PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nkemiko Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuge Man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zulu
vs
Man

201 cm
23
266 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nkemiko Zulu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yuge Man!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Steve Erwin and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zulu clinches up with Man and pushes him back against the cage.
Man has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zulu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Man has Zulu pushed against the cage.
Zulu is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Zulu jumps into guard, dragging Man to the mat.

Man drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zulu manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Man has Zulu in his guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Man can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zulu is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zulu sitting in guard here, content to control.
Man wants to hit a switch here but Zulu passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Man there!

Zulu jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Man manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulu controlling from side mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zulu decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Man shoots for a takedown but Zulu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nkemiko Zulu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuge Man.

Zulu shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Man's guard.
Zulu is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Man looking for subs off his back but Zulu has passed one foot through into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Zulu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zulu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Man pushes Zulu off looking to stand but Zulu dives back in and keeps control.
Zulu controlling the pace.

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.
Man wants to improve his position but Zulu is controlling well.
Man has hold of Zulu's hands but Zulu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Man is trying to control but can't.
Zulu content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Man has hold of Zulu's hands but Zulu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nkemiko Zulu dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Man displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zulu.
Zulu motions for Man to come forward. Zulu throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Man takes the fight into the clinch.

Zulu pulls Man into guard.

Man gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nkemiko Zulu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Man misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Zulu counters with a single leg into guard. Man didn't expect that.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Man holds on and takes a little breather.
Zulu is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zulu drops back looking for a leg! Man is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Man manages to kick Zulu off! Zulu jumps back into Man's guard.
Man trying to control the position.

Man has his foot on Zulu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zulu works his way back into a safe position though.
Man working a defensive guard here.
Zulu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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.
Man is trying to keep Zulu in close.
Man is looking to sweep but instead, Zulu has passed into half guard.
Man is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu is controlling the pace.
Man wants to get back to full guard.
Zulu controlling the action here.
Man scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Zulu manages to mount him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Man tries to lock up and control but Zulu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
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.
Zulu lands a big shot there that rocks Man but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Zulu controlling the position easily from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zulu prevents Man from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nkemiko Zulu dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Zulu changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Man tries to avoid it but Zulu manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Man to the ground. Man escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zulu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Man with the counter takedown but Zulu avoids it easily.
Zulu fails with an attempt to clinch.

Man drives through and clinches with Zulu against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Man.
Zulu swings wildly with an uppercut but Man uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Man.
Zulu goes for a takedown in the clinch but Man prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Man slowing the pace effectively.
Man is working for takedown but Zulu is calmly controlling the position for now.
Man manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Zulu is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nkemiko Zulu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Man breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zulu shoots in and drives through. Man sprawls well.
Man misses with a hook. Zulu ducked under it nicely.
Man shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zulu as he jumps to the side.
Nice sprawl there from Man as Zulu shoots in.

Man has managed to clinch.
Zulu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Man has him pressed against the cage.
Man tries to pull guard but Zulu forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zulu is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Man slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Man breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

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.
Man tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zulu works over Man with some ground and pound from guard.
Man wants to control the position but Zulu says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Man really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zulu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Man wants to control the action here but instead Zulu manages to pass to full mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zulu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Nkemiko Zulu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee warns Man that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu controlling the pace for now.
Man is looking to improve his position but Zulu isn't that keen on the idea.
Man is still trying to improve position.
Nkemiko Zulu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zulu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Man tries to reverse the position but Zulu maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Zulu working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Man looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Zulu! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Nkemiko Zulu!