PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Greg Zajebiewas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muhammad Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zajebiewas is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Greg Zajebiewas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zajebiewas
vs
Ali

195 cm
18
230 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
236 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Greg Zajebiewas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Muhammad Ali!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ali lands a nice hook to Zajebiewas's body. Zajebiewas takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Greg Zajebiewas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zajebiewas is breathing heavily.
Ali fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zajebiewas looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ali lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ali lands a nice looking body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ali throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zajebiewas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ali scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ali lands with a hook. Zajebiewas tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A nice combination there by Ali.

Zajebiewas is rocked!
Ali lands with a shot to the body.
Oh Zajebiewas is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ali lands a left and a right that sends Zajebiewas crashing to the canvas! Ali dives into mount looking to finish!
Zajebiewas is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Ali stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Zajebiewas seems to have got his legs back now.
Zajebiewas doesn't manage to clinch there - Ali circles away.
Ali closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A nice combination there by Ali.
Ali connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Ali scores a takedown into full mount!
Ali trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zajebiewas is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ali get's back to his feet.
Ali connects with the punch.
Ali scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ali lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ali throws a series of strikes that have Zajebiewas backpedaling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ali lands a jab-cross combination.
Ali connects with a body shot.
Ali lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Zajebiewas misses with a combination
and Ali counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A right-left combo lands from Ali.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Ali.
Ali lands a two punch combo.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ali scores with a nice head shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Ali scores with a four punch combination!
Zajebiewas walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ali lands a jab-cross combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ali.
Jab from Ali.
Zajebiewas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ali connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A slapping leg kick lands for Zajebiewas.
Ali looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ali walks forward, straight into a front kick from Zajebiewas.
Zajebiewas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zajebiewas connects with the punch.
Ali ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A left lands for Ali.
Ali lands with a nice combination. Zajebiewas backs away looking to recover.

Zajebiewas has closed the distance and engaged Ali in a clinch.

Zajebiewas breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ali!

Zajebiewas has Ali up against the cage in a clinch.
Zajebiewas is pushing Ali up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ali wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ali blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Zajebiewas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ali lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ali.
Ali is working the combinations to good effect here.
Zajebiewas misses with a head kick.
Zajebiewas tries to clinch up but Ali circles away and keeps his distance.
Ali tries to clinch there but Zajebiewas circles away.
A slow jab from Zajebiewas misses its intended target.
Ali circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ali lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Zajebiewas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

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.
Ali lands a right hook to the body.
Ali lands with a nice combination. Zajebiewas backs away looking to recover.
Zajebiewas looks to throw the jab but Ali is out of range.
Zajebiewas tries to clinch but Ali is having none of it.
Zajebiewas misses with a straight left.
Ali wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zajebiewas falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ali counters with a three punch combo that has Zajebiewas backing up. Zajebiewas nods at Ali to acknowledge the strikes.
Zajebiewas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ali sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zajebiewas lands with a kick to the temple. Ali shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ali throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Zajebiewas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ali wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zajebiewas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zajebiewas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ali swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ali avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ali displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Zajebiewas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ali paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ali digs a good body shot into Zajebiewas's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhammad Ali 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.

Ali throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ali lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Ali lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Ali lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ali has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ali lands a jab to Zajebiewas's midsection.
Ali dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ali stuns Zajebiewas with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ali thuds his right hand into Zajebiewas's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ali lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Muhammad Ali seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ali lands a jab-cross combination.
Ali throws a one two combo.
Zajebiewas leaves Ali with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ali lands a right hook to the body.
Ali throws a one two combo.
Ali fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ali looks to land a combination but Zajebiewas avoids it well.
Zajebiewas throws a hook but Ali blocks it.
Zajebiewas throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ali counters with a three punch combo that has Zajebiewas backing up. Zajebiewas nods at Ali to acknowledge the strikes.
Ali stuns Zajebiewas with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali keeps the fight on the outside.
Zajebiewas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ali connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zajebiewas's hands.
Ali throws a one two combo.
Zajebiewas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No joy there for Ali, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zajebiewas throws a sloppy head kick and Ali moves out of range easily.
Zajebiewas takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ali throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zajebiewas.
Ali slips under a jab.
Ali misses with a two punch combination.
Ali stalks Zajebiewas and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Zajebiewas's face. Zajebiewas staggers backwards, shaken.
Zajebiewas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ali.
Zajebiewas takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ali swats away the attempt to clinch by Zajebiewas.
Ali fails to land with a series of punches.
Ali misses with a series of wild punches.
Zajebiewas looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Zajebiewas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ali throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Zajebiewas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zajebiewas moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ali looks to land a combination but Zajebiewas avoids it well.
Ali goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Zajebiewas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ali paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zajebiewas on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ali lands a with a good body shot.
Zajebiewas throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ali digs a good hook to Zajebiewas's body.
Zajebiewas wants to clinch.
Ali lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ali lands a jab-cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zajebiewas connects with the punch.
Ali is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Zajebiewas rather than just go for the knockout.
Ali throws a right hand that Zajebiewas ducks under and follows up with a left that Zajebiewas also avoids with ease.
Ali misses with a series of wild punches.

