PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Via Dios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and OMG Zulud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Dios might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Sandstorm. Zulud has chosen DJ Tiesto - Adagia For Strings as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dios
vs
Zulud

185 cm
23
141 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

155 cm
22
133 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Crippler's Corner
White Gorilla Nutrition

Organic Extracts

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Via Dios!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, OMG Zulud!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dios changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zulud tries to avoid it but Dios manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zulud to the ground. Zulud escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dios blocks a head kick by Zulud.
Zulud is looking to clinch but Dios is avoiding it.
Zulud tries to clinch up but Dios circles away and keeps his distance.
Dios shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zulud as he avoids it easily.
Zulud looks to land a combination but Dios avoids it well.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dios swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zulud is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zulud moves in looking to clinch but Dios pushes him off.
Zulud is looking to clinch.
Dios misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Via Dios. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zulud doesn't manage to clinch there - Dios circles away.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch but Dios swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zulud tries to clinch there but Dios circles away.
Zulud is looking to clinch but Dios is avoiding it.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dios paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch but Dios swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zulud tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dios fails with the takedown.
Dios keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulud wants to clinch up but Dios keeps it at a distance.
Zulud throws a nice looking combination but Dios bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dios avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zulud tries to clinch there but Dios circles away.
Dios dodges the punch combination from Zulud.
Dios fails with a takedown attempt.
Zulud tries to clinch but Dios is having none of it.
Dios misses with a series of wild punches.
Zulud moves in looking to clinch but Dios pushes him off.
Zulud wants to clinch.
Zulud looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Dios circles away from the clinch attempt.

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.
Dios with a jab.
Zulud tries to clinch there but Dios circles away.
Zulud is looking to clinch but Dios is avoiding it.
Zulud misses with a head kick.
Dios shoots in looking for a takedown. Zulud tries to sprawl out of it but Dios keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zulud manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Dios scores a takedown into full mount!
Dios will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dios avoids the attempt from Zulud to control.
Dios looking to control but Zulud is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Dios swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Zulud is now in Dios's guard. A big mistake from Dios there, giving up the dominant position!

Zulud gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dios circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zulud looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dios looks for a takedown but Zulud sprawls well.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dios paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zulud is looking to clinch.
Dios lands a lovely overhand right.
Zulud moves in looking to clinch but Dios pushes him off.
Zulud is looking to clinch.
Zulud wants to clinch.
Zulud is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

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.
Dios shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Dios scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zulud wants to get back to his feet.

Dios is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zulud is just riding it out for now. Dios eventually gives up the hold.
Dios is breathing heavily.
Zulud is positioning himself well to prevent Dios advancing to mount.
Dios is just content to waste time from the top position. Zulud takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
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 Via Dios will probably get the nod.
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.

Zulud throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zulud lands a nice leg kick that just misses Dios's sensitive parts.
Via Dios is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zulud fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dios swats away the attempt to clinch by Zulud.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zulud looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zulud gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Dios pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch but Dios swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch but Dios swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zulud tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Zulud gets a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Zulud.
Zulud prevents the takedown attempt.
Zulud misses with a knee strike.
Dios avoiding damage as Zulud throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dios blocks an elbow strike.
Dios fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zulud stops a takedown attempt from Dios.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Via Dios. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zulud tries a knee to the head but Dios blocks it.
Zulud using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Dios really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zulud working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Zulud trying to land knees to the body.
Zulud using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zulud tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zulud throws an elbow but misses.
Dios on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Zulud.
A shot in the inside from Zulud.
Zulud misses with a knee to the head.
Zulud trying to land knees to the body.
Zulud throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dios blocks it with crossed arms.
Dios blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zulud throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dioss head.
Dios is stalling here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulud tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Dios breaks from the clinch.
Dios shoots in for a takedown but Zulud shows good takedown defense.
Zulud stuffs the takedown attempt from Dios. Dios gets slowly back to his feet.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dios swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zulud misses with a two punch combination.
Zulud tries to clinch but Dios moves out of range.
Zulud tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zulud is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zulud tries to land a front kick but Dios steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Dios keeps the fight on the outside.
Zulud fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zulud tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dios shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zulud as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulud wants to clinch up but Dios keeps it at a distance.
OMG Zulud seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dios misses with a kick to the body.

