PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sandalphon Azaael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and King Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Zulu's choice of entrance music: Jungle Music. This should be fireworks!

Azaael
vs
Zulu

191 cm
20
300 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

215 cm
19
300 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sandalphon Azaael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, King Zulu!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Felipe Paraventi and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zulu takes a swing at Azaael's ribcage but misses.
Horrible takedown by Zulu or perhaps it was just good defense by Azaael which made him look bad.
Azaael fails with the takedown.
Azaael throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zulu's waist but Zulu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Azaael off to one side.
Zulu lands a nice looking body shot.
Zulu is looking to clinch.
Zulu looks to throw the jab but Azaael is out of range.
Azaael throws a lazy uppercut
and Zulu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Azaael closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Azaael lands in his opponent's guard.
Azaael is breathing heavily.
Zulu throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Zulu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Azaael manages to get himself to full guard.

Zulu drops back looking for a leg! Azaael is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Azaael manages to kick Zulu off! Zulu jumps back into Azaael's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zulu drops back looking for a leg! Azaael is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Azaael manages to kick Zulu off! Zulu jumps back into Azaael's guard.
Zulu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zulu pushes down on Azaael's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Azaael is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Zulu seems to be looking for submissions.
Azaael on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Azaael tries to get out of the position.
Zulu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Azaael's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zulu is looking for a kimura but Azaael is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zulu to get the leverage.
Azaael is staying active underneath Zulu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Zulu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Azaael defends it well.
Azaael moves into full guard.

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.
Zulu postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zulu forces his way into half guard.
Azaael knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zulu on the ground.
Zulu passes to side control.

Zulu is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Azaael is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Zulu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zulu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Zulu working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Zulu looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu advances nicely into full mount.
Zulu punishing his opponent with strikes.
Azaael is trying to stand.
Zulu trying to control but Azaael is having none of it.
Azaael keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zulu punishing his opponent with strikes.
Azaael is trying to escape the mount.
A nice elbow there by Zulu.
Azaael tries to improve his position but instead Zulu has taken his back!
Zulu trying to control momentarily.

Azaael defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Zulu's arms.
Azaael trying to control the action but Zulu just sinks the hooks in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulu punishes Azaael with strikes from the back mount.

Zulu is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Azaael trying to control the hands but Zulu breaks the grip.

Azaael preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Zulu.
Zulu wants to control but Azaael is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Azaael fending off the submission attempt from Zulu.
Good control from Zulu.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zulu has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Azaael is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Zulu dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zulu has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zulu's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Azaael has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zulu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The is referee keeping an eye on Zulu - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Azaael managing to block the knees to the body from Zulu.

Azaael jumps guard.
Zulu tries to free his leg and advance position but Azaael is retaining full guard.
Zulu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zulu wants to pass the guard but Azaael is keeping the position.
Zulu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Zulu thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zulu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Azaael swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azaael looking for a sweep. Not yet Azaael, not yet.
Zulu pushes down on Azaael's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zulu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Azaael has hold of Zulu's hands but Zulu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Azaael is rocked!

It looks like Sandalphon Azaael has been cut.

Zulu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Oh Azaael is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zulu passes to side control.

Zulu looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Zulu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zulu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Azaael seems to have got his legs back now.
Azaael trying to control but Zulu flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Zulu is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Azaael. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Azaael wants to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zulu working for the choke.
This has been an exciting period of action!
You can see the frustration on Azaael's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Zulu is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Azaael is defending well though. Zulu let's go of the attempt for now.

Zulu looking for the choke but no joy.
Zulu loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Azaael hold on?

Zulu working for a choke but Azaael is defending well.
King Zulu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Azaael tries to escape the position.

Zulu looking for the choke but no joy.
Azaael trying to get back to his feet but Zulu is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Azaael is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Azaael is trying to get back to his feet but Zulu has full control of the position and if anything, Azaael has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Zulu is looking to control Azaael but Azaael is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The referee is taking a good look at Azaael as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Zulu!

Zulu is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Azaael knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Azaael for a finish.

Azaael defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Azaael is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azaael tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Azaael might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zulu with shots to the head and body - Azaael looks very uncomfortable down there.

Zulu working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Zulu pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Zulu is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Azaael is in real trouble.

Zulu working for the choke.

Zulu is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Azaael is defending well though. Zulu let's go of the attempt for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Azaael is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Zulu gets his way!
Azaael tries to escape but Zulu has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Zulu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sandalphon Azaael's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zulu throws a leg kick but Azaael moved away.
A right-left combo lands from Zulu.
Zulu is looking to clinch but Azaael is avoiding it.
Azaael misses with a double jab
and Zulu counters with a series of strikes. Azaael will be more careful next time no doubt.
Zulu moves in looking to clinch but Azaael pushes him off.

Zulu moves into the clinch successfully.
Zulu tries to pull guard but Azaael holds him up against the cage and eventually Zulu drops back down to his feet.
Zulu trying to stall but Azaael improves his position.
Zulu prevents the takedown attempt.
Zulu landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Azaael goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zulu prevents it.
Zulu with a knee to the head.
Zulu wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azaael is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zulu pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sandalphon Azaael. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Zulu.

Azaael manages to break the clinch.

Azaael scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Azaael works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Zulu is trying to control Azaael's posture but Azaael avoids it.
Zulu manages to work his way to half guard, despite Azaael's best efforts.
Azaael tries to stand but can't do so whilst Zulu controls his leg.
Zulu on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zulu regains full guard. Nicely done.

Zulu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Azaael can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zulu looking for a sweep. Not yet Zulu, not yet.
Azaael chips away with some ground and pound.
Zulu looking to control.
Azaael wants to stand but Zulu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Zulu looking for a triangle here. Azaael is fighting it but it looks tight! Zulu pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Azaael is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). King Zulu!