PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Syazwan Zulkilfly (ranked 6379 p4p, 5445 weight class) and Josefino Arruda (ranked 549 p4p, 500 weight class). Josefino Arruda has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zulkilfly
vs
Arruda

200 cm
18
260
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
251
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Syazwan Zulkilfly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josefino Arruda!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zulkilfly shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Arruda defends it nicely.

Arruda clinches up against the cage.
Arruda leaning against his opponent.
Arruda throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zulkilfly blocks it with crossed arms.
Zulkilfly wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Arruda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Arruda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zulkilfly moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zulkilfly tries to score a power double leg takedown but Arruda sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zulkilfly somewhat.
Arruda looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Arruda darts in and clinches Zulkilfly up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulkilfly tries to break free but Arruda pushes him back against the cage.
Arruda's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Arruda just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zulkilfly's brow.
Arruda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zulkilfly.
Arruda looks winded!

Arruda breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zulkilfly.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Syazwan Zulkilfly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zulkilfly avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Arruda thumps Zulkilfly with a low kick.
Josefino Arruda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zulkilfly misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zulkilfly fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Arruda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulkilfly avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Arruda rushes Zulkilfly and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zulkilfly is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zulkilfly is looking to break free of the clinch but Arruda has double underhooks.
Zulkilfly wants to break the clinch but can't.
Arruda on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Arruda trying to stall but Zulkilfly improves his position.
Arruda misses with an elbow over the top.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Arruda has Zulkilfly pressed against the cage, preventing Zulkilfly from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Arruda holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Arruda stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulkilfly is trying to force a seperation but Arruda has the dominant position.
Zulkilfly wants to stall.
Zulkilfly wants to break the clinch but can't.
Arruda pushes off an throws an elbow but Zulkilfly leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Zulkilfly looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zulkilfly looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Zulkilfly's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Arruda comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Arruda is trying to stall.
Zulkilfly takes an elbow to the forehead.
Arruda throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Arruda tries to stall but Zulkilfly uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Arruda is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Zulkilfly wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Arruda has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Zulkilfly seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Arruda can turn it around.
Zulkilfly keeps control of Arruda as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zulkilfly stalls.
Zulkilfly is trying to break the clinch but Arruda is controlling him.
Zulkilfly wants to break free but Arruda has control.
Arruda throws an elbow but it misses.
Zulkilfly wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Arruda has him pressed against the cage.
Arruda pushes off an throws an elbow but Zulkilfly leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Zulkilfly avoids the elbow strike from Arruda, against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zulkilfly dodges an elbow strike from Arruda.
Arruda keeps control of Zulkilfly as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zulkilfly as Arruda tries to tie him up.
Zulkilfly is trying to push Arruda away but Arruda has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Arruda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zulkilfly swinging wildly here.

Zulkilfly pushes Arruda up against the cage in a clinch.
Arruda stalling.
Zulkilfly displaying some good clinch control by pressing Arruda up against the cage.
Arruda holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zulkilfly blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Arruda is breathing heavily.
Zulkilfly lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Zulkilfly is trying to break the clinch but Arruda is controlling him.

