PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mohamed Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harrison Best (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harrison Best acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Zulu
vs
Best

188 cm
19
209 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
20
224 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brute

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mohamed Zulu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Harrison Best!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Sano and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Best connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Best moves forwards but Zulu connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Zulu slips a jab and a cross from Best.
Zulu misses with a kick to the body.

Best has Zulu up against the cage in a clinch.

Best pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Best drives through and clinches with Zulu against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
With the fighters up against the cage, Best throws an elbow but misses.
Best stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A head punch on the inside from Zulu fails to land.

Best pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harrison Best seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zulu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Best moves out of range as Zulu strikes.
Best moves to clinch but Zulu breaks away
and Zulu counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Best thinking.
Best lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Best tries to clinch up.
Best throws a series of punches but Zulu avoids them all with ease.
Best cracks Zulu with a right hand to the side of the head.
Best tries to clinch there but Zulu circles away.
Best throws a low kick but Zulu moves out of range easily.
A slow jab from Zulu misses its intended target.
Best on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A cross from Best lands.
Best throws a lazy right hand but Zulu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Best tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zulu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zulu slips a straight right by Best.
Best slips a jab from Zulu.
Zulu swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Best.
Zulu misses with a wild body shot.

Best darts in and clinches Zulu up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Best breaks the clinch.
Best misses with a wild combination.
Zulu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jab, jab by Best - just one landing.
A swing and a miss from Zulu.
Best doesn't manage to clinch there - Zulu circles away.
Zulu misses with an uppercut. Best saw that one coming.
Best misses the jab.
Zulu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Best has time to react.
Best tries to bum rush Zulu with a series of wild strikes but Zulu uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zulu throws a jab but it's blocked by Best.
Best throws a nice outside leg kick.
Best tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zulu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Best missing with a left hand there. Zulu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zulu throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Zulu finds it's way through Best's defenses.
Zulu slips under a jab.
Best jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Best looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Best cracks Zulu with an open hand slap.
Best tries to close the distance and clinch but Zulu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zulu lands with a nice body punch.
A big right from Best misses.
Zulu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Best misses with a straight right.
Zulu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Best.
Best is looking to clinch.
Best keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Best gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zulu blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zulu struggles to land a body shot inside as Best controls his hands.
Zulu is leaning against Best and scores with a nice uppercut 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!
Zulu can't find room to land a body shot as Best controls the action.

Best escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Best fails with an attempt to clinch.
Best blocks a jab.
Best misses with a hook
and Zulu counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Best clinches.

Best breaks from the clinch.
Zulu throws a lazy right hand but Best sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Best misses with a jab, cross combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zulu with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Best to score with a decent uppercut.
Best throws a right and a left that both miss.
Best is looking to clinch but Zulu is avoiding it.
Best keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zulu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harrison Best dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zulu misses with a body kick.
Best tries to clinch but Zulu moves out of range.
Best is looking to clinch.
Best jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Best takes a swing at Zulu's ribcage but misses.
Best moves to clinch but Zulu breaks away
and Zulu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zulu lands a jab.
Zulu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Best.
Zulu punishes Best's body with a nice straight punch.
Best misses with a hook. Zulu ducked under it nicely.
Best scores with a nice head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Best throws a body kick that misses.
Best tries to close the distance and clinch but Zulu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Best slips a jab from Zulu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Best buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Best tries to clinch but Zulu is having none of it.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Best in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Zulu blocks a jab.
Nice cross by Zulu.
Zulu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Best.
Best swinging wildly here.
Harrison Best seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zulu misses with a hook. Best ducked under it nicely.
Zulu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zulu throws a lazy right hand but Best sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Best tries to clinch up.
Best misses with a double jab.
Zulu throws a right hand that misses
and Best counters with a nice uppercut.
Best throws a right and a left that both miss.
Best displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zulu throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulu misses with a body shot
and Best counters with a stiff right hand.
Best uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zulu.
Zulu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice uppercut there from Zulu.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Best throws out a loose jab but Zulu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Best connects with a body shot that sends Zulu's belly button to the back.
Best slips a straight right by Zulu.
Best moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Best tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zulu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Best fails in his attempt to clinch.
Best slips under a jab.
Best tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zulu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zulu takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Zulu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Best scores with a shot to the body.
Harrison Best is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zulu walks into a jab.
Best tries to close the distance and clinch but Zulu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A left lands for Best.
Best throws a chopping leg kick but Zulu manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zulu. Best does a little dance to reset his feet.
Good shot there by Zulu.
Nice body punch from Zulu.
Best moves out of range as Zulu strikes.
Nice cross by Best.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Best throws out a powerful jab.
Zulu slips under a jab.
Best just misses with a punch to the body.
Zulu ducks under a wild hook from Best.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Best tries to clinch up.
A left and a right from Best both land. Nice combination.
Best attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Best throws a big shot that misses.
Zulu looks to land a left hand but Best moved out of range nicely.
Best darts in trying to clinch
and Zulu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zulu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Best.
A slapping leg kick lands for Best.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Best paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Zulu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zulu slips a jab and a cross from Best.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harrison Best showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Zulu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Best scores with a hook.
Best will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Best scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Best ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zulu moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Best looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Best will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Best tries to close the distance and clinch but Zulu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zulu misses with a straight left.
Best displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zulu throws out the jab.
Zulu throws a hook to the side of Best's head but Best sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zulu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Best.
A jab from Best does it's job there.
Best keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zulu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulu stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Best.
Best throws a hook to the side of Zulu's head but Zulu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zulu misses with an uppercut. Best saw that one coming.
Zulu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zulu is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Best.
Zulu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Best dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zulu. That did some damage!
Zulu thuds a left hand into Best's body.
Good standup being displayed there by Zulu as he connects with a hook.
Best is looking to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
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 wants to break free but Best has control.
Zulu is trying to force a seperation but Best has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Best struggles to land a body shot inside as Zulu controls his hands.

Best breaks the clinch.
Zulu misses with a hook.
Zulu misses with a hook. Best ducked under it nicely.

Best clinches up with Zulu and pushes him back against the cage.
Best lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Best stalling in the clinch.
Best misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Zulu breaks the clinch.
Best uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zulu.
Zulu throws a jab when Best was well out of range.
Best lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Zulu walks into a stiff left hand from Best.
Zulu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Best rushes Zulu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Best pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Best tries to land knees in the clinch but Zulu avoids the damage to the body.
Zulu dodges an elbow strike from Best.
Best digs a right hand underneath Zulu's ribcage. Zulu let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Best throws a punch but it's blocked by Zulu.
Best creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zulu's defenses.

It looks like Mohamed Zulu has been cut.
Zulu can't find room to land a body shot as Best controls the action.

Best breaks the clinch.
Best closes the distance looking to clinch
and Zulu makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zulu misses with a straight left.
Best looks to land a right hand but Zulu moved out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Best there.
Mohamed Zulu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Best lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zulu circles away quickly and effectively.
Best throws a right and a left that Zulu avoids nicely.
Harrison Best is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Best takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zulu with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Best fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zulu, pushing him back against the cage.
Best swings wildly with an uppercut but Zulu uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zulu wants to get back to striking at distance but Best won't allow it.
Zulu looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Best breaks from the clinch.
Zulu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Best.
Zulu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Best.
Zulu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Best checks a low kick from Zulu.
Best scores with a kick to the midsection.
Best wants to clinch up but Zulu keeps it at a distance.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Best lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Zulu has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Zulu and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harrison Best comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Best has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harrison Best!
After the fight, Harrison Best was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.