PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Solomon Zook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Cullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zook comes to the cage accompanied by God's Gonna Cut You Down. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zook
vs
Cullen

177 cm
24
196 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
198 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Rio Mma Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Solomon Zook!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Richard Cullen!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Matheus Silva and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zook is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cullen.
Cullen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Zook is just out of range.
Cullen ducks under a wild hook from Zook.
No joy there for Cullen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cullen takes a swing at Zook's ribcage but misses.
Zook is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cullen.
Zook looks to land a body kick but Cullen moved away.
Zook avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zook uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cullen.
A shot to the liver by Cullen. Beautiful body shot.
Cullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Zook is just out of range.
Zook slips a jab and a cross from Cullen.
Zook keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cullen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zook.
Cullen throws a one two combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cullen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cullen misses the shot to the body.
Zook throws a quick inside leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zook.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Zook misses with a low kick.
Zook dodges the punch combination from Cullen.
Cullen misses with an uppercut. Zook saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zook shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cullen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Zook wants to control from the top but Cullen keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zook slips nicely into half guard.
Zook wants to control but Cullen is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zook winds up and cracks Cullen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Zook is just content to waste time from the top position. Cullen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cullen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zook is controlling him.
Zook has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen keeping full guard, as Zook tries to pass.
Cullen wants to stand and escape but Zook is having none of it.

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.
Zook throws a big right hand that misses.
Cullen wants to stand up but Zook is controlling him.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zook tries to free his leg and advance position but Cullen is retaining full guard.

Cullen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Cullen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cullen misses the shot to the body.
Richard Cullen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zook tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zook tries to score with a low kick but Cullen moves his leg out of the way.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zook is defended easily by Cullen.
Cullen swings for the body but Zook moves out of range.
Cullen lands a slapping body shot.
Zook doesn't manage to clinch there - Cullen circles away.
Zook lands a high kick!

Zook darts in and clinches Cullen up against the cage.

Cullen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cullen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zook.
Zook dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cullen. That did some damage!
Zook looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cullen throws a right and a left that Zook avoids nicely.
Zook tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cullen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zook throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zook keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zook throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cullen's head.
Cullen swings for the body but Zook moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cullen. Zook does a little dance to reset his feet.

Cullen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zook to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Zook trying to control the position from guard on top but Cullen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zook throws and elbow that misses. Cullen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zook's guard. Nice move by Cullen!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zook controls Cullen momentarily but Cullen frees himself.
Cullen wants to stand and escape but instead Zook has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Cullen keeping moving, preventing Zook from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen keeping full guard, as Zook tries to pass.
Zook throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cullen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cullen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zook.

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.
Cullen is looking to stand up but Zook isn't so interested in that idea.
Zook missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zook takes a swing at Cullen's ribcage but misses.

Zook gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zook throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Cullen is trying to force a seperation but Zook has the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Zook dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zook throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cullen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cullen misses the shot to the body.
Cullen lands a slapping body shot.
Zook misses with a body kick.
Richard Cullen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big left from Cullen misses.
Zook lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cullen misses with a wild combination.
Zook throws a leg kick but Cullen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Zook tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cullen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Zook rather than just go for the knockout.
Zook looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zook moves in looking to clinch but Cullen pushes him off.
Cullen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cullen. Zook does a little dance to reset his feet.
A combination from Cullen does no damage.
Cullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cullen tries to bum rush Zook with a series of wild strikes but Zook uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cullen throws a right hand that Zook ducks under and follows up with a left that Zook also avoids with ease.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zook is defended easily by Cullen.
Zook wants to clinch up but Cullen keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zook throws a leg kick that misses.
Richard Cullen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zook steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cullen.
Cullen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zook was well out of range. Poor timing from Cullen.
Zook keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zook attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cullen throws a series of strikes that have Zook backpedaling.
Solomon Zook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Zook is just out of range.
Cullen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cullen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zook manages to avoid it.
Jab from Cullen.
Zook looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cullen is fending him off so far but Zook persists. Nope, Cullen circles away and we're back to standing.
Cullen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Cullen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zook circles away quickly and effectively.
Zook fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Solomon Zook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cullen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zook lands a head kick. Cullen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Zook avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cullen avoids the body shot from Zook.
Zook throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Zook buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cullen misses with a body shot
and Zook counters with a low kick, right behind Cullen 's knee.
Zook tries to clinch but Cullen is having none of it.
Cullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Zook is just out of range.
Cullen misses the shot to the body.
Cullen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cullen swinging wildly here.
Cullen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zook lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zook is looking to clinch.
Cullen tries to bum rush Zook with a series of wild strikes but Zook uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zook fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zook is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cullen stuffs the takedown.
Cullen thows a body shot but no joy.

