PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xiao Tzu (ranked 25094 p4p, 6052 weight class) and Luke Soza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luke Soza told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Tzu
vs
Soza

200 cm
19
268
1 - 4 - 0

186 cm
23
250
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid 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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Xiao Tzu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luke Soza!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tzu scores with a nice right hand.
Soza looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Tzu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Tzu works Soza's body with a nice hook.
Tzu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Tzu gets tackled into the cage by Soza. Soza maintains the clinch.
Tzu has Soza pushed against the cage.
Soza working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Soza is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Tzu can't fight it off and eventually Soza manages to take the fight to the floor. Tzu looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Soza won't allow Tzu to get back to his feet.
Tzu is looking to sweep but instead, Soza has passed into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tzu trying to control from the bottom.
Tzu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Soza on the ground.

Tzu actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzu tries to roll over but Soza keeps him under control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Soza working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Soza seems to be working for a kimura but Tzu defends the submission attempt.
Tzu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Soza tries to stand but can't do so whilst Tzu controls his leg.
Tzu wants to control but Soza is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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.
Tzu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Soza throwing shots but Tzu is blocking nicely.
Tzu wants to get back to full guard.
Tzu is trying to stand back up but Soza is controlling him
Tzu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Soza.
Tzu trying to control here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Tzu is trying to stand back up but Soza is controlling him

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Xiao Tzu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tzu cracks Soza with a right hand to the side of the head.
Tzu misses with a kick to the body.
A cross from Tzu lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soza goes for a double leg but Tzu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tzu continues to drive forward.
Tzu is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Tzu connects with a jab.
Tzu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Soza looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tzu lands a jab.
Tzu lands with a shot to the body.
Tzu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A head kick misses from Tzu.
Good shot there by Tzu.
Tzu connects with a jab.
Tzu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tzu connects with a single shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot to the liver by Tzu. Beautiful body shot.
Tzu cracks a nice hook into Soza's ribs.
Soza takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soza has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Soza there as he acknowledges the shot.
Tzu cracks Soza with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tzu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Tzu.
Tzu scores with a jab.
Tzu connects with the punch.
Nice shot by Tzu.
Tzu throws a good cross that connects.
Soza avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tzu's corner calls for a 1-2. Tzu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Tzu lands a right hook to the body.
Good exchange - Tzu coming out on top.
A jab lands there for Tzu.
Tzu with a nice cross.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xiao Tzu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Soza shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tzu lands with a straight right. Soza didn't see that one coming.
Soza tries to clinch there but Tzu circles away.
Tzu cracks Soza with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Jab by Tzu.
A head kick misses from Tzu.
Soza tries to counter by closing the distance.
Soza moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Tzu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Soza is looking for the big counter here.
Tzu moves into range and connects with a jab.

Tzu tries to keep at a distance but Soza has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tzu tries to pull guard but Soza forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Soza has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tzu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tzu is trying to break free.
Soza is breathing heavily.
Soza slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzu is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Soza is defending well.
Tzu is looking to break free of the clinch but Soza has double underhooks.
Soza jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tzu walks away with a smile on his face. Soza gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tzu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Soza has time to react.
Tzu jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Soza blocks a head kick by Tzu.
Soza on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Soza walks into a jab.
Soza takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Soza has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Tzu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nice cross by Tzu.
Soza takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tzu cracks Soza with a good jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tzu throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tzu scores with a hook.
Tzu misses with a body kick.
Tzu misses with a kick to the body.
Soza blocks a head kick by Tzu.
Soza shoots in for a double leg but Tzu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Xiao Tzu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Soza.
Tzu cracks Soza with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tzu dips to his left and cracks Soza with an uppercut!
Tzu lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Soza avoids the head kick by Tzu.
Tzu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tzu fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tzu cracks Soza with a right hand to the side of the head.
Soza has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tzu finds it's way round the side to connect with Soza's head.
Tzu takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soza checks a leg kick nicely.
Tzu lands with a hook. Soza tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Soza avoids the head kick by Tzu.
Soza drops his hands momentarily and Tzu takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Tzu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tzu jabs Soza right on the nose. Soza blinks but takes it well.
Tzu bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Soza's head backwards.
Tzu lands an overhand right.
Soza drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nice body punch from Tzu.
Soza takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Soza on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tzu slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soza avoids the head kick by Tzu.
Tzu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tzu misses with a head kick.
Tzu cracks Soza with a good jab.
Tzu stuns Soza with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tzu cracks Soza with a right hand to the side of the head.
Tzu cracks Soza with an open hand slap.
Soza takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Soza takes one on the button.
Tzu throws a leg kick but Soza moved away.
Xiao Tzu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tzu misses with a head kick.
Tzu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Soza walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xiao Tzu dominated that second round.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tzu's corner calls for a 1-2. Tzu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Tzu connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Soza momentarily.
Soza walks into a left hand.
Tzu throws a body kick that misses.
Tzu tries a head kick but it misses.
Tzu scores with a shot to the body.
Tzu smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Xiao Tzu is winning the standup battle so far.
Tzu lands with a shot to the body.
Tzu takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Tzu connects with a right hand. Soza shakes it off.
Tzu misses with a kick to the body.
Luke Soza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Soza throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Soza fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Tzu.
Soza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Donk. Tzu catches Soza right on the button with a cross.
Tzu throws a half hearted mid kick.
Tzu throws a head kick but Soza moves out of range.
Soza takes a jab right on the kisser.
A decent looking cross lands there for Tzu.
Soza walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tzu lunges at Soza with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Soza's hand.
Tzu tries a head kick but it misses.
Tzu lunges at Soza with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Soza's hand.
Tzu bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Soza's head.
Tzu listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tzu throws a head kick but Soza moves out of range.
Tzu connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Soza's hands.
Soza on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Tzu scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Tzu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Tzu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Soza stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A head kick misses from Tzu.
Tzu catches Soza with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tzu tests Soza's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tzu is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tzu connects with a body shot that sends Soza's belly button to the back.
Tzu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Soza looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tzu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soza can do to turn this around?
Soza avoids the head kick by Tzu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzu throws a head kick that misses.
Despite the aggression on Soza's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Soza throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tzu's waist but Tzu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Soza off to one side.
Soza drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tzu throws a lazy body kick
and Soza finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Tzu's corner calls for a 1-2. Tzu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Tzu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A lazy left from Tzu finds it's target.
Tzu cracks Soza with a good jab.
Tzu lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Tzu throws a wild body kick that Soza sees coming a mile off.
Luke Soza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Soza gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tzu with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tzu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Soza takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tzu throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tzu stuns Soza with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Soza drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Soza is looking to clinch.
Tzu lands with a nice body punch.
Soza on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Soza with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tzu to score with a decent uppercut.
Tzu lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A punch lands to the side of Soza 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Soza takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Xiao Tzu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soza takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xiao Tzu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tzu, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:25
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:25
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xiao Tzu!