PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kwami Zuzu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Huerto Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Huerto Rodriguez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Kwami Zuzu's chin.

Zuzu
vs
Rodriguez

199 cm
21
273 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
25
275 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kwami Zuzu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Huerto Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zuzu tries to clinch but Rodriguez is having none of it.

Zuzu closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rodriguez did well to prevent Zuzu getting side control.
Zuzu seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rodriguez trying to control but Zuzu postures up.
Zuzu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rodriguez's head.
Zuzu is trying to control. Rodriguez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rodriguez tries to roll over but Zuzu keeps him under control.
Zuzu seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodriguez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Zuzu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuzu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rodriguez is not content to let Zuzu control the position.
Zuzu passes to full mount!
Rodriguez blocking the ground and pound.
Zuzu thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Zuzu looking to finish with strikes here!
Rodriguez working to try and regain half guard.

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.
Zuzu thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Rodriguez blocking the ground and pound.
Rodriguez is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Rodriguez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Zuzu trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rodriguez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zuzu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuzu throws some wild stikes that Rodriguez manages to avoid easily.
Zuzu scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rodriguez?
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zuzu cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zuzu raining down hammerfists from mount.
Zuzu lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rodriguez hang on?
Rodriguez avoids a series of strikes thrown by Zuzu.
Zuzu trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zuzu prevents Rodriguez from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuzu controlling from the full mount.
Rodriguez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Zuzu tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Rodriguez wants to control but Zuzu is having none of it.
Rodriguez is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kwami Zuzu dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zuzu looks to clinch
and Rodriguez counters with a head kick. That will keep Zuzu thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Zuzu tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves away
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zuzu shoots for a takedown but Rodriguez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rodriguez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodriguez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zuzu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zuzu blocks a head kick by Rodriguez.
Kwami Zuzu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Zuzu is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rodriguez's half guard.
Rodriguez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuzu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rodriguez's head.
Rodriguez keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rodriguez trying to hold on to Zuzu's head to control him but Zuzu postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rodriguez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rodriguez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Zuzu kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rodriguez wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rodriguez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zuzu.
Zuzu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zuzu is looking to take a break and control but Rodriguez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sloppy strikes from Zuzu. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuzu fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Huerto Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No joy there for Zuzu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zuzu throws a lazy head kick
and Rodriguez counters with a slapping leg kick.

Rodriguez lands a big head kick that sends Zuzu tumbling to the mat! Rodriguez takes a step backwards and waves Zuzu back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Kwami Zuzu has been cut.
A head kick misses from Rodriguez.
Kwami Zuzu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez tries a head kick but it misses.
Zuzu shoots in and drives through. Rodriguez sprawls well.
A jab from Zuzu does it's job there.
Zuzu shoots in and drives through. Rodriguez sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kwami Zuzu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuzu throws a jab when Rodriguez was well out of range.
Rodriguez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zuzu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rodriguez moves away.
Rodriguez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zuzu just misses with a punch to the body.
Zuzu throws a series of punches but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Zuzu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that half lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A combination from Zuzu does no damage.
Huerto Rodriguez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rodriguez thuds his shin into the meat of Zuzu's side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Huerto Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kwami Zuzu's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodriguez tries a head kick but it misses.
Zuzu misses with a series of wild punches.
Zuzu misses with a body shot.
Rodriguez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zuzu closes the distance but Rodriguez moves to the side
and Rodriguez counters with a head kick. That will keep Zuzu thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Zuzu drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zuzu slips nicely into half guard.
Zuzu trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zuzu.
Zuzu seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Zuzu seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodriguez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zuzu is looking to advance position but Rodriguez won't allow it.
Zuzu is trying to control the action in half guard but Rodriguez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zuzu trying to mount his opponent but Rodriguez defends it.
Zuzu takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Zuzu has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rodriguez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zuzu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rodriguez's head.
Zuzu thows a huge punch but Rodriguez dodges it nicely.
Zuzu is looking to stall here but Rodriguez recovers full guard.
Zuzu chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuzu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zuzu wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Rodriguez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zuzu with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Zuzu throwing strikes but missing.
Rodriguez keeping full guard, as Zuzu tries to pass.

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.
Zuzu is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Zuzu is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Zuzu from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kwami Zuzu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zuzu 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kwami Zuzu!