PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Xander Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhaka Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cage comes to the ring accompanied by Diary of Jane. Zhaka Zulu has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Xander Cage's chin.

Cage
vs
Zulu

182 cm
25
195 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

181 cm
25
188 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Xander Cage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zhaka Zulu!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cage avoids the body shot from Zulu.
Zulu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Zulu gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cage to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zulu is looking to stand up but Cage isn't so interested in that idea.
Zulu keeping moving, preventing Cage from controlling successfully.

Cage drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Zulu dives on top into guard.
Zulu wants to stand but Cage has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Cage looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage trying to control the position.
Zulu is looking to stand up but Cage won't let him.
Zulu stopping the sweep attempt from Cage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Cage is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zulu is aware though and is defending well.
Zulu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cage. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cage is trying to control the position but Zulu postures up.
Cage wants to stand up but Zulu is controlling him.

Cage is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Cage had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Zulu defends it easily.
Zulu is looking to stand up but Cage won't let him.
Cage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zulu is one step ahead there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulu is looking to stand up but Cage won't let him.
Zulu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cage working a defensive guard here.
Zulu wanted to stand there but Cage had control of the position.
Cage is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Xander Cage has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Cage shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zulu as he avoids it easily.
Zhaka Zulu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zulu holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cage drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xander Cage. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zulu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A jab from Zulu misses.
Cage walks into a jab.
Cage is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zulu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zulu misses the shot to the body.
Cage doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zulu counters with a three punch combo that has Cage backing up. Cage nods at Zulu to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cage stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cage takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cage takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Jab, jab by Zulu - just one landing.
Zulu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cage.
Zulu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cage tries for a takedown but Zulu circles away easily
and Zulu makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zhaka Zulu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cage is breathing heavily.
Cage has his takedown stuffed
letting Zulu counter with a right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zulu lands a nice hook to Cage's body. Cage takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhaka Zulu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cage misses with a takedown attempt
and Zulu counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cage fails with the takedown.
Zulu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cage misses with a takedown
and Zulu counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xander Cage. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zulu lands a big uppercut and Cage crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Cage looks OK. Zulu waves Cage back to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zulu throws a big shot that misses.
Zulu cracks Cage with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Cage is rocked!
Zulu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Oh Cage is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cage shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zulu counters with a right hand from hell and Cage is out cold! A vicious knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Zhaka Zulu!