PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rei Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kohaku Ryota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zulu's entrance music is Oh Berimbau!. A fine choice. Rei Zulu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zulu
vs
Ryota

210 cm
18
290 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Mango Nutrition (90% Laundry)
KAISER

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rei Zulu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kohaku Ryota!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryota tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zulu swivels and escapes.
Zulu tries to clinch but Ryota moves away

and Ryota counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ryota's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Ryota drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Zulu dives on top into guard.
Ryota trying to control the position.
Ryota should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Zulu postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ryota is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Zulu, into his guard.
Ryota pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zulu is keeping the position for now.
Ryota is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zulu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zulu keeping full guard, as Ryota tries to pass.
Zulu manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zulu trying to control but Ryota is having none of it.
Ryota is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ryota is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Zulu fails to take his opponent's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryota regains half guard.
Zulu is looking to advance position but Ryota won't allow it.

Zulu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ryota doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zulu.
Ryota trying to control but Zulu postures up.

Zulu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ryota defends it well.
Zulu trying to control from half guard but Ryota is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ryota is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zulu pulls his head out easily.
Ryota slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ryota controls Zulu momentarily but Zulu frees himself.
Ryota looking for a sweep. Not yet Ryota, not yet.
Zulu tries to free his leg and advance position but Ryota is retaining full guard.
Zulu wants to control from the top but Ryota keeps moving.
Zulu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryota keeping moving, preventing Zulu from controlling successfully.
Zulu looking to sit in guard and control but Ryota gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zulu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ryota is aware though and is defending well.
Zulu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ryota is one step ahead there.
Zulu keeping moving, preventing Ryota from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zulu is looking for a triangle but Ryota pushes his legs off easily.

Ryota drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zulu looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zulu looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zulu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kohaku Ryota will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ryota slips a straight right by Zulu.
Zulu dives in and grabs Ryota's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ryota pushes down on Zulu's head and hops out.
Ryota throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ryota ducks under a wild hook from Zulu.
Zulu wants to clinch

and Ryota counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zulu won't be happy with that.
Zulu throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

Ryota tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kohaku Ryota has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryota wants to control but Zulu is keeping him busy.
Zulu is looking for a sweep.

Ryota is trying to get an arm triangle but Zulu is defending well.
Zulu is looking to regain half guard here but Ryota keeps moving and retains side control.

Ryota is trying to get an arm triangle but Zulu is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ryota is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zulu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zulu tries to bench press Ryota off him but Ryota keeps the position.

Ryota is trying to get an arm triangle but Zulu is defending well.
Zulu is looking to regain half guard here but Ryota keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Zulu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zulu sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu wants to get back to full guard but Ryota has passed into side control.
Zulu misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Ryota trying to control the position but Zulu is working away.
Zulu tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ryota trying to control the position but Zulu is working away.
Zulu tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulu wants to control but Ryota postures up.
Ryota wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zulu keeps working.
Ryota taking a breather here.
Ryota trying to control the action but Zulu is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Ryota working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ryota is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ryota is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zulu knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kohaku Ryota showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ryota.
Zulu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ryota stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zulu fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ryota blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ryota manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Zulu gets a double leg takedown into Ryota's guard.
Zulu trying to control the position from guard on top but Ryota is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zulu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Zulu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zulu wants to control from the top but Ryota keeps moving.
Ryota tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zulu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ryota escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zulu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ryota takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Zulu drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zulu jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ryota keeping moving, preventing Zulu from controlling successfully.
Zulu advances to half guard.
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!
Zulu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Zulu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ryota is just riding it out for now. Zulu eventually gives up the hold.
Ryota regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zulu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryota is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ryota wants to pass to mount but Zulu is defending the position.
Zulu is trying to maintain the position but Ryota is very close to passing his half guard.

Ryota is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zulu is just riding it out for now. Ryota eventually gives up the hold.
Zulu trying to control but Ryota postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zulu looking for submissions off his back.
Zulu wants to control but Ryota is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zulu is not content to let Ryota control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rei Zulu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ryota 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight for Kohaku Ryota!
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight for Kohaku Ryota!
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Rei Zulu!

Kohaku Ryota wins by split decision!