PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Duke Nukem (ranked 2770 p4p, 3336 weight class) and Sun Tzu (ranked 227 p4p, 257 weight class). Tzu comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The HU - Wolf Totem feat. Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nukem
vs
Tzu

172 cm
19
147
3 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
145
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

BANZAI NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Duke Nukem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sun Tzu!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Decent striking displayed by Nukem there.
Nukem scores with a jab. Tzu acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Tzu shoots in and bounces Nukem off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nukem is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Tzu wants to control but Nukem is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nukem is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Well, if Nukem is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nukem is looking to take a break and control but Tzu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nukem scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nukem working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nukem lands with a punch from half guard.
Tzu works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nukem wants to pass the guard but Tzu is keeping the position.

Tzu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nukem defends well.
Nukem slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tzu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nukem is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nukem passes into half guard.
Well, if Nukem is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tzu is refusing to be controlled, as Nukem sits in half guard.
Tzu tries to get to full guard but Nukem has control of the leg.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nukem trying to pass the guard but Tzu defending well.
Tzu wants to improve his position but Nukem is controlling well.

Tzu actively working from the bottom here.
Tzu wants to improve his position but Nukem is controlling well.
Nukem slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nukem is thwarting Tzu's attempts to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nukem looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sun Tzu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tzu closes the distance and clinches.
Tzu drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A shot in the inside from Nukem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tzu is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nukem pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nukem effectively controlling the action here.
Nukem scores with a shot to the side of Tzu's head.
Nukem tries to throw a body punch but Tzu avoids it by throwing Nukem back against the cage.
Nukem lands a right hand.
Nukem manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Tzu drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nukem pulls his leg out and moves away.
Duke Nukem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sun Tzu.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nukem lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Nukem dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nukem getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Tzu shoots in for a double leg but Nukem sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice sprawl there from Nukem as Tzu shoots in.
Nukem is looking to counter punch.
Sun Tzu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tzu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nukem defends it nicely.
Duke Nukem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sun Tzu.
Nukem keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tzu misses with a takedown
letting Nukem counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tzu darts in looking for a takedown but Nukem gets double underhooks and turns Tzu into the cage.
Nukem uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tzu has time to react.

Tzu is rocked!
Tzu shoots in looking for a takedown. Nukem tries to sprawl out of it but Tzu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nukem manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A quick step to the side and Nukem tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tzu is still on wobbly legs! Can Nukem finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tzu.
Nukem is looking to counter punch.
Tzu seems to have recovered his senses.
Tzu shoots in for a takedown but Nukem shows good takedown defense.
Tzu is breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tzu is defended easily by Nukem.

Nukem lands a big shot that drops Tzu! Can he finish him?
Our spies down at at Banzai Combat Academy LA inform us that Tzu has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Nukem postures up and lands a big shot to Tzu's brow.
Nukem seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nukem'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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nukem tries to free his leg and advance position but Tzu is retaining full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tzu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nukem is aware though and is defending well.
Tzu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nukem stays in close to Tzu's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nukem wants to pass the guard but Tzu is keeping the position.
Nukem seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nukem pushing down on Tzu's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Tzu trying to hold on to Nukem's head to control him but Nukem postures up.
Nukem is pressing down on Tzu's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tzu is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tzu is looking for a sweep. Nukem is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nukem seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Tzu gets full guard.
Nukem with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tzu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nukem doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nukem manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Duke Nukem overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tzu keeping moving, preventing Nukem from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nukem stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tzu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Nukem 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!

Nukem connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nukem is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tzu can do to turn this around?
Tzu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nukem makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Tzu bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nukem sneaks back into half guard.

Tzu is working for a submission of some sort.
Nukem keeping control of the position.
Nukem on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nukem tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tzu is trying to work for a kimura but Nukem is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nukem has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tzu is working away from the top position though.

Tzu is working for a kimura but Nukem is defending it quite comfortably.

Tzu is looking for a kimura here.
Tzu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Tzu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nukem defends it well.

That's two 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.
Nukem is doing well to control the position and prevent Tzu from advancing to side control.
Nukem is looking for a sweep. Tzu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Tzu is working for a kimura but Nukem is defending it quite comfortably.
Nukem tries to get to full guard but Tzu has control of the leg.
Nukem is pressing down on Tzu's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nukem wants to sweep here but Tzu controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tzu drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nukem manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tzu has Nukem in his guard.

Nukem trying to control the position from guard on top but Tzu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Duke Nukem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nukem's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Nukem avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nukem tries to free his leg and advance position but Tzu is retaining full guard.
Nukem controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tzu is trying to control the position but Nukem postures up.
Nukem controlling from the top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Duke Nukem is winning the standup battle so far.
Nukem throws a lazy right hand but Tzu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tzu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nukem as he avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tzu misses with a series of wild punches.
Sun Tzu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tzu with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nukem counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Duke Nukem.
Well Nukem has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Duke Nukem!