Blunts fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Blunts throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Blunts working away.
Zuka is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Zuka is not content to let Blunts control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuka struggling a bit here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zuka throws a sloppy head kick and Blunts moves out of range easily.
J Blunts is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zuka tries to clinch up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zuka.
Good leg kick by Zuka there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Zuka misses with a low kick.
Blunts circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zuka slips under a jab from Blunts.
Zuka tries to clinch but Blunts moves away

and Blunts counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Blunts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuka looking for a sweep. Not yet Zuka, not yet.
Blunts is looking to advance position but Zuka has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Blunts sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Zuka tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Amir Zuka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blunts wants to control but Zuka is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Blunts keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Blunts looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Blunts wants to control but Zuka is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
J Blunts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Blunts winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... J Blunts!