PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zuna Zai (ranked 4749 p4p, 378 weight class) and Carl Johan (ranked 4326 p4p, 350 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zai
vs
Johan

193 cm
23
275 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

201 cm
26
270 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Arcticus University: London
Garra Nutri

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zuna Zai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carl Johan!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zai misses with a takedown
and Johan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Zuna Zai has been cut.
Zai looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Zai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johan's waist but Johan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zai off to one side.
Zai misses with a takedown
and Johan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zuna Zai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zai tries for a takedown but Johan circles away easily
and Johan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zai misses with a takedown attempt
and Johan counters with a straight right hand.
Johan is looking to clinch but Zai is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zai tries for a takedown but Johan circles away easily
and Johan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zai is breathing heavily.
Johan wants to clinch up but Zai keeps it at a distance.
Zai gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Zai 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zai connects with a couple of short punches.
Zai engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Zai's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Johan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zai is controlling him.

That's two 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.
Johan working a defensive guard here.
Zai controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Zai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johan counters with a nice body shot.
Johan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Zai closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Johan did well to prevent Zai getting side control.
Johan keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johan tries to roll over but Zai keeps him under control.
Johan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zai takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Johan controlling the position for now.
Johan tries to get to full guard but Zai has control of the leg.
Zai is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zai prevents Johan from standing back up.
Zai content to control rather than advance.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Johan is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Zai rather than just go for the knockout.
Zai doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Carl Johan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zai doesn't seem bothered though.
Zai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Johan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zai takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Johan darts in and clinches Zai up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Johan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Johan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zuna Zai's cut.
That's time! Zai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johan closes the distance and clinches.

Zai gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Zai working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zai is thwarting Johan's attempts to control the position.
Zai is taking a breather. Johan says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Zai throwing shots but Johan is blocking nicely.
Johan tries to roll over but Zai keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zai looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zai missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zai sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Johan defending well though.
Zai lands strikes from half guard.
Zai looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zai in particular looking to stall.
Johan is looking to escape.
Johan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zai.
Johan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zai in particular looking to stall.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zai doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Johan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Zai with a poor takedown
and Johan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johan stuffs the takedown.
Johan is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zuna Zai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zai misses with a takedown
and Johan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Johan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Johan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zai stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Johan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zai tries to counter with a takedown but Johan is quick to defend against it.

Johan darts in and clinches Zai up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zai can't get the takedown.
Johan scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Johan lands with a light punch inside.
Zai has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Johan after a bit of a struggle.
Johan lands a hook that snaps the head of Zai backwards.
Johan taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Johan.
Johan works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Johan presses Zai against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Johan lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Johan.
Still in the clinch, Johan scores with a nice short uppercut.
Johan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zai backwards.
A short left from Johan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johan works on Zai's body with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johan will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zai up against the cage.
Johan scores with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Johan - that landed with a thud.
A short body shot lands from Johan as the two fighters clinch.
Johan holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Johan.
Johan stops a takedown attempt from Zai.
Johan lands a shoulder strike.
Johan lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zai backwards.
Johan lands a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Johan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zuna Zai's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johan lands with a good body shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Johan as he connects with a hook.
Zai shoots and misses
and Johan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Johan jabs at Zai's body.
Johan tries to close the distance and clinch but Zai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zai takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Zai on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Johan has closed the distance and engaged Zai in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johan lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johan lands a body punch.
Johan lands with a left to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johan pushes Zai back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Johan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Johan.
Johan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short right from Johan on the inside.
Johan lands a body shot.
A short right from Johan on the inside.
Johan scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nice body punch from Johan.
Johan scores with a hook to the body.
Johan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Johan digs a right hand into Zai's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zai's gas tank.
Johan pushes Zai back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Johan lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zai or not.
Zai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johan scores with a hook to the body.
Johan lands a left hand.
Johan lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zai backwards.
Johan gets through Zai's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Johan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Johan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Johan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zai backwards.
A short right from Johan on the inside.
A short uppercut from Johan.
Johan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zai backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zai wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zuna Zai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short body shot lands from Johan as the two fighters clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Johan.
A nice left hand lands by Johan.
A short right from Johan on the inside.
Johan lands a nice uppercut.
Johan lands a body shot in the clinch.
Carl Johan seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Johan lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Johan.
Johan throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A right hand to the body from Johan.
Johan lands a shoulder strike.
Johan lands with a light punch inside.
A short right from Johan on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johan lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zai backwards.
Johan leaning his opponent against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Johan.
Zai takes a shot to the head.
Zai wants a takedown.
Zuna Zai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zai takes a shot to the head.
Johan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Johan gets through Zai's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zai tries for a takedown but Johan manages to get underhooks.
A short left from Johan.
Carl Johan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Still in the clinch, Johan scores with a nice short uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Johan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johan 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 26:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 26:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carl Johan!
Carl Johan really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Garra Nutri logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.