Arruda manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulkilfly lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Arruda stuffs the takedown.
A nice side step and Arruda releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Zulkilfly clinches up with Arruda and pushes him back against the cage.
Zulkilfly lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zulkilfly tries to break free but Arruda pushes him back against the cage.
Zulkilfly trying to stall but Arruda improves his position.
Arruda stalling.
Zulkilfly wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Arruda tries a knee to the head but Zulkilfly blocks it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Arruda throws an elbow but misses.
Zulkilfly tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Arruda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Arruda keeps control of Zulkilfly as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Arruda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Zulkilfly rushes Arruda and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulkilfly is trying to force a seperation but Arruda has the dominant position.
Arruda looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zulkilfly has had enough of the clinch but Arruda keeps him there for the moment.
Zulkilfly has had enough of the clinch but Arruda keeps him there for the moment.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Zulkilfly.
Zulkilfly looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zulkilfly wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Arruda keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zulkilfly's efforts to push away.
Zulkilfly is trying to push Arruda away but Arruda has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Arruda looking to slow down the pace here.
Zulkilfly is trying to push Arruda away but Arruda has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zulkilfly wants to break free but Arruda has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulkilfly is trying to break free.
Arruda can't find room to land a body shot as Zulkilfly controls the action.
Zulkilfly blocks the elbow strike.
Zulkilfly has had enough of the clinch but Arruda keeps him there for the moment.
Zulkilfly wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Arruda has him pressed against the cage.
Zulkilfly is trying to push Arruda away but Arruda has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Arruda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Arruda stuffs the takedown attempt from Zulkilfly. Zulkilfly gets slowly back to his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zulkilfly!
Syazwan Zulkilfly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Zulkilfly closes the distance and clinches.
Zulkilfly blocks an elbow strike from Arruda.
Arruda keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zulkilfly's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Arruda just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zulkilfly's brow.
Arruda is trying to stall.
Arruda looking to stall.
Arruda throws an elbow that misses.
Zulkilfly tries to circle away but Arruda has him pinned against the cage.
Zulkilfly can't break the clinch.
Arruda on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zulkilfly is trying to push Arruda away but Arruda has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zulkilfly tries to break free but Arruda pushes him back against the cage.
Zulkilfly has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zulkilfly misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Syazwan Zulkilfly dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zulkilfly pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Arruda back to the cage. Zulkilfly follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Danga de danga de dang - Zulkilfly scores with a four punch combination!

Zulkilfly clinches with his opponent.
Arruda keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zulkilfly's efforts to push away.
A right handed body shot lands from Arruda.

Arruda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zulkilfly goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Arruda misses the shot to the body.

Zulkilfly clinches.
Arruda tries to land knees in the clinch but Zulkilfly avoids the damage to the body.
Arruda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zulkilfly trying to control the position but instead, Arruda has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zulkilfly into the cage.
Arruda pushes off an throws an elbow but Zulkilfly leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulkilfly blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A frustrated look appears on Zulkilfly's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Arruda can't break the clinch.
Zulkilfly wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zulkilfly can't break the clinch.
Arruda is looking to take this one to the mat.
Arruda has Zulkilfly pressed against the cage, preventing Zulkilfly from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zulkilfly wants to get back to striking at distance but Arruda won't allow it.
Arruda looking to slow down the pace here.
Zulkilfly working hard to break the clinch.
Zulkilfly can't find room to land a body shot as Arruda controls the action.

That's two 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.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zulkilfly creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Arruda throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Zulkilfly wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Arruda has him pressed against the cage.
Josefino Arruda seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zulkilfly wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Arruda throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zulkilfly blocks it with crossed arms.
Zulkilfly is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zulkilfly is pressed up against the cage. Arruda has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zulkilfly down to the mat. Zulkilfly avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Zulkilfly dives in for a single leg takedown but Arruda sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zulkilfly stalling the fight.
Arruda keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zulkilfly's efforts to push away.
Zulkilfly tries to break the clinch but Arruda is controlling the position.
Good body shot from Zulkilfly.
Arruda misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arruda wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zulkilfly can't break the clinch.
Zulkilfly is working Arruda over against the cage.
Zulkilfly is looking to control Arruda's arms but Arruda gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zulkilfly has his back to the cage.
Zulkilfly leaning against his opponent.
Zulkilfly tries to break the clinch but Arruda is controlling the position.
Zulkilfly tries to break free but Arruda pushes him back against the cage.
Arruda has Zulkilfly pressed against the cage, preventing Zulkilfly from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zulkilfly is trying to push Arruda away but Arruda has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Arruda missing with knees to the body.
Zulkilfly has Arruda pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Zulkilfly's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four 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.
Zulkilfly wants to get back to striking at distance but Arruda won't allow it.
Arruda trying to land knees to the body.
Zulkilfly wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zulkilfly is looking to break free of the clinch but Arruda has double underhooks.
Arruda is looking to break free of the clinch but Zulkilfly has double underhooks.
Zulkilfly wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zulkilfly is trying to break the clinch but Arruda has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Arruda fails to land.
Zulkilfly is trying to break the clinch but Arruda is controlling him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zulkilfly tries to circle away but Arruda has him pinned against the cage.
Zulkilfly blocks the elbow strike.
Arruda prevents Zulkilfly from breaking the clinch.
Arruda throws a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Syazwan Zulkilfly showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zulkilfly 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Syazwan Zulkilfly!