Zak Cummings

Zak Cummings vs. Nicolas Dalby

Round 1
Dalby, working from the southpaw stance, misses with a whipping front kick up the center but finds the mark with a few chops to Cummings’ lead leg. More quick kicks from Dalby keep Cummings out of the pocket through the first 90 seconds of the bout, but the American eventually steps in to deliver a stiff jab. Cummings is trying to corner Dalby on the fence, but the “Sharpshooter” keeps his distance as he circles the edge of the cage. Two minutes in, Cummings zaps Dalby with a right hook-left uppercut combo that sends the Danish prospect to the floor. Cummings pounces and lands in side control on Dalby’s left, where he gets to work framing up a D’arce choke. Dalby defends well, rolling to his knees and not allowing Cummings to lock up his legs. Cummings releases what is now a modified guillotine choke, and the welterweights stand with 90 seconds on the clock. Cummings slugs down the center with a hard left straight for Dalby, who’s now in the orthodox stance. Dalby hits Cummings’ face with a looping left over the top, and Cummings answers with a noticeably harder hook.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Cummings
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Cummings
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Cummings

Round 2
Cummings comes out more aggressive at the start of the second stanza, attacking Dalby with high kicks of his own while keeping his jab in the Danish fighter’s face. Dalby keeps a wide orthodox stance and tries to counter, but Cummings’ pressure looks to be having an effect. Dalby looks fresh, still bouncing on his toes despite a reddened face and a left eye with an enormous mouse beneath it. With 1:40 on the clock, referee Marc Goddard pauses the fight after Dalby takes an accidental finger in the eye. Dalby says he’s good to continue and the fight is back on within seconds. The offense from both men drops off in the final minute of the round, Dalby the slightly busier fighter with leg kicks while Cummings waits in the center, looking to counter.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Cummings
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Cummings
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Cummings

Round 3
Cummings closes the distance to press Dalby against the fence with an underhook, but Dalby pushes him away after a few seconds and the welterweights return to the center of the cage. Dalby connects with a slapping right high kick but Cummings shakes it off and stands firm. Cummings presses forward and snaps back Dalby’s head with an uppercut before backing out of the pocket. Dalby checks a leg kick but slips to the ground, and now Cummings follows him to the mat. With two minutes left, Cummings sits in Dalby’s butterfly guard, burying his face in the Danish fighter’s chest. Thirty seconds later, Cummings passes to side control on Dalby’s left. Dalby rolls right and gets to his knees, then stands up and extracts his head as Cummings tries to catch him in a headlock. Back on the feet, Dalby tries to get busy with kicks and knees, but he’s soon wrapped up by Cummings and then dragged back to the floor. Cummings lands ground-and-pound while Dalby throws strikes off his back down to the final horn.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Cummings (30-27 Cummings)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Cummings (30-27 Cummings)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Cummings (30-27 Cummings)

The Official Result
Zak Cummings def. Nicolas Dalby via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00