Zajebiewas closes the distance and clinches.
Zajebiewas scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Zajebiewas breaks the clinch.
Ali throws a series of punches but Zajebiewas moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zajebiewas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zajebiewas connects with a nice looking jab.
Zajebiewas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ali throws a right and a left that Zajebiewas avoids nicely.
Zajebiewas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zajebiewas misses with a looping right.
Ali rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zajebiewas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ali scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zajebiewas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ali circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ali ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zajebiewas misses with the combination.
Zajebiewas misses with a two punch combination.
Zajebiewas moves in looking to clinch but Ali pushes him off.
Ali connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zajebiewas's hands.
Ali misses with a wild combination.
Greg Zajebiewas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ali throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zajebiewas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ali tries to bum rush Zajebiewas with a series of wild strikes but Zajebiewas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ali avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zajebiewas is looking to clinch but Ali is avoiding it.
Greg Zajebiewas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zajebiewas tries to clinch there but Ali circles away.
Zajebiewas misses with an uppercut.

Zajebiewas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ali, pushing him back against the cage.

Zajebiewas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zajebiewas darts in trying to clinch
and Ali counters with a lovely shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhammad Ali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ali misses with a double jab.
Ali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ali lands a lovely overhand right.
Ali lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ali works over Zajebiewas's head and body with a nice combination.
Ali lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Zajebiewas moves in looking to clinch but Ali pushes him off.
Ali ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zajebiewas falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ali counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Zajebiewas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ali.
Ali scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Zajebiewas throws a jab when Ali was well out of range.
Ali lands with a cross.
Ali with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zajebiewas clinches with his opponent.

Zajebiewas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zajebiewas misses the jab.
Ali swats away the attempt to clinch by Zajebiewas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zajebiewas wants to clinch
and Ali counters with a left and a right that stings Zajebiewas.
Zajebiewas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ali scores with a nice head shot.
Ali ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zajebiewas misses with a head kick.
Zajebiewas throws a nice looking combination but Ali bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zajebiewas paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Decent striking displayed by Ali there.
Zajebiewas tries to close the distance and clinch but Ali swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ali misses with the combination.
Ali fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Ali.
Ali lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zajebiewas at a distance.
Zajebiewas tries to clinch but Ali moves out of range.
Zajebiewas wants to clinch up but Ali keeps it at a distance.
Zajebiewas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zajebiewas takes a shot to the body in his stride.

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.
Ali misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Zajebiewas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zajebiewas takes a jab right on the kisser.
Zajebiewas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ali connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zajebiewas doesn't manage to clinch there - Ali circles away.
Ali scores with a hook to the body. Zajebiewas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ali lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Zajebiewas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ali circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ali scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Zajebiewas tries to bum rush Ali with a series of wild strikes but Ali uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zajebiewas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ali fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zajebiewas connects with a high kick.
Ali misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zajebiewas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ali scores with a hook to the body. Zajebiewas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zajebiewas misses with a double jab
and Ali counters with a three punch combo that has Zajebiewas backing up. Zajebiewas nods at Ali to acknowledge the strikes.
Ali swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zajebiewas throws a head kick that misses.
Ali moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ali checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Zajebiewas wants to clinch up but Ali keeps it at a distance.
Zajebiewas tries a head kick but it misses.
Ali swats away the attempt to clinch by Zajebiewas.
Ali scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Zajebiewas throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Ali counter with a right hand.
Ali shoots in and drives through. Zajebiewas sprawls well.
Zajebiewas is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ali.
Ali throws a right and a left that Zajebiewas avoids nicely.
Zajebiewas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A big left from Zajebiewas misses.
Zajebiewas throws a sloppy head kick and Ali moves out of range easily.
Ali throws a nice looking combination but Zajebiewas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four 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.
Zajebiewas takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ali tries to clinch up but Zajebiewas circles away and keeps his distance.

Zajebiewas instigates a clinch.

Zajebiewas breaks from the clinch.
Zajebiewas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ali lands a nice shot to the body.
Zajebiewas doesn't manage to clinch there - Ali circles away.
Ali tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zajebiewas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ali somewhat.
Zajebiewas tries to clinch up but Ali circles away and keeps his distance.
Zajebiewas misses with a head kick.
Ali lands a jab to Zajebiewas's midsection.
Ali misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ali moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Ali circles away from the clinch attempt.
Greg Zajebiewas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Muhammad Ali is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ali lands a nice hook to Zajebiewas's body. Zajebiewas takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zajebiewas throws out a loose jab but Ali uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Muhammad Ali comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ali winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 26:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muhammad Ali!