PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kari Taalasmaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhaka Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kari Taalasmaa has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Taalasmaa
vs
Zulu

155 cm
27
190 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
188 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kari Taalasmaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zhaka Zulu!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taalasmaa shoots in and gets a takedown into Zulu's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Taalasmaa wants to control from the top but Zulu keeps moving.
Taalasmaa works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Taalasmaa performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Zulu is looking for a sweep. Taalasmaa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taalasmaa passes to side control.
Zulu is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Taalasmaa asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taalasmaa in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Taalasmaa with the ground and pound but Zulu regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Taalasmaa sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa wants to free his trapped foot but Zulu is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Taalasmaa controlling the action here.
Taalasmaa not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zulu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Taalasmaa tries to free his leg and advance position but Zulu is retaining full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Taalasmaa is looking to work some ground and pound but Zulu has wrist control.
Taalasmaa seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Taalasmaa content to stall in guard here.
Taalasmaa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Kari Taalasmaa wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A big left from Zulu misses.
Taalasmaa scores with a shot to the body.
A left lands for Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zulu. Zulu circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Zulu throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Taalasmaa dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Taalasmaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taalasmaa swings for the body but Zulu moves out of range.
Zulu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taalasmaa shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taalasmaa. Zulu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zulu throws the left hand but Taalasmaa avoids the punch easily.
Taalasmaa throws a big shot that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taalasmaa. Zulu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zulu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Taalasmaa is looking to clinch but Zulu is avoiding it.
Taalasmaa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taalasmaa looks to score with a jab to the body but Zulu is just out of range.
The crowd cheers as Taalasmaa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zulu doesn't seem phased though.
Taalasmaa moves out of range as Zulu strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu misses the shot to the body.
Zulu connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Taalasmaa throws a shot from downtown. Zulu moves away and avoids it.
Taalasmaa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Taalasmaa misses with an uppercut
and Zulu counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Zulu gets caught napping as Taalasmaa dives in and scores a takedown. Zulu manages to retain guard.
Taalasmaa trying to control but Zulu is working from the bottom.
Zulu wants to sweep here but Taalasmaa controlling him for the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taalasmaa sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Taalasmaa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zulu is keeping the position for now.
Taalasmaa is stalling in the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kari Taalasmaa.
A jab from Zulu misses.
Taalasmaa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zulu sprawls well. Zulu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Taalasmaa gets slowly back to his feet.

Taalasmaa gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zulu is trying to break the clinch but Taalasmaa has him pressed against the ropes.
Taalasmaa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zulu pulls his leg out and moves away.
Taalasmaa missing with a left hand there. Zulu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zulu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zulu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zulu misses with a body shot.
Zulu throws a looping overhand right but Taalasmaa ducks down to avoid it.
Taalasmaa tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Zulu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zulu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zulu moves out of range as Taalasmaa strikes.
Taalasmaa misses with a hook. Zulu ducked under it nicely.
Taalasmaa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Zulu cracks Taalasmaa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Zulu ducks under a wild hook from Taalasmaa.
Zulu throws a shot from downtown. Taalasmaa moves away and avoids it.
Taalasmaa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters circling - Zulu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zulu throws out a loose jab but Taalasmaa uses good head movement to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zulu tries to bum rush Taalasmaa with a series of wild strikes but Taalasmaa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taalasmaa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Zulu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zhaka Zulu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Taalasmaa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Taalasmaa throws a jab but it's blocked by Zulu.
Zhaka Zulu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed right hand from Zulu misses the target.
Taalasmaa misses with a hook. Zulu ducked under it nicely.
Taalasmaa slips a jab and a cross from Zulu.
Zulu misses with a looping right.
Taalasmaa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zulu misses with a hook.
Taalasmaa throws a jab but it's blocked by Zulu.
Nice defenses there by Zulu.
Taalasmaa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Zulu loads up on a big right hand but Taalasmaa slips the punch.
Zulu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zulu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taalasmaa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zulu throws out a loose jab but Taalasmaa uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu looks to land a left hand but Taalasmaa moved out of range nicely.
Taalasmaa connects with a single shot there.
A swing and a miss from Zulu.
Taalasmaa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zulu.

Taalasmaa darts in and clinches Zulu up against the ropes.
Zulu can't break the clinch.
Zulu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Zulu breaks from the clinch.
Zulu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zulu misses the jab.
A swing and a miss from Taalasmaa.
Zulu looks to land a left hand but Taalasmaa moved out of range nicely.
Taalasmaa is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulu blocks a jab.
Taalasmaa throws a hook but Zulu avoids it easily.
Taalasmaa slips a jab from Zulu.
Zulu tries to bum rush Taalasmaa with a series of wild strikes but Taalasmaa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zhaka Zulu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zulu looks to land a right hand but Taalasmaa moved out of range.
Taalasmaa connects with a body shot that sends Zulu's belly button to the back.
A swing and a miss from Taalasmaa.
Zulu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Taalasmaa just misses with a punch to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taalasmaa gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Zulu throws a body punch but Taalasmaa moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa defending well as Zulu loads up on a big left hand.
Taalasmaa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Taalasmaa doesn't manage to clinch there - Zulu circles away.
Taalasmaa throws a lazy uppercut
and Zulu counters with a stiff right hand.
Zulu scores with a sloppy right hand. Taalasmaa should have avoided that one.
Zulu might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Zulu missing with a left hand there. Taalasmaa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zulu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taalasmaa jabs Zulu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Zulu takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Taalasmaa takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The fighters circling - Zulu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zulu's corner calls for a 1-2. Zulu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The crowd cheers as Zulu lands an impressive looking overhand right. Taalasmaa doesn't seem phased though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taalasmaa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zulu defends it nicely.
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!
Zulu misses with a wild combination.
Zulu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taalasmaa.
Taalasmaa misses with an uppercut. Zulu saw that one coming.
Taalasmaa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zulu.
A jab from Zulu misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taalasmaa throws a body punch but Zulu moves out of range.
Zulu throws a hook but Taalasmaa avoids it easily.
Zulu takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zhaka Zulu.
I think Zulu 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhaka Zulu!