Zook has closed the distance and engaged Cullen in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zook pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Cullen blocks an elbow strike from Zook.
Zook goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cullen prevents it.
Zook throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cullen tries to break the clinch but Zook is controlling the position.
A knee to the head by Zook.
Zook pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Zook throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Zook breaks from the clinch.
Zook fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cullen moves out of range of the body kick.
Zook wants to slow Cullen down by chopping away at his legs.
Zook is looking to clinch but Cullen is avoiding it.

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.
Cullen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cullen moves out of range as Zook throws a body kick.
Zook tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cullen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cullen.

It looks like Solomon Zook has been cut.
Cullen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Zook lands a high kick!
Zook shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cullen but Cullen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cullen misses with a wild body shot.
Zook throws a body kick that misses.
Cullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zook throws the kick towards the body but Cullen avoids it.
Zook keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zook throws a body kick that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zook closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cullen circles away.
Zook shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cullen as he avoids it easily.
Zook slips a straight right by Cullen.
Cullen scores with a shot to the body.
Cullen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Cullen really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Solomon Zook's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cullen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zook stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cullen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zook stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Zook is just out of range.
Cullen cracks a nice hook into Zook's ribs.
Cullen just misses with a punch to the body.
Cullen works Zook's body with a nice hook.
Cullen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cullen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cullen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cullen misses with a body shot.
Zook tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cullen misses with a body shot.
Cullen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cullen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zook manages to avoid it.
Cullen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zook moves away.
Zook takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cullen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Zook counters with a nice body kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Zook drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Zook is trying to ground and pound but Cullen uses the momentary lack of control by Zook to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen wants to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Zook wants to pass to mount but Cullen is defending the position.
Zook sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cullen defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zook is looking to pass Cullen's guard but actually Cullen recovers to full guard.
Zook stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cullen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cullen avoids the body shot from Zook.
Cullen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cullen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cullen swats away the attempt to clinch by Zook.
Cullen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zook. Zook obviously looking to wear him down.
Cullen keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Cullen dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Solomon Zook's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

No joy there for Cullen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Some wild striking there from Cullen.
Cullen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zook tries to clinch up but Cullen circles away and keeps his distance.
Zook shoots in but Cullen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cullen throws a body punch but Zook moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zook looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cullen swats away the attempt to clinch by Zook.
Cullen misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cullen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zook dodges the punch combination from Cullen.
Zook throws a head kick that misses.
Zook throws the kick towards the body but Cullen avoids it.
Cullen swings for the body but Zook moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zook avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cullen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zook tries a head kick but it misses.
Cullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Zook is just out of range.
Zook fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zook tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cullen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zook tries to clinch but Cullen is having none of it.
Cullen lands a two punch combo.
Cullen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Cullen throws a nice looking combination but Zook bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cullen throws a body punch but Zook moves out of range.
Cullen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zook doesn't seem bothered though.
Zook displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cullen throws out the jab.
A combination from Cullen does no damage.
Cullen is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Zook throws a leg kick that misses.
Cullen takes a swing at Zook's ribcage but misses.
Zook is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cullen looks to land a combination but Zook avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cullen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zook manages to avoid it.
Cullen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cullen misses with a wild body shot.
Cullen misses the shot to the body.
Cullen misses with a wild body shot.
Cullen throws a nice looking combination but Zook bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zook shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cullen but Cullen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Solomon Zook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cullen throws a series of punches but Zook moves out of range.
Zook with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cullen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zook. Zook obviously looking to wear him down.
Cullen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zook circles away quickly and effectively.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cullen. Zook does a little dance to reset his feet.

Zook clinches up against the cage.
Cullen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cullen can't break the clinch.
Zook lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Zook wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zook stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Zook misses with a body punch.
Cullen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cullen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zook is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cullen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Zook working Cullen over with knees to the body.
Cullen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Solomon Zook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zook throws a head punch that misses.
Zook throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cullen blocks it with crossed arms.
Zook throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cullen blocks it with crossed arms.

Cullen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cullen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zook doesn't seem bothered though.
Zook fails with the takedown.
Cullen throws a series of punches but Zook avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cullen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cullen misses with a jab to the body
and Zook counters with a solid body kick.
Zook on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Zook lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cullen's sensitive parts.
Cullen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zook tries to clinch but Cullen moves out of range.
Zook slips a jab and a cross from Cullen.
Cullen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A punch combination from Cullen misses.
Cullen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cullen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zook.
Cullen misses with a few strikes there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zook.
Zook doesn't manage to clinch there - Cullen circles away.
Zook avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zook tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Richard Cullen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zook misses with a low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Cullen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cullen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 46:49
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 46:49
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Cullen!
Richard Cullen is the new middleweight champion!