PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Kusimuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tariq Ziyad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kusimuki comes to the cage accompanied by National Anthem Of Japan. This should be a great matchup!

Kusimuki
vs
Ziyad

180 cm
27
190 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

188 cm
31
191 lbs
21 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

5th Round Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Takeshi Kusimuki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tariq Ziyad!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Roberts and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ziyad turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ziyad motions for Kusimuki to come forward. Ziyad throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
That kick from Ziyad tenderised Kusimuki's leg. Kusimuki is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kusimuki checks a low kick from Ziyad.
Kusimuki keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ziyad scores with a head kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kusimuki.
A head kick misses from Ziyad.
Ziyad tries to land a front kick but Kusimuki steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ziyad takes one to the chin there.
Ziyad throws a leg kick but Kusimuki checks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ziyad misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ziyad is looking to slow Kusimuki down with leg kicks.
Nice body kick there by Ziyad.
Ziyad tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kusimuki scores with a nice strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziyad shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kusimuki has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ziyad.
Ziyad looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ziyad throws a chopping leg kick but Kusimuki manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Takeshi Kusimuki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Kusimuki instigates a clinch.
Kusimuki goes for a takedown attempt but Ziyad pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kusimuki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ziyad tries to land a front kick but Kusimuki steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Good leg kick by Ziyad there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ziyad is looking to score with low kicks.
Kusimuki throws a sloppy head kick
and Ziyad counters with a low kick, right behind Kusimuki 's knee.

Ziyad shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kusimuki napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kusimuki is avoiding damage well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ziyad is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kusimuki knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ziyad trying to control the position but Kusimuki is working away.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Kusimuki is looking for a sweep.
Ziyad tries to score with some ground and pound. Kusimuki controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Ziyad wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kusimuki, who protects the arm well.

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

Ziyad wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kusimuki, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ziyad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ziyad has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kusimuki dodges the ground and pound from Ziyad.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ziyad is trying to ground and pound but Kusimuki uses the momentary lack of control by Ziyad to regain half guard.
Ziyad works his way into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tariq Ziyad dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ziyad throws a low kick but Kusimuki avoids it.
Kusimuki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Takeshi Kusimuki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ziyad tries for a takedown but Kusimuki circles away easily
and Kusimuki counters with a big head kick but Ziyad shrugs it off.
Ziyad misses with a leg kick.
Kusimuki throws a series of punches but Ziyad avoids them all with ease.
Kusimuki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ziyad lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kusimuki's sensitive parts.
A big right from Kusimuki misses.
Ziyad lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kusimuki blocks a leg kick.
Kusimuki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ziyad swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kusimuki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziyad chopping away at his opponent's legs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ziyad.
Ziyad throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kusimuki counters with an outside leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ziyad.
Ziyad fails to land the takedown.
Takeshi Kusimuki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tariq Ziyad.
Kusimuki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ziyad checks a low kick from Kusimuki.
Ziyad throws a leg kick that misses.
Tariq Ziyad seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice body kick there by Ziyad.
Kusimuki is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kusimuki tests Ziyad's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kusimuki checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad shoots in but no luck this time.
Kusimuki on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ziyad. Ziyad obviously looking to wear him down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Ziyad. Kusimuki shrugs it off though.
Ziyad scores with a nice body kick.
Ziyad throws a head kick that misses.
Ziyad throws a half hearted mid kick.
Tariq Ziyad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ziyad attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ziyad ducks right into an uppercut from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki scores with a head kick. Ziyad tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kusimuki misses with a looping right.
Ziyad misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ziyad ducks under a wild hook from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Kusimuki avoids a kick to the body.
Kusimuki is looking to score with low kicks.
Kusimuki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ziyad throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kusimuki on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ziyad thumps Kusimuki with a low kick.
Ziyad moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ziyad misses with a low kick.
Ziyad lands with a slapping head kick.
Ziyad fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kusimuki avoids the head kick by Ziyad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kusimuki feints and then cracks Ziyad's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ziyad down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ziyad dives in and grabs Kusimuki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kusimuki pushes down on Ziyad's head and hops out.
Kusimuki throws a head kick that misses.
Kusimuki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ziyad pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kusimuki is out of range and Ziyad settles back down.
Kusimuki moves out of range of the leg kick from Ziyad.

Kusimuki drives through and clinches with Ziyad against the cage.
Kusimuki throws a punch but it's blocked by Ziyad.
Kusimuki lands a nice elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kusimuki will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ziyad up against the cage.
Kusimuki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tariq Ziyad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kusimuki throws a body punch but Ziyad moves out of range.
Kusimuki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kusimuki misses with a head kick.
Ziyad changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kusimuki tries to avoid it but Ziyad manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kusimuki to the ground. Kusimuki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ziyad motions for Kusimuki to come forward. Ziyad throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ziyad throws a sloppy head kick and Kusimuki moves out of range easily.
Ziyad throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ziyad closes the distance and clinches up with Kusimuki, looking for a takedown. Ziyad pushes Kusimuki against the cage but Kusimuki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ziyad avoids the head kick by Kusimuki.
Ziyad throws a wild body kick that Kusimuki sees coming a mile off.
Kusimuki throws a right hand that Ziyad ducks under and follows up with a left that Ziyad also avoids with ease.
Kusimuki pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Ziyad back to the cage. Kusimuki follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Kusimuki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ziyad scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziyad fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kusimuki checks it well.

Ziyad 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.
Ziyad working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kusimuki keeping moving, preventing Ziyad from controlling successfully.
Kusimuki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ziyad stands and throws Kusimuki's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kusimuki is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ziyad's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kusimuki tries to kick Ziyad off but Ziyad keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Takeshi Kusimuki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad throws a strike but Kusimuki avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Ziyad wants to pass the guard but Kusimuki is keeping the position.
Ziyad trying to control but Kusimuki is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kusimuki uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Kusimuki will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
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!
Ziyad throws a solid leg kick but Kusimuki takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ziyad.
Ziyad throws a wild body kick that Kusimuki sees coming a mile off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kusimuki sprawls well. Kusimuki wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ziyad gets slowly back to his feet.
Takeshi Kusimuki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tariq Ziyad.
Ziyad throws a leg kick

and Kusimuki counters by moving into the clinch.
Ziyad's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ziyad as Kusimuki tries to tie him up.
Ziyad fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kusimuki is pushing Ziyad up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kusimuki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kusimuki.
Kusimuki is leaning against Ziyad and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad fails to pull guard.
Kusimuki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ziyad.
Kusimuki working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ziyad.
Ziyad avoids a wild elbow strike from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki can't find room to land a body shot as Ziyad controls the action.
Tariq Ziyad is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ziyad goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kusimuki prevents it.
Kusimuki lands a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kusimuki struggles to land a body shot inside as Ziyad controls his hands.
Kusimuki pressing his opponent against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeshi Kusimuki showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ziyad has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tariq Ziyad!
An out of breath and clearly excited Tariq Ziyad thanked Rōnin for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).