PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikke Niputtaja (ranked 4079 p4p, 484 weight class) and Shaka Zulu (ranked 8740 p4p, 704 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Niputtaja
vs
Zulu

184 cm
19
208 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

195 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikke Niputtaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shaka Zulu!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Igor Prikhodko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niputtaja is looking to clinch but Zulu is avoiding it.
Zulu avoids the body shot from Niputtaja.

Zulu scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Niputtaja is looking for a sweep. Zulu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Niputtaja regains full guard. Nicely done.

Niputtaja 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.
Zulu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Niputtaja. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zulu being controlled here momentarily.

Niputtaja had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zulu defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niputtaja pulls Zulu in close to prevent any damage.
Niputtaja might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zulu trying to control the position from guard on top but Niputtaja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zulu wants to get up but he can't break Niputtaja's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Niputtaja is looking to sweep but instead, Zulu has passed into half guard.
Zulu trying to control the action but Niputtaja is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Niputtaja slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niputtaja keeping moving, preventing Zulu from controlling successfully.
Niputtaja has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Niputtaja with a poor takedown
and Zulu counters with a head kick. That will keep Niputtaja thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Niputtaja takes a swing at Zulu's ribcage but misses.
Zulu throws a big counter head kick but Niputtaja avoids it with no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niputtaja shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zulu but Zulu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Niputtaja tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zulu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Zulu.
Niputtaja throws a leg kick that is checked
and Zulu makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Niputtaja darts in looking for a takedown but Zulu gets double underhooks and turns Niputtaja into the cage.
Zulu throws a big counter head kick but Niputtaja avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikke Niputtaja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niputtaja shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zulu but Zulu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zulu unleashes a big counter combination but Niputtaja bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Horrible takedown attempt by Niputtaja or perhaps it was just good defense by Zulu, which made it look bad.
Zulu is looking for the big counter here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zulu looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Niputtaja has his hands clasped together around Zulu's back. He's all about the action.
Niputtaja gets back to full guard.
Zulu stopping the sweep attempt from Niputtaja.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niputtaja manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zulu manages to get himself to full guard.

Niputtaja controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niputtaja postures up in Zulu's guard and throws a big left but Zulu blocks it.
Niputtaja is stalling in the full guard.

Niputtaja drops back looking for a leg! Zulu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zulu manages to kick Niputtaja off! Niputtaja jumps back into Zulu's guard.
Niputtaja working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

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.
Niputtaja seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Zulu looking for a sweep. Not yet Zulu, not yet.
Zulu trying to keep a closed guard but Niputtaja is proving a slippery customer.
Niputtaja tries to free his leg and advance position but Zulu is retaining full guard.
Zulu working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Niputtaja.
Niputtaja is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Niputtaja bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Niputtaja is trying to get an arm triangle but Zulu is defending well.
Zulu takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Niputtaja tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Niputtaja controls the position from side control.
Zulu struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulu managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Niputtaja.
Zulu struggling a bit here.
Niputtaja in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Niputtaja tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Niputtaja has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikke Niputtaja 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 scoring well with a low kick there.
Zulu has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Niputtaja is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Niputtaja has closed the distance and engaged Zulu in a clinch.
Zulu taking a breather.
Niputtaja tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zulu just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zulu stalling.
Zulu pressing his opponent against the cage.
Zulu is looking to control Niputtaja's arms but Niputtaja gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zulu has his back to the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zulu seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Shaka Zulu.
Niputtaja digs a good hook to Zulu's body.
Niputtaja tries to clinch up.
Zulu is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zulu shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Zulu tries to stand but can't do so whilst Niputtaja controls his leg.
Niputtaja desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Niputtaja is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Zulu is tapping! Great win for Niputtaja!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Nikke Niputtaja!