PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valiko Dear (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leandro Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dear comes into the arena with You are my love. blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Dear
vs
Zulu

189 cm
25
202 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valiko Dear!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leandro Zulu!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zulu with a poor takedown
enabling Dear to counter with a crisp jab.
Zulu ducks under a wild hook from Dear.
Zulu slips a straight right by Dear.
A big right from Zulu misses.

Zulu shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dear is trying to defend but Zulu finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dear keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zulu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dear tries to kick Zulu off but Zulu keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zulu thows a huge punch but Dear dodges it nicely.
Zulu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dear's head.
Zulu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Zulu is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zulu lands a nice short elbow.
Dear avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zulu.
Dear taking some punishment here, with Zulu in his half guard.
Zulu throwing shots but Dear is blocking nicely.
Dear avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zulu.
Zulu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dear's head.
Dear wants to get back to his feet.
Zulu not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two 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.
Dear blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zulu.
Zulu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zulu seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Dear is breathing heavily.
Dear keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dear keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zulu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zulu working Dear over with strikes.
Zulu lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Zulu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zulu takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zulu with the ground and pound but Dear uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Zulu throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zulu postures up in Dear's guard and throws a big left but Dear blocks it.
Zulu looking to pass the guard.
Zulu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zulu working the head with strikes.
Zulu moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Zulu throwing strikes but Dear manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zulu 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 is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Dear off and has taken his back!
Zulu is punishing Dear with strikes - can he finish him?!
Zulu avoiding Dear 's attempts to control his hands.
Zulu misses with punches from the back.
Zulu is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Dear up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leandro 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.

Danga de danga de dang - Dear scores with a four punch combination!
Zulu misses with a hook.

Zulu looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zulu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Zulu has eaten all the pies!
Zulu throws a big right hand that misses.
Zulu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zulu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zulu throws a strike but Dear rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Dear trying to control but Zulu is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dear wants to get up but he can't break Zulu's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Zulu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zulu is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Zulu managing to control the position.
Dear stopping the sweep attempt from Zulu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zulu has his hands on Dear's head, controlling the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zulu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dear counters with a straight right hand.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zulu.
Zulu dives in and grabs Dear's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dear pushes down on Zulu's head and hops out.
Dear tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zulu was well out of range. Poor timing from Dear.
Dear throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zulu sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Zulu or perhaps it was just good defense by Dear which made him look bad.
Valiko Dear has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leandro Zulu.
Dear throws a hook but Zulu blocks it.
A left lands for Dear.
Valiko Dear is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Zulu feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Dear pushes Zulu off and gets back to his feet.
Zulu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dear.
Dear throws out a loose jab but Zulu uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulu throws a head kick that misses.
Zulu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dear throws an overhand right that lands on Zulu's shoulder, as Zulu tries to avoid the shot.
Valiko Dear is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dear throws out a loose jab but Zulu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dear fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zulu checks it well.

Zulu closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zulu throwing strikes but Dear manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Zulu is trying to improve his position.
Zulu manages to work his way to half guard, despite Dear's best efforts.
Zulu tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Dear has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valiko Dear dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

No luck for Zulu with that takedown attempt.
Zulu closes the distance but Dear moves to the side
and Zulu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sloppy strikes from Dear. Those never looked like landing.
A big left from Dear misses.
Zulu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zulu slips under a jab from Dear.
Dear lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Dear, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zulu throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zulu is looking to land body kicks.
Dear throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zulu on the side of the head.
Dear is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A cross from Dear lands.
Zulu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Zulu closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dear to the mat! Dear manages to get full guard.
Zulu trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Dear manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Zulu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulu will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Dear stopping the sweep attempt from Zulu.
Zulu thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Leandro Zulu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dear pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zulu is keeping the position for now.
Dear is working hard here to advance position.
Zulu is looking to sweep but instead, Dear has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu trying to control here.
Zulu won't allow Dear to pass to mount.
Dear controlling the pace.
Zulu manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zulu is trying to keep Dear in close.
Zulu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dear trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zulu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Valiko Dear wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Dear misses with an uppercut. Zulu saw that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valiko Dear showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dear has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valiko Dear!