Dios shoots in and bounces Zulud off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Dios drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zulud looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zulud looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zulud!

Zulud has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Dios shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zulud as he avoids it easily.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dios paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dios closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dios lands in his opponent's guard.

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

Dios looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Zulud has picked Dios up and slammed him! Dios can't keep hold of the triangle and Zulud manages to pass to side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

OMG Zulud showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dios swats away the attempt to clinch by Zulud.
Dios circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dios shoots in but Zulud avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zulud misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zulud tries to clinch but Dios is having none of it.
Zulud tries to clinch but Dios is having none of it.

Dios drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dios tries to move to mount but Zulud blocks the move with his legs.
Zulud is working to avoid the ground and pound but Dios connects with a decent elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zulud manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Dios works his way into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dios advances nicely into full mount.

Dios looking for a guillotine from mount but Zulud is having none of it.

Dios jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Zulud is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Zulud and Dios has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zulud manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Dios wants to improve his position but Zulud is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Zulud is going to stand back up.

Dios looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Via Dios overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Dios looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zulud is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Zulud wants to control but Dios is keeping him busy.
Dios works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zulud trying to stand up but can't free himself from Dios's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Dios is looking for a choke. Zulud gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Zulud manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Dios throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Dios looking to control.

That's four 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.
Zulud wants to control his opponent's hands but Dios gets his hands free.

Dios is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Zulud is defending well though. Dios let's go of the attempt for now.

Dios is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Zulud has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Dios doesn't have the hooks in and Zulud manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zulud stopping the sweep attempt from Dios.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Via Dios clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dios scores with a takedown into Zulud's guard.
Dios trying to control the position from guard on top but Zulud is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dios preventing the sweep.
Dios wants to pass the guard but Zulud is keeping the position.
Dios trying to control but Zulud is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulud sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Dios is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zulud controlling from the full mount.
Dios is looking to improve his position but Zulud isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two 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.
Dios is working hard here to advance position.
Zulud controlling from mount.
Dios swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Dios throwing hammer fists to the chest of Zulud. What's that going to do exactly?
Dios is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dios regains half guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dios is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Zulud pulls his head out easily.

Zulud stands up and beckons Dios to join him on the feet.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch but Dios swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zulud is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zulud is looking to clinch but Dios is avoiding it.
Zulud wants to clinch up but Dios keeps it at a distance.
Zulud fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zulud tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dios swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dios swats him away and circles back towards the center.

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.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dios swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dios avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Zulud pushes Dios up against the cage in a clinch.
Zulud landing knees to the body.
Zulud misses with a knee to the head.
Zulud trying to land knees to the body.
Zulud lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zulud misses with some punches.

Dios manages to pull guard.
Zulud wants to control from the top but Dios keeps moving.
Zulud stopping the sweep attempt from Dios.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dios has his foot on Zulud's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zulud works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Via Dios will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zulud looks to land a combination but Dios avoids it well.

Zulud gets caught flat footed, as Dios shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dios looking to pass the guard.

Dios drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zulud manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dios has Zulud in his guard.
Dios wants to sweep but no luck.
Dios trying to keep a closed guard but Zulud is proving a slippery customer.
Zulud is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dios wants to sweep here but Zulud controlling him for the moment.
Dios is trying to keep Zulud in close.
Dios throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Dios is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Dios has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zulud can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Dios is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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.
Zulud wants to stand but Dios has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Dios wants to sweep here but Zulud controlling him for the moment.
Zulud wants to get up but he can't break Dios's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Dios has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zulud can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zulud trying to control the position from guard on top but Dios is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dios escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zulud gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Dios throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dios wants to sweep but no luck.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Horrible takedown by Dios or perhaps it was just good defense by Zulud which made him look bad.
Zulud tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dios swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zulud fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zulud throws a sloppy head kick and Dios moves out of range easily.
A jab lands there for Dios.
Zulud is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dios shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zulud throws a combination that misses

and Dios counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zulud won't be happy with that.

Dios is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zulud is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zulud can do anything to dispel that myth.

Dios tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
OMG Zulud has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Dios is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zulud knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Via Dios showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dios has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 49:46
Judge William Peck scores the fight 49:46
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Via Dios!
Via Dios retains his bantamweight title!