PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thorn Dixon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nkemiko Zulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thorn Dixon could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Nkemiko Zulu's chin.

Dixon
vs
Zulu

165 cm
20
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

201 cm
24
266 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thorn Dixon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nkemiko Zulu!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Darius Henderson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dixon fails to land with a series of punches.
Zulu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dixon is defended easily by Zulu.
Dixon really is a fat lump.

Dixon pushes Zulu up against the cage in a clinch.
Dixon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zulu walks away with a smile on his face. Dixon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zulu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zulu wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thorn Dixon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zulu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zulu wants it to stay on the feet.
Dixon shoots and misses

and Zulu counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dixon jumps guard but Zulu stands there with Dixon around his waist. Dixon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Zulu pulls guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Zulu uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Zulu leaves Dixon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon lunges at Zulu with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Zulu's hand.
Zulu looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Dixon looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zulu shoots for a takedown but Dixon saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As Zulu looks to move away, Dixon throws a big counter combo but Zulu just gets out of the way.
Zulu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dixon sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zulu somewhat.
Dixon shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Zulu counters by moving into the clinch.
Dixon fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dixon wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zulu lands an elbow just above Dixon 's eye.
Zulu lands a body shot in the clinch.
Dixon is breathing heavily.

Zulu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zulu pushes Dixon up against the cage in a clinch.
Zulu has Dixon pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dixon manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Zulu works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Dixon wants to get back to his feet but Zulu passes into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Dixon tries to get to full guard but Zulu has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zulu is working for a submission of some sort.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zulu in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Zulu has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Dixon wants to get back to full guard but Zulu has mounted him!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zulu cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zulu with a couple of short strikes.
Zulu landing punches.
Zulu sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Dixon tries to lock up and control but Zulu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zulu controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nkemiko Zulu dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dixon misses with a looping right.
Zulu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dixon circles away.

Zulu has Dixon up against the cage in a clinch.

Zulu gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Dixon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zulu looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dixon wants to control the position but Zulu says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zulu is working away from the top position though.

Zulu is working for a kimura but Dixon is defending it quite comfortably.

Dixon looking for submissions off his back.
Zulu sitting and controlling from the half 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.
Zulu passes to side control.
Zulu lands some shots froms side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon can't do much from the bottom here.
Zulu lands an elbow.
Zulu cracks Dixon with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Zulu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dixon can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee asks Zulu politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Zulu prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dixon might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zulu throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Dixon misses with a few strikes there.
And Zulu tries to counter it with a takedown but Dixon pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Thorn Dixon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dixon misses with a looping left.
Zulu flicks out a counter leg kick but Dixon steps away.
Thorn Dixon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zulu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dixon sprawls well. Dixon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zulu gets slowly back to his feet.

Zulu has closed the distance and engaged Dixon in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zulu landing knees to the head.

Zulu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nkemiko Zulu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Zulu fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dixon sprawls well initially but Zulu persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zulu sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Dixon is looking to improve his position.
Ground and pound from Zulu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zulu working the head and body with strikes.
Zulu wants to free his trapped foot but Dixon is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Zulu slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zulu shoots in and bounces Dixon off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zulu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Zulu gets to his feet. Dixon looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zulu shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dixon as he jumps to the side.
Dixon shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zulu as he avoids it easily.

Zulu is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dixon's half guard.
Nkemiko Zulu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Well, if Zulu is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zulu seems to be looking for submissions.
Zulu is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Zulu controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zulu fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Dixon tries to reverse the position but Zulu maintains control.
Zulu controlling the position easily from mount.
Thorn Dixon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zulu scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Dixon?

And that's the end of the fight!
Nkemiko Zulu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zulu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

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