PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rei Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustavo The Monster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gustavo The Monster has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rei Zulu's chin.

Zulu
vs
The Monster

188 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
210 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rei Zulu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo The Monster!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zulu decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

The Monster is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zulu pulls his head out easily.
Zulu controlling the action here.
Zulu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for The Monster on the ground.
The Monster wants to improve his position but Zulu is controlling well.
Zulu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks The Monster with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Zulu trying to mount his opponent but The Monster defends it.
Zulu is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, The Monster manages to get to full guard.
Zulu slips nicely into half guard.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Monster is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The Monster avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zulu.
Zulu wants to pass to mount but The Monster is defending the position.

The Monster looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zulu trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulu wants to lay and pray for a moment but The Monster keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rei Zulu.

Zulu drives through and clinches with The Monster against the ropes.
The Monster tries a knee to the head but Zulu blocks it.
The Monster using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zulu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zulu has clasped his hands together around The Monster's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Zulu controlling from side mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The Monster tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu tries to stand but The Monster is controlling his head.
The Monster is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zulu's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zulu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zulu wants to pass to mount but The Monster is defending the position.
Zulu wants to stand but The Monster has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The Monster won't allow Zulu to pass to mount.
Zulu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The Monster is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zulu pulls his head out easily.

The Monster actively working from the bottom here.

The Monster is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zulu pulls his head out easily.

Zulu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so The Monster is just riding it out for now. Zulu eventually gives up the hold.
Zulu wants to pass to mount but The Monster is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rei Zulu dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zulu closes the distance and clinches.
The Monster misses with a punch on the inside.
The Monster is trying to pull guard but Zulu has him pressed against the ropes.
The Monster with a knee to the head.
The Monster looking to throw knees to the head but Zulu is blocking nicely.
The Monster tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Zulu turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The Monster tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zulu wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The Monster defending against the ground and pound.
Zulu tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Zulu wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by The Monster, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down The Monster's shoulder. That is not cool.
Zulu wants to lay and pray for a moment but The Monster keeps working.
The Monster is looking for a sweep.
Zulu content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Zulu is looking to take a break and control but The Monster is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Monster is trying to improve his position.
The Monster taking punishment in the form of punches.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Zulu trying to control the position but The Monster is working away.
The Monster takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The Monster tries to buck Zulu off but Zulu is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Monster keeps trying to improve his position.
Zulu is looking to take a break and control but The Monster is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zulu is chipping away with strikes.
The Monster is not content to let Zulu control the position.
The Monster manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Zulu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zulu is controlling The Monster's trapped leg to prevent The Monster from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rei Zulu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zulu regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from The Monster.
Zulu has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The Monster throws a strike but Zulu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zulu tries to free his leg and advance position but The Monster is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rei Zulu dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zulu shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

The Monster is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zulu pulls his head out easily.
The Monster moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

The Monster throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Zulu escapes and throws The Monster's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Zulu tries to move to mount but The Monster blocks the move with his legs.
Zulu advances nicely into full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu lands with some vicious ground and pound - can The Monster hang on?
Zulu controlling the pace for now.
Zulu has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Zulu wants to get back to his feet but The Monster is holding on tight.
The Monster is squirming around, avoiding Zulu's attempts to control the action.
The Monster has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Monster is trying to escape the mount.
Zulu blocks The Monster's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The Monster is wriggling around trying to escape.
Zulu trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zulu looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zulu looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
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.
The Monster slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The Monster has hold of Zulu's hands but Zulu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Zulu wants to pass to mount but The Monster is defending the position.

The Monster looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The Monster looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The Monster takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zulu controlling the action here.
Gustavo The Monster has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The Monster looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Zulu pushes past his half guard into mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zulu takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

The Monster is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rei Zulu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zulu, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rei Zulu!