PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zulu Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Slogan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Zulu
vs
Slogan

170 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
135 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zulu Zulu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Slogan!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slogan misses with a wild combination.
Slogan avoids the head kick by Zulu.
Slogan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zulu connects with a solid leg kick.
Zulu throws a head kick but Slogan moves out of range.
Zulu tries a head kick but it misses.
Slogan fails to land with a series of punches.
Zulu darts in looking for a takedown but Slogan gets double underhooks and turns Zulu into the cage.
Slogan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zulu scores with a head kick. Slogan tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Slogan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zulu lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Slogan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slogan throws a right hand that Zulu ducks under and follows up with a left that Zulu also avoids with ease.
Slogan misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zulu drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zulu throws an elbow that misses. Slogan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zulu's guard. Nice move by Slogan!

Zulu isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Slogan stacks Zulu on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Slogan!
Zulu tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Slogan tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Slogan decides to stand back up.
Zulu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Slogan misses with a straight left.
Zulu lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Slogan misses with a wild body shot.
Slogan looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulu scores with a head kick. Slogan tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Slogan looks to score with a jab to the body but Zulu is just out of range.
James Slogan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zulu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Slogan lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Slogan blocks a head kick by Zulu.
Slogan throws a counter combo.
James Slogan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zulu fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Slogan to the ground. Zulu is now in Slogan's guard.

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

Zulu on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zulu tries to get out of the position.
Zulu striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Zulu is looking for a sweep.
Slogan wants to stand but Zulu has his arm trapped.
Zulu tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slogan wants to stand but Zulu is controlling his arm.
Zulu is looking for a sweep.
Zulu is trying to control Slogan's posture but Slogan avoids it.
Slogan wants to stand but Zulu has his arm trapped.
Zulu is looking to regain half guard here but Slogan keeps moving and retains side control.
Zulu is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Slogan has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Island Top Team. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Zulu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zulu tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Slogan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slogan working away.
Zulu is looking to reverse the position.
Slogan has control of an arm but Zulu manages to advance to Slogan's back!

Zulu patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Slogan preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Zulu.
Slogan is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Slogan 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.

Zulu connects with a high kick.
A head kick by Zulu misses
letting Slogan counter with a right hand.
Zulu throws a head kick that half lands.
Some wild striking there from Slogan.
Zulu appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Zulu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zulu throws a head kick that misses.
Zulu misses with a head kick.
Slogan lands with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Slogan.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Slogan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A lazy left from Slogan finds it's target.
Zulu tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zulu tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Zulu.
Zulu takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Slogan's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zulu under the eye.
Zulu tries a head kick but it misses.
Slogan moves into range and connects with a jab.
Slogan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Zulu throws a head kick that misses.
Zulu throws a head kick that misses.
Slogan misses with the combination.
Zulu thinks about countering with a head kick.
Slogan scores with a jab. Zulu acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slogan works over Zulu's head and body with a nice combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zulu goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Zulu feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Zulu throwing strikes from guard but Slogan blocks nicely.
Zulu looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zulu controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu throwing strikes but missing.
Zulu wants to control from the top but Slogan keeps moving.
Zulu with a flurry of punches that miss.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Zulu looking to pass the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Slogan tries to sprawl but Zulu drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Zulu is looking for a kimura here.

Zulu is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Slogan sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zulu is looking for a kimura here.

Zulu looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Slogan is refusing to be controlled, as Zulu sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Slogan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Zulu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Slogan dips to his left and cracks Zulu with an uppercut!
A head kick misses from Zulu.
Slogan misses with a body shot.
A punch combination from Slogan misses.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Slogan!

It looks like Zulu Zulu has been cut.
Zulu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Slogan closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Zulu lands with a kick to the temple. Slogan shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zulu has his takedown stuffed
and Slogan counters with a straight right hand.
Zulu throws the kick towards the body but Slogan avoids it.
Slogan feints a jab promting Zulu to slip. Slogan then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Zulu slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Slogan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zulu throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Slogan's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu misses with a head kick.
Slogan goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Zulu has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Slogan finds it's way round the side to connect with Zulu's head.

Zulu gets a double leg takedown into Slogan's guard.
Slogan keeping moving, preventing Zulu from controlling successfully.
Zulu looking to pass the guard.
Zulu throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zulu has gone for a leg lock! Slogan slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zulu's guard.

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

Zulu working for a triangle but Slogan defends it easily.
Zulu keeping moving, preventing Slogan from controlling successfully.

Zulu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Slogan defends well.

Zulu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zulu Zulu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Slogan gets to his feet. Zulu looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Zulu throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Zulu is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Slogan.
Zulu throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Slogan's head.
Slogan slips under a jab from Zulu.
Zulu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zulu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Slogan avoids it really well and circles away.
James Slogan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
James Slogan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Slogan coming out on top.
Slogan misses with a wild combination.
Slogan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zulu counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Slogan is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zulu tries a head kick but it misses.
Zulu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zulu Zulu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Slogan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zulu is looking to counter with head kicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Slogan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Slogan 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Slogan!
Zulu Zulu was interviewed post fight and said 'I hope I don't get cut '.