PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oki Zuki (ranked 1034 p4p, 1127 weight class) and Baariq Taïa (ranked 79 p4p, 25 weight class). Baariq Taïa has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Oki Zuki 's chin.

Zuki
vs
Taïa

200 cm
28
280
15 - 5 - 1

198 cm
27
258
7 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Hype Nutrition

30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Oki Zuki !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Baariq Taïa!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taïa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Taïa darts in looking for a takedown but Zuki gets double underhooks and turns Taïa into the cage.
Taïa connects with a crisp jab.
Taïa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zuki is fending him off so far but Taïa persists. Nope, Zuki circles away and we're back to standing.
Baariq Taïa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Taïa clinches up with Zuki and pushes him back against the cage.
Taïa is trying to drag Zuki to the mat but Zuki just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Oki Zuki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baariq Taïa.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zuki .
Taïa swings wildly with an uppercut but Zuki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zuki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Taïa can't find room to land a body shot as Zuki controls the action.
Zuki is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taïa is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Zuki is defending well.
Taïa lands with a short shot to the head.
Taïa lands with a short shot to the head.
Zuki has had enough of the clinch but Taïa keeps him there for the moment.
Taïa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A frustrated look appears on Zuki 's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taïa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Taïa's coach down at GAMMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Taïa's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zuki .
Taïa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zuki backwards.
Zuki is trying to force a seperation but Taïa has the dominant position.
Zuki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taïa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zuki avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Zuki manages to break the clinch.
Zuki lands with a kick to the temple. Taïa shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Baariq Taïa has been cut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taïa is defended easily by Zuki .
Zuki has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Canucks Combat Club in the buildup to the fight.
Taïa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zuki .
Taïa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Taïa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Taïa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zuki wants to stand but Taïa is controlling the position.
Taïa postures up in Zuki 's guard and throws a big left but Zuki blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zuki manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Zuki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zuki connects with a jab.
Zuki swats away the attempt to clinch by Taïa.
Taïa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Taïa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zuki counters with a two punch combo.
Taïa goes for a double leg but Zuki avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zuki continues to drive forward.
Taïa looks for a takedown but Zuki sprawls well.
Zuki throws a head kick that half lands.
Taïa doesn't manage to clinch there - Zuki circles away.
Taïa fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zuki tries a head kick but it misses.
Zuki misses with a few strikes there.
Taïa shoots for a double leg takedown but Zuki sprawls well. He's pushed Taïa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Taïa rushes Zuki and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zuki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Taïa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Taïa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A head punch on the inside from Taïa fails to land.
Zuki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Taïa swings wildly with an uppercut but Zuki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taïa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taïa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zuki is trying to break the clinch but Taïa is controlling him.
Zuki blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zuki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taïa with a jab.
Donk. Taïa catches Zuki right on the button with a cross.
Zuki drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Oki Zuki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taïa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Taïa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zuki 's waist but Zuki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taïa off to one side.
Zuki thuds his right hand into Taïa's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Zuki throws a series of punches but Taïa moves out of range.
Taïa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zuki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taïa darts in looking for a takedown but Zuki gets double underhooks and turns Taïa into the cage.
Zuki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Taïa fails with a takedown attempt.
Zuki appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Taïa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Oki Zuki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Baariq Taïa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Taïa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Taïa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Taïa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taïa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zuki counters with a leg kick.
Taïa dives in for a single leg takedown but Zuki sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Oki Zuki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baariq Taïa.
No luck for Taïa with that takedown attempt.
Zuki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Taïa fails with a takedown attempt.
Taïa tries for a takedown but Zuki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuki swinging wildly here.
Zuki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taïa.
Taïa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Zuki counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zuki throws the kick towards the body but Taïa avoids it.
Taïa wants to clinch.
Zuki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taïa can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taïa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Taïa misses with a lunging right hand
and Zuki counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taïa is defended easily by Zuki .
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Taïa is breathing heavily.
Zuki throws a nice looking combination but Taïa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taïa shoots in looking for a takedown but Zuki manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Taïa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zuki swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Taïa crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Zuki - the referee stops the clock and Taïa gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Zuki . Taïa manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Zuki lands a really nice looking cross but Taïa seems unphased.
Taïa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zuki counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zuki tries to bum rush Taïa with a series of wild strikes but Taïa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A nice side step and Taïa releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taïa darts in trying to clinch
and Zuki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zuki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Taïa.
Zuki went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Zuki leaves Taïa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zuki went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Zuki fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It seemed like Taïa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Taïa lands a really nice looking cross but Zuki seems unphased.
Taïa fails with a takedown attempt.
As Taïa looks to move away, Zuki throws a big counter combo but Taïa just gets out of the way.
Zuki connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuki scores with a body shot.
Taïa misses with a lunging right hand
and Zuki counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Taïa checks a leg kick nicely.
Zuki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Taïa let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Oki Zuki is winning the standup battle so far.
Taïa closes the distance but Zuki moves to the side
and Zuki counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Taïa blocks a head kick by Zuki .
No joy there for Zuki , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice sprawl there from Zuki as Taïa shoots in.
Zuki throws a head kick but Taïa moves out of range.
Oki Zuki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taïa goes for a double leg but Zuki avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zuki continues to drive forward.
Zuki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taïa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zuki is looking for a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuki ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Zuki fails to land with a series of punches.
Taïa misses with a takedown attempt - Zuki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Taïa moves out of range of the body kick from Zuki .
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zuki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taïa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Taïa dives in and grabs Zuki 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zuki pushes down on Taïa's head and hops out.
Taïa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zuki fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Taïa is out of range.
Zuki scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Taïa doesn't seem bothered though.
Zuki wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taïa.
Zuki lands a jab-cross combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Oki Zuki dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Baariq Taïa's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Danga de danga de dang - Zuki scores with a four punch combination!
Taïa throws an off balance right hand
enabling Zuki to counter with a crisp jab.
Zuki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zuki keeps the fight on the outside.
Taïa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zuki counters with a nice kick to the body.

Zuki drops Taïa with a beautiful combination! Taïa stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Zuki is looking for the KO!

Taïa is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zuki lands a right hook to the body.
Taïa is still on wobbly legs! Can Zuki finish him?
Zuki moves in close and cracks Taïa with a massive right hand! Taïa, frozen momentarily in time, tumbles to the canvas, already out cold! A brutal knockout by Zuki !

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Oki Zuki !
Oki Zuki took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Champion Apparel for their support in the buildup to the fight.