PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between JJ Zola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Ariyoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Zola
vs
Ariyoshi

194 cm
24
272 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

195 cm
24
284 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, JJ Zola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, George Ariyoshi!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zola takes one to the chin there.
Zola uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ariyoshi.
Zola is looking to clinch.
Zola throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ariyoshi lands an overhand right.
Ariyoshi is looking to clinch.
A clash of legs there as Ariyoshi blocks the low kick.
Ariyoshi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Zola attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Zola closes the distance but Ariyoshi moves to the side
and Ariyoshi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zola throws a chopping leg kick but Ariyoshi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Zola gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ariyoshi to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ariyoshi tries to free his leg and advance position but Zola is retaining full guard.
Zola trying to keep a closed guard but Ariyoshi is proving a slippery customer.
Ariyoshi tries to free his leg and advance position but Zola is retaining full guard.
Ariyoshi slips nicely into half guard.

Ariyoshi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zola sees it coming and defends easily.
Ariyoshi is pressing down on Zola's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zola is holding on for now.

Ariyoshi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ariyoshi wants to work for an arm triangle but Zola is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Ariyoshi is working for a submission of some sort.
Ariyoshi looks gassed!
Ariyoshi is pressing down on Zola's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zola is holding on for now.

Ariyoshi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ariyoshi is looking to pass Zola's guard but actually Zola recovers to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ariyoshi drops back looking for a leg! Zola is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zola manages to kick Ariyoshi off! Ariyoshi jumps back into Zola's guard.
Zola controls Ariyoshi momentarily but Ariyoshi frees himself.
Ariyoshi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zola swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zola knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ariyoshi on the ground.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ariyoshi throws a body punch but Zola moves out of range.
Zola clinches but Ariyoshi breaks the clinch
and Ariyoshi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four 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.

Ariyoshi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zola looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Ariyoshi goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Zola has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Ariyoshi but great work by Zola.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zola tries to stand but Ariyoshi is controlling his head.
Ariyoshi is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Ariyoshi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zola tries a head kick but it misses.
Zola lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ariyoshi's sensitive parts.
JJ Zola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zola tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zola looks to clinch
enabling Ariyoshi to counter with a crisp jab.
Ariyoshi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zola circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zola is looking to chop away at Ariyoshi's legs.
Zola fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ariyoshi checks it well.
Zola feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ariyoshi's calf.
Ariyoshi is breathing heavily.
Ariyoshi tries for a takedown but Zola sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zola scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zola is looking to clinch.
Zola wants to clinch

and Ariyoshi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zola keeping full guard, as Ariyoshi tries to pass.
Zola is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Zola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zola keeping full guard, as Ariyoshi tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ariyoshi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zola is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ariyoshi, into his guard.
Zola working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ariyoshi's head.
Ariyoshi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zola is one step ahead there.

Ariyoshi has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Zola is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ariyoshi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ariyoshi regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zola wants to get back to his feet.
Zola is trying to control the action in half guard but Ariyoshi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ariyoshi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ariyoshi is on top in guard.
Ariyoshi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zola is keeping the position for now.

Ariyoshi drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Zola dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zola wants to pass the guard but Ariyoshi is keeping the position.
Zola throwing strikes from guard but Ariyoshi blocks nicely.
Zola trying to control the position from guard on top but Ariyoshi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zola stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ariyoshi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ariyoshi throws his legs up looking for a submission but Zola uses it to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Zola dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ariyoshi slips a jab and a cross from Zola.
Ariyoshi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zola is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zola throws a head kick but Ariyoshi moves out of range.
Ariyoshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zola moves away.
JJ Zola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zola misses with a straight left.
Zola thumps Ariyoshi with a low kick.
Ariyoshi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zola momentarily.
Zola wants to clinch up but Ariyoshi keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zola wants to clinch
and Ariyoshi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zola throws a right and a left that Ariyoshi avoids nicely.
Zola pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zola misses with a straight left.
Zola pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ariyoshi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Ariyoshi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ariyoshi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ariyoshi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zola is looking to reverse the position.
Zola is trying to control Ariyoshi's posture but Ariyoshi avoids it.

Ariyoshi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zola is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zola is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Zola wants to control but Ariyoshi is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zola is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Ariyoshi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Ariyoshi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zola sees it coming and defends easily.

Zola is defending against the submission attempts here by Ariyoshi.

Ariyoshi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ariyoshi tries to pass to full mount but Zola defends it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zola scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zola tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ariyoshi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
An inside leg kick lands from Zola.

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 JJ Zola.
I think Zola 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JJ Zola!