PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kenshi Zuko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vlad Tepes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zuko comes to the cage accompanied by Turning Japanese. Vlad Tepes is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Zuko
vs
Tepes

181 cm
23
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Aggression Clothing

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kenshi Zuko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vlad Tepes!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tepes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zuko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A big right from Tepes misses.

Zuko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tepes manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Zuko looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tepes is trying to control the position but Zuko postures up.
Zuko postures up in Tepes's guard and throws a big left but Tepes blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tepes working a defensive guard here.
Zuko trying to control the position from guard on top but Tepes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zuko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zuko looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
No joy there for Zuko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tepes moves in looking to clinch but Zuko pushes him off.
Zuko missing with a left hand there. Tepes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tepes moves in looking to clinch but Zuko pushes him off.
Zuko shoots in but Tepes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zuko takes a swing at Tepes's ribcage but misses.
Tepes takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zuko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tepes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuko lands a nice looking body shot.
Zuko keeps the fight on the outside.

Zuko forces Tepes back against the cage and clinches.
Zuko lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Vlad Tepes has been cut.
Zuko leaning his opponent against the cage.
Zuko avoids the elbow strike from Tepes, against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zuko as Tepes tries to tie him up.

Zuko jumps guard and drags Tepes to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Zuko has a closed guard, preventing Tepes from standing up.
Tepes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zuko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zuko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tepes is looking to stand up but Zuko won't let him.
Tepes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zuko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zuko keeping moving, preventing Tepes from controlling successfully.
Tepes preventing the sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zuko circles away from the clinch attempt
and Zuko counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

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.
Zuko misses with a wild body shot.
Jab by Zuko.

Zuko changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tepes looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tepes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zuko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Zuko taking a breather here.
Zuko trying to control the position but Tepes is working away.
Zuko is putting a hurting on Tepes here, landing some big shots from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshi Zuko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vlad Tepes's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zuko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zuko lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tepes at a distance.
Tepes blocks a jab.

Tepes has managed to clinch.
Zuko cracks Tepes with a nice body shot.
Zuko lands an elbow just above Tepes 's eye.
Zuko lands an elbow that stopped Tepes in his tracks for a moment.
Tepes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zuko.
Tepes prevents a takedown attempt there.
Zuko trying to land knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Zuko as the two fighters clinch.
Zuko slowing the pace effectively.
Zuko lands an elbow inside that Tepes shrugs off.
Tepes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zuko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tepes is struggling to control the position.
Zuko is struggling to control the position.
Tepes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zuko is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tepes is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Zuko is stalling here.

Zuko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A swing and a miss from Zuko.

Zuko gets the takedown into side control.
Zuko throwing strikes but Tepes manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Zuko wants to control but Tepes postures up.
Tepes tries to score with some ground and pound. Zuko controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Tepes is looking to take a break and control but Zuko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tepes wants to stand but Zuko has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zuko looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tepes passes into side control.
Tepes is looking to take a break and control but Zuko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tepes tries to stand but Zuko controls the position and pulls Tepes into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuko pulls Tepes in close to prevent any damage.
Tepes would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tepes wants to control from the top but Zuko keeps moving.
Zuko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zuko tries to get out of the position.
Tepes wants to stand and escape but instead Zuko has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zuko sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tepes trying to keep a closed guard but Zuko is proving a slippery customer.
Zuko trying to control but Tepes is working from the bottom.
Zuko stands and throws Tepes's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshi Zuko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vlad Tepes's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Zuko fails with a takedown attempt.
Tepes tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Zuko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tepes won't be happy with that.
Zuko is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Zuko in side control lands a decent elbow.
Tepes struggling a bit here.
Zuko tries to advance to mount but Tepes denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tepes taking punishment in the form of punches.
Tepes is not content to let Zuko control the position.
Zuko tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Zuko looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Zuko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tepes wants to control but Zuko postures up.
Tepes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Vlad Tepes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tepes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tepes wants to take a breather but Zuko is having none of it.
Tepes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zuko defending well though.
Zuko tries to get to full guard but Tepes has control of the leg.

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

Zuko closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tepes misses with an elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zuko misses with a knee to the head.
Tepes wants to stall.
Zuko lands with a short shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Zuko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tepes.
Tepes swings wildly with an uppercut but Zuko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zuko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kenshi Zuko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Zuko gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tepes regains guard.
Tepes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zuko trying to control but Tepes is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tepes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zuko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tepes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zuko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tepes is keeping the position for now.

Zuko drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tepes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tepes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tepes!
Tepes throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zuko tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tepes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenshi Zuko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zuko 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenshi Zuko!