PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Long Zono (ranked 4621 p4p, 24561 weight class) and Luke Soza (ranked 46 p4p, 0 weight class). Luke Soza is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Zono
vs
Soza

225 cm
23
250
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
23
250
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Long Zono!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luke Soza!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zono throws a sloppy head kick and Soza moves out of range easily.
Soza looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Zono throws a big shot that misses.

Soza tries to keep at a distance but Zono has taken the fight into the clinch.
Soza can't get the takedown.
Soza is looking to take this one to the mat.
Soza prevents a takedown attempt there.
Soza tries to break the clinch but Zono is controlling the position.
Soza lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Soza gets underhooks to prevent Zono's takedown attempt.
Soza misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Soza is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Soza just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zono's brow.
Zono has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Soza after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Long Zono. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soza gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zono.
Soza jumps guard but Zono turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zono has Soza pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Soza manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Soza stops a takedown attempt from Zono.
Zono tries for a takedown but Soza manages to get underhooks.
Zono drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Soza gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Soza tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zono smiles and moves away.
Zono with a lazy takedown attempt
and Soza counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zono throws a head kick but Soza moves out of range.
Soza shoots in but Zono avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zono is looking for a counter combo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zono.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zono swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zono really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zono tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Soza counters with a three punch combo that has Zono backing up. Zono nods at Soza to acknowledge the strikes.
Zono throws a body kick that misses.

Zono rushes Soza and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zono tries to score a body lock takedown but Soza shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Soza unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zono lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Soza gets underhooks to prevent Zono's takedown attempt.
Soza looking to slow down the pace here.
Soza prevents the takedown attempt.
Soza has Zono pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zono manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Soza is pressed up against the cage. Zono has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Soza down to the mat. Soza avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Soza tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zono has closed the distance and engaged Soza in a clinch.
Soza is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Zono has Soza pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Soza manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Soza jumps into guard, dragging Zono to the mat.
Zono slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Soza is trying to control Zono's posture but Zono avoids it.

Zono stands up and beckons Soza to his feet.

Zono has Soza up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zono tries for a takedown. No joy.
Soza is looking to take this one to the mat.
Zono looking for a takedown.
Zono is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zono is trying to drag Soza to the mat but Soza just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Soza pulls guard successfully.
Zono trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luke Soza will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Zono misses with a takedown attempt
and Soza counters with a one-two to the body.

Zono shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Zono gets to his feet - Soza follows without any prompting.
Zono closes the distance and clinches up with Soza, looking for a takedown. Zono pushes Soza against the cage but Soza circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zono shoots in and drives through. Soza sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Long Zono. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Soza fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Zono to the ground. Soza is now in Zono's guard.

Zono looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zono lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zono trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zono passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Zono working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zono stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Soza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zono swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zono throws a push kick but Soza slaps the foot to one side.
Soza steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Zono.
Zono misses with a takedown
and Soza counters with a right hand to the body.
Soza feints a jab promting Zono to slip. Soza then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Zono slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Zono misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soza keeps the fight on the outside.
Zono with a poor takedown
and Zono takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zono doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Soza counters with a straight right hand.

Zono gets a clinch.
Zono is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Soza pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Soza tries to pull guard but Zono forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zono is trying to drag Soza to the mat but Soza just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zono is trying to drag Soza to the mat but Soza just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Soza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soza throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Zono rushes Soza and presses him up against the cage.
Zono prevents a takedown attempt there.
Zono dodges an elbow strike from Soza.
Zono tries for a takedown. No joy.
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 Zono walks away with a smile on his face. Soza gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Soza throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zono.

Zono has closed the distance and engaged Soza in a clinch.
Zono tries for a takedown but Soza manages to get underhooks.
Zono drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Soza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zono drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Soza is trying to break the clinch but Zono has him pressed against the cage.
Soza stops a takedown attempt from Zono.

Soza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Soza lands a jab to the head.
Soza tries for a takedown but Zono sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zono is looking for a counter combo.

Zono closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zono as Soza tries to tie him up.
Zono gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Soza.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Soza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Soza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zono quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Zono misses with a takedown attempt - Soza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Long Zono seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zono throws a head kick but Soza moves out of range.
Zono tries for a takedown but Soza sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Soza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Zono closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zono has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Soza is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Long Zono. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zono has Soza pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Soza manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Long Zono has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Soza breaks the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zono with a lazy takedown attempt

and Soza moves into the clinch.
Zono looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zono is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Soza gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Soza is trying to maintain a safe position but Zono gets an underhook and turns Soza into the cage.
Zono tries to score a body lock takedown but Soza shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Zono has Soza pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Zono pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Soza tumbling to the mat - Zono dives into Soza's guard.

Soza pushes Zono off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Zono with a poor takedown
and Soza counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A nice leg kick from Soza, right into the meat of the thigh.
Luke Soza seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Soza is defended easily by Zono.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zono drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soza keeping full guard, as Zono tries to pass.
Soza lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Soza wants to control from the top but Zono keeps moving.

Zono has his foot on Soza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Soza works his way back into a safe position though.
Zono looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Zono throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Zono has an active guard here but Soza has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zono wants to improve his position but Soza is controlling well.

Zono looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Zono looking for submissions off his back.

Zono looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Long Zono overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zono is trying to get back to full guard.

Zono looking for submissions off his back.
Luke Soza is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Soza really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zono. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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.

Zono actively working from the bottom here.
Zono is trying to get back to full guard.
Zono is looking to get back to full guard here but Soza has managed to pass to side control instead.
Zono is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Soza trying to control the action but Zono is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Luke Soza.
I've got Soza 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Soza!