PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Soul Jah (ranked 406 p4p, 41 weight class) and Monte Zuma (ranked 755 p4p, 71 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Jah might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Bob Marley - Buffalo Soldier. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Jah
vs
Zuma

196 cm
34
250 lbs
28 - 7 - 0

190 cm
31
255 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

XFighter Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Soul Jah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Monte Zuma!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zuma throws a body punch but Jah moves out of range.
Jah thinks about countering with a head kick.
Zuma works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zuma throws a lazy right hand but Jah sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zuma scores with a body shot.
Zuma misses with a right hand

and Jah counters with a crisp one two that drops Zuma! Jah thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Zuma to his feet! Zuma is in big trouble!
Zuma rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Jah counters with a nice right hand that sends Zuma toppling to the canvas! Zuma scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Jah finish him?!

Zuma is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zuma digs a good body shot into Jah's ribs.
Zuma tries to clinch up
and Jah counters with a nice body shot.
Jah takes one on the button.
Nice cross by Zuma.

Zuma fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jah, pushing him back against the cage.
I was talking to Jah's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jah tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Zuma misses with the head strike.
Jah with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zuma misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zuma gets through Jah's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Jah is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zuma is keeping busy.
Zuma misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zuma's coach down at Kevin Spacey's House of Squats & Grabs was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Zuma's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Zuma working aggressively here.
Zuma doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zuma goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Jah breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zuma misses with a straight right.
An attempted straight right counter from Jah misses the target.
Jah avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuma throws a lazy right hand but Jah sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jah looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Zuma punishes Jah's body with a nice straight punch.
Zuma shoots in for a double leg but Jah sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Zuma.

It looks like Soul Jah has been cut.

Zuma rushes Jah and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jah tries to circle away but Zuma has him pinned against the cage.
Zuma goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jah prevents it.
Jah manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zuma drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jah pulls his leg out and moves away.
Soul Jah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monte Zuma.
Zuma tries to clinch up.
Jah is looking for a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jah takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Good standup being displayed there by Zuma as he connects with a hook.
Zuma tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jah paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zuma lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zuma looks to score with a jab to the body but Jah is just out of range.
Jah throws a big counter combination but Zuma scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Zuma smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zuma throws a jab but it's blocked by Jah.
Zuma misses with a body shot.
Jah throwing a counter right hand but Zuma manages to avoid it.
Zuma throws a lazy uppercut
and Jah cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zuma bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Jah's head backwards.
Zuma connects with a solid leg kick.
Zuma throws an off balance right hand
and Jah counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zuma swings away with a body shot that misses
and Jah counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Monte Zuma has been cut.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zuma darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Zuma throws a hook but Jah blocks it.
As Zuma backs away, Jah returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Nice straight punches there by Zuma. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zuma.
Zuma lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zuma.
Zuma tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Jah counters with a nice leg kick.
Zuma tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jah paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jah thinks about countering with a body kick.
Jah swats away the attempt to clinch by Zuma.
Zuma shoots in for a takedown but Jah shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jah went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Zuma dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A left lands for Zuma.
Zuma shoots in and drives through. Jah sprawls well.

Zuma clinches.

Jah escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jah avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zuma tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Jah is able to avoid easily.
Jah appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Zuma misses with a body shot.
Jah looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Zuma, as that shot connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuma throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jah appears to be looking for a big counter.
Zuma punishes Jah's body with a nice straight punch.
Zuma fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zuma lands a right hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuma shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zuma wants to slow Jah down by chopping away at his legs.

Zuma clinches up against the cage.
Zuma goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jah prevents it.
Soul Jah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monte Zuma.
Zuma misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jah missing with knees to the body.

