PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Reynard The Fox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Zu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

The Fox
vs
Zu

173 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

BlackStar Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Reynard The Fox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Frankie Zu!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Fox shoots in and drives through. Zu sprawls well.
The Fox takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Zu moves into range and clinches up with The Fox.

The Fox pulls Zu into guard.
Zu throws a big right hand that misses.
The Fox utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The Fox utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zu is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Zu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Zu throws a sloppy head kick and The Fox moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zu fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The Fox moves to clinch but Zu breaks away
and Zu counters with a left and a right that stings The Fox.
A combination from The Fox does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Fox with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zu counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zu.
The Fox tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reynard The Fox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zu is looking to take this one to the mat.
The Fox tries to pull guard but Zu holds him up against the cage and eventually The Fox drops back down to his feet.

Zu manages to break the clinch.
Zu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says The Fox as he avoids it easily.

Zu moves into range and clinches up with The Fox.
The Fox using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The Fox looking to throw knees to the head but Zu is blocking nicely.

The Fox breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but The Fox avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zu throws a sloppy head kick and The Fox moves out of range easily.
The Fox appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Zu keeps the fight on the outside.
The Fox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The Fox dives in and grabs Zu's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zu pushes down on The Fox's head and hops out.
Zu tries to bum rush The Fox with a series of wild strikes but The Fox uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The Fox tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zu sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten The Fox somewhat.
The Fox looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zu is fending him off so far but The Fox persists. Nope, Zu circles away and we're back to standing.
Zu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The Fox keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with The Fox but The Fox pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The Fox dives in for a single leg takedown but Zu sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Zu rushes The Fox and presses him up against the cage.

The Fox escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The Fox looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zu misses with a few strikes there.
The Fox tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zu misses with a head kick.
The Fox fails with a takedown attempt.
The Fox scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zu falls off balance throwing a combination
and The Fox counters with a stiff right hand.
Zu looks winded!
Nice sprawl there from Zu as The Fox shoots in.
Zu closes the distance and clinches up with The Fox, looking for a takedown. Zu pushes The Fox against the cage but The Fox circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The Fox dives in and grabs Zu's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zu pushes down on The Fox's head and hops out.
Zu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The Fox throws a head kick that half lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The Fox pushes Zu away with a front kick.
The Fox shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zu but Zu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Reynard The Fox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zu scores with a head kick.
The Fox displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The Fox tries for a takedown but Zu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zu on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by The Fox. The Fox obviously looking to wear him down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Zu dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zu with a poor takedown
and The Fox counters with a head kick. That will keep Zu thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

A momentary lapse in concentration from The Fox enables Zu to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. The Fox manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zu trying to control the position from guard on top but The Fox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zu looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zu is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zu keeps trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zu has gone for a leg lock! The Fox slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zu's guard.

Zu is breathing heavily.
Zu has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but The Fox has passed into side control.
Zu is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, The Fox asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The Fox trying to control the action but Zu is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zu sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Zu is trying to stand back up but The Fox is controlling him
Zu is looking to improve his position.
The Fox is looking to pass Zu's guard but actually Zu recovers to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zu is looking to stand up but The Fox isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zu blocks a head kick by The Fox.
Zu unleashes a big counter combination but The Fox bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Zu takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Zu stuffs the takedown.

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.
The Fox shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zu defends it nicely.
Zu misses with a head kick.
Zu lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Zu looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? The Fox is fending him off so far but Zu persists. Nope, The Fox circles away and we're back to standing.
The Fox keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Reynard The Fox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Zu.
The Fox looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The Fox lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Zu backs up against the cage.
Zu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around The Fox's waist but The Fox gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zu off to one side.
The Fox went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
The Fox throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The Fox shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zu as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Reynard The Fox will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

The Fox tries to clinch up but Zu circles away and keeps his distance.

Zu gets a clinch.
Zu lands a knee to the head.
The Fox is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zu to keep the fight standing.
The Fox goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Zu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zu leaves The Fox with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Fox tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The Fox fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reynard The Fox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zu looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The Fox wants to clinch.
Zu tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zu tries to land a leg kick but The Fox saw it coming and moves away.
Zu tries for a takedown but The Fox circles away easily
and The Fox counters with a left and a right that stings Zu.
The Fox slaps away a takedown attempt from Zu, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A combination from The Fox does no damage.
The Fox wants to clinch up but Zu keeps it at a distance.
Zu fails with a takedown attempt.
The Fox shoots for a takedown but Zu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The Fox shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zu pinned against the cage. Zu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zu changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. The Fox tries to avoid it but Zu manages to keep hold of a leg and drag The Fox to the ground. The Fox escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The Fox fails with a takedown attempt.
Zu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says The Fox as he avoids it easily.
The Fox throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from The Fox is defended easily by Zu.
The Fox avoids the body shot from Zu.
Zu misses with a leg kick.
Zu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The Fox looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Fox connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Zu misses with a body kick.
The Fox scores with a sloppy right hand. Zu should have avoided that one.

The Fox takes the fight into the clinch.
Zu jumps guard but The Fox turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

The Fox has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zu uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zu postures up.
Zu postures up in The Fox's guard and throws a big left but The Fox blocks it.
The Fox is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Fox lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zu is looking to stand back up but The Fox counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Zu.
Zu trying to control here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zu keeps control of the position for the meantime.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reynard The Fox showed his dominance in that final round.
I think The Fox 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reynard The Fox!