PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shaka Zoula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Mesh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zoula
vs
Mesh

177 cm
25
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shaka Zoula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Chris Mesh!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mesh tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zoula paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zoula.
Zoula scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zoula thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Mesh if he has to take too many more of those.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mesh.
Mesh chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zoula can pounce on him.
Zoula looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Shaka Zoula seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slapping leg kick lands for Zoula.
Mesh fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zoula walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zoula buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zoula stuffs the takedown attempt from Mesh. Mesh gets slowly back to his feet.
Shaka Zoula has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Mesh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoula fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mesh has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zoula lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Shaka Zoula is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mesh tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zoula was well out of range. Poor timing from Mesh.
Mesh checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Zoula throws a head kick that misses.
Zoula lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Mesh dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mesh lands a nice shot to the body.
Mesh's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Zoula closes the distance and pushes Mesh back into the cage.
Mesh blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zoula tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Zoula - that landed with a thud.
Zoula gets through Mesh's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zoula prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoula misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zoula taking a breather.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zoula obliges.
Zoula tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mesh's elbow.
Zoula lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mesh prevents a body shot from Zoula.
Mesh's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zoula misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zoula connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mesh's face.
Zoula throws a head punch that misses.
Zoula tries a body shot but Mesh blocks it.
Zoula will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mesh up against the cage.
Mesh blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesh pushes off an throws an elbow but Zoula leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zoula.
Zoula tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zoula lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A frustrated look appears on Mesh's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Zoula throws a punch but it's blocked by Mesh.
Zoula misses with the head strike.
Mesh is trying to break the clinch but Zoula is controlling him.
Mesh is trying to break free.
Mesh taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Mesh blocking some punches.
Zoula tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mesh's elbow.
Mesh looking to stall.
Zoula doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mesh has had enough of the clinch but Zoula keeps him there for the moment.
Mesh blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mesh is trying to break the clinch but Zoula is controlling him.
Zoula displaying some good clinch control by pressing Mesh up against the cage.
Zoula fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mesh has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zoula is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Zoula misses with some punches.
Zoula struggles to land a body shot inside as Mesh controls his hands.
Mesh is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zoula is keeping busy.
Mesh can't get the takedown.
Zoula throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zoula misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaka Zoula dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mesh shoots in for a double leg but Zoula sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mesh tries to clinch up.
Zoula is looking to chop away at Mesh's legs.
Zoula feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mesh's calf.
Zoula connects with a high kick.

It looks like Chris Mesh has been cut.
A head kick from Zoula lands but Mesh takes it in his stride.
Mesh avoids a kick to the body.
Mesh fails with the takedown.
Mesh stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zoula.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mesh goes for a double leg but Zoula avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zoula continues to drive forward.
Shaka Zoula has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Mesh.
Mesh wants to clinch up but Zoula keeps it at a distance.
Mesh is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mesh tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoula misses with a low kick.
Nice takedown defense from Zoula. No joy for Mesh on that attempt.
Mesh shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zoula defends it nicely.
Mesh is breathing heavily.

Zoula has closed the distance and engaged Mesh in a clinch.
Zoula misses with some punches.
Zoula is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mesh can do to turn this around?
Zoula is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A bit of stalling here from Zoula.
Zoula struggles to land a body shot inside as Mesh controls his hands.
Shaka Zoula has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A knee to the head by Zoula.
Zoula throws a knee to the head but misses.
A bit of stalling here from Zoula.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoula misses with a knee strike.
Zoula has Mesh pressed against the cage.
Mesh blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mesh misses with a body punch.

Mesh pulls Zoula into guard.

Mesh looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zoula has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mesh is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesh manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zoula manages to get himself to full guard.

Zoula is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mesh is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Zoula keeping full guard, as Mesh tries to pass.
Mesh keeps trying to improve his position.

That's four 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.
Zoula knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mesh on the ground.
Zoula wants to stand but Mesh is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mesh blocks a head kick by Zoula.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zoula wants to slow Mesh down by chopping away at his legs.
Mesh shoots for a double leg takedown but Zoula sprawls well. He's pushed Mesh's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mesh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zoula circles away.
Zoula lands a nice looking body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaka Zoula dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chris Mesh's cut.
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!

A nice leg kick lands there from Zoula.
Crunch! Zoula slams his shin into Mesh's torso.
Zoula fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mesh looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Zoula leaves Mesh with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Chris Mesh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mesh tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zoula manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As Mesh backs away, Zoula returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Mesh avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mesh darts in looking for a takedown but Zoula gets double underhooks and turns Mesh into the cage.
Mesh throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zoula's waist but Zoula gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mesh off to one side.
Zoula jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Shaka Zoula has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Mesh.
A head kick from Zoula lands but Mesh takes it in his stride.
Mesh has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Zoula.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mesh walks forward, straight into a front kick from Zoula.
Zoula chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Mesh shoots in and drives through. Zoula sprawls well.
Mesh lands a jab-cross combination.
Mesh takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zoula throws a leg kick which misses Mesh's front leg but catches the back leg as Mesh tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoula throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mesh chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zoula can pounce on him.
Zoula turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Zoula moves into range and clinches up with Mesh.
Zoula scores a nice knee to the body.
Zoula stalling against the cage.
Mesh tries for a takedown but Zoula manages to get underhooks.
Zoula throws a punch but it's blocked by Mesh.
Zoula utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zoula.
Zoula connects with a knee to the head.
Zoula connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Come on Zoula - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Zoula fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zoula.
Zoula misses with the head strike.
Zoula fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zoula misses with a punch on the inside.
Zoula swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zoula stalling in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zoula - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Zoula for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Mesh blocks an uppercut.
Zoula lands a good knee to the midsection. Mesh won't want to take too many of those.
Zoula misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoula has Mesh pressed against the cage.
Zoula misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zoula tries to throw a body punch but Mesh avoids it by throwing Zoula back against the cage.
Mesh has had enough of the clinch but Zoula keeps him there for the moment.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Mesh is trying to force a seperation but Zoula has the dominant position.
Mesh takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zoula misses with a short punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Mesh's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mesh blocks an uppercut.
Mesh tries a body shot but Zoula blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoula unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mesh lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Mesh blocking some punches.
Zoula landing knees to the head.
Zoula swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zoula misses with a punch on the inside.
Mesh blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zoula misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mesh blocks an uppercut.
Zoula landing knees to the head.
Mesh is trying to drag Zoula to the mat but Zoula just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zoula has a couple of punches blocked by Mesh.
Chris Mesh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mesh misses with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shaka Zoula showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zoula, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 30:26
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:26
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shaka Zoula!