Jah manages to break the clinch.
Zuma lands with a nice body punch.
Soul Jah is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zuma comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zuma tries to clinch but Jah moves out of range.
Zuma lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuma tries to clinch up but Jah circles away and keeps his distance.
Zuma comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zuma throws a body shot but no joy.
Zuma catches Jah with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Zuma shoots in and drives through. Jah sprawls well.
Jah fires out a quick counter leg kick but Zuma just manages to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jah slips under a jab from Zuma.
Zuma rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Jah to counter with a crisp jab.
Jah circles away from the clinch attempt
and Jah counters with a straight right hand.
Zuma misses with a lunging right hand
and Jah counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jah manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zuma darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Zuma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jah throws a big counter combination but Zuma scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Zuma has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zuma misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zuma misses with a short punch on the inside.
A hook to the body from Zuma.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zuma tries for a takedown but Jah manages to get underhooks.
Jah blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuma misses with a hook from the clinch.
Monte Zuma seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zuma lands with a right to the head.
Jah takes a shot to the head.
Zuma misses with the head strike.
Zuma misses with a punch to the body.
Zuma wants to take the fight to the mat but Jah manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Zuma is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Jah is defending well.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jah.
Zuma swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Jah breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zuma throws the left hand but Jah avoids the punch easily.
Jah throws a big counter combination but Zuma scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Zuma with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zuma misses with a hook
and Jah counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Zuma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zuma misses with a hook.
Jah slips a jab from Zuma.
Zuma tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jah paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jah looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zuma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zuma darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Zuma throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jah went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuma scores with a jab to the body.
Jah moves out of range as Zuma strikes.
Jah throws a big counter combination but Zuma scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Jah takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Soul Jah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuma throws an off balance right hand
and Jah counters with a three punch combo that has Zuma backing up. Zuma nods at Jah to acknowledge the strikes.
Zuma scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Jah steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zuma.
Jah is looking to counter with head kicks.
Zuma throws a jab but it's blocked by Jah.
Zuma misses with a straight left.
Zuma misses with a jab to the body
and Zuma takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zuma lands a leg kick that knocks Jah off balance momentarily.
Zuma digs a good body shot into Jah's ribs.
Zuma is looking to clinch.
Jah fires out a quick counter leg kick but Zuma just manages to avoid it.
Zuma throws a leg kick that is checked
and Jah counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuma connects with a body shot that sends Jah's belly button to the back.
Monte Zuma seems to be getting the better of the standup.
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!
Zuma tries to close the distance and clinch but Jah swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zuma punishes Jah's body with a nice straight punch.
A jab from Zuma misses.
Jah throws a counter high kick but Zuma was just alert enough to avoid it.
Jah takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zuma digs a good body shot into Jah's ribs.

Zuma gets a clinch.
Jah tries to land a knee to the head but Zuma blocks with his arms.
Zuma has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zuma gets through Jah's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Jah stalling.
Jah takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jah tries a knee to the head but Zuma blocks it.
Zuma makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zuma tries for a takedown. No joy.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zuma.
Jah prevents the takedown attempt.
Jah blocks a body shot from Zuma.
Nice body punch from Zuma.
Zuma is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Jah is defending well.
Soul Jah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monte Zuma.
Zuma gets through Jah's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zuma tries to score a body lock takedown but Jah shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Jah's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zuma goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jah prevents it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zuma.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jah escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zuma throws a big shot that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Jah on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zuma swings for the body but Jah moves out of range.
Zuma throws the left hand but Jah avoids the punch easily.
Jah thinks about countering with a head kick.
Zuma misses with an uppercut
and Jah cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jah displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zuma throws out the jab.
Jah uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zuma.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zuma scores with a jab.
Zuma works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Jah uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zuma.
Jah appears to be looking for a big counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Zuma really dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zuma looks to land a right hand but Jah moved out of range.
Zuma misses with a looping right.
Zuma tries to clinch but Jah is having none of it.
Zuma throws a shot from downtown. Jah moves away and avoids it.
A counter left hand to the body from Jah misses its target.
Zuma goes for a double leg but Jah avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jah continues to drive forward.
Zuma throws a lazy right hand but Jah sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
As Zuma looks to move away, Jah throws a big counter combo but Zuma just gets out of the way.
Jah takes one to the chin there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jah on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Zuma tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jah swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jah went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Zuma is looking to clinch but Jah is avoiding it.
Zuma closes the distance but Jah moves to the side
and Jah counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuma misses with a lunging right hand
and Jah counters with a series of strikes that really hurt Zuma! The ref looks into his eyes and sees nobody home - he's called the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:16 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Soul Jah!
During a confident post fight interview, Soul Jah thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.