PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karl Weathers (ranked 4434 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ke Zhang (ranked 5028 p4p, 0 weight class). Ke Zhang acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Weathers
vs
Zhang

185 cm
21
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Karl Weathers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ke Zhang!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Weathers drives through and clinches with Zhang against the cage.
Zhang is trying to break free.
Zhang wants to break the clinch but can't.
Still in the clinch, Weathers scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zhang tries to break free but Weathers pushes him back against the cage.
Weathers content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Zhang looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Weathers manages to break the clinch.
Zhang throws a sloppy head kick and Weathers moves out of range easily.

Weathers moves into range and clinches up with Zhang.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhang is trying to force a seperation but Weathers has the dominant position.
Weathers is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Weathers breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zhang tries to keep at a distance but Weathers has taken the fight into the clinch.

Weathers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zhang throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Weathers.

Weathers instigates a clinch.
Weathers is stalling here.
Weathers tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zhang fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Weathers lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Zhang looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Weathers manages to break the clinch.
Karl Weathers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhang stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zhang wants it to stay on the feet.
Zhang takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Weathers instigates a clinch.
Zhang trying to control the position but instead, Weathers has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zhang into the cage.
Weathers lands a shot to the body.

Weathers manages to break the clinch.

Weathers instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weathers pushes Zhang back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

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

Weathers moves into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Weathers takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Zhang is trying to force a seperation but Weathers has the dominant position.

Weathers breaks from the clinch.

Weathers has closed the distance and engaged Zhang in a clinch.

Weathers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Weathers throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zhang's waist but Zhang gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Weathers off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karl Weathers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Weathers lands but Zhang takes it in his stride.

It looks like Ke Zhang has been cut.

Weathers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Weathers breaks from the clinch.
Weathers pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zhang is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Weathers throws a right and a left that Zhang avoids nicely.

Weathers darts in and clinches Zhang up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A right handed body shot lands from Weathers.

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

Weathers clinches up against the cage.
Weathers lands a damaging elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Weathers dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ke Zhang's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Zhang crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Weathers - the referee stops the clock and Zhang gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Weathers. Zhang manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Weathers clinches up with Zhang and pushes him back against the cage.

Weathers breaks the clinch.
Zhang chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Weathers can pounce on him.
Zhang pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Weathers shoots in for a double leg but Zhang sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Weathers throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weathers shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zhang defends it nicely.
Weathers bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Zhang is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Weathers clinches up with Zhang and pushes him back against the cage.
Weathers lands an elbow inside that Zhang shrugs off.
Weathers tries to pull guard but Zhang forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karl Weathers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhang prevents the takedown attempt.

Weathers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Karl Weathers is winning the standup battle so far.
Weathers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zhang is fending him off so far but Weathers persists. Nope, Zhang circles away and we're back to standing.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Weathers - that will leave a mark!

Weathers fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zhang, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weathers gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Weathers breaks the clinch.

Weathers clinches with his opponent.

Weathers breaks from the clinch.

Weathers darts in and clinches Zhang up against the cage.

Weathers breaks from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Weathers fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zhang, pushing him back against the cage.
Weathers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zhang can do to turn this around?
Zhang letting Weathers take a breather here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weathers throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Weathers closes the distance and clinches.

Weathers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Weathers is working Zhang over against the cage.
Zhang jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Weathers walks away with a smile on his face. Zhang gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Weathers moves into range and clinches up with Zhang.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Weathers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Weathers has Zhang up against the cage in a clinch.
Weathers lands a body punch in the clinch.

Weathers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Weathers drives through and clinches with Zhang against the cage.
Weathers goes for a takedown attempt but Zhang pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Zhang thows a left - swing and a miss!
Weathers displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Weathers dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ke Zhang's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Weathers closes the distance and pushes Zhang back into the cage.

Weathers breaks from the clinch.
Weathers goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zhang is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Weathers has managed to clinch.
Weathers is leaning against Zhang and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Karl Weathers has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Weathers taking a breather.
Weathers leaning his opponent against the cage.
Weathers seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Zhang takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Weathers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Weathers closes the distance and clinches.

Weathers breaks from the clinch.
Weathers misses with a body kick.
Weathers connects with a solid leg kick.

Weathers moves into the clinch successfully.

Weathers breaks from the clinch.
Weathers misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zhang takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Weathers takes the fight into the clinch.
Zhang gets underhooks to prevent Weathers's takedown attempt.
The referee calls for Weathers to work.

Weathers manages to break the clinch.
Zhang goes for a double leg but Weathers avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Weathers continues to drive forward.
Weathers is looking to counter punch.
Karl Weathers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Weathers fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zhang, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Weathers manages to break the clinch.
Weathers shoots in looking for a takedown. Zhang tries to sprawl out of it but Weathers keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zhang manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karl Weathers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Weathers connects with a solid leg kick.
Weathers throws a jab when Zhang was well out of range.
Zhang tries to counter by closing the distance.
Weathers fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Weathers has Zhang up against the cage in a clinch.
Zhang is trying to pull guard but Weathers has him pressed against the cage.
Weathers lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Weathers slows down the pace here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zhang takes a knee right on the jaw!

And that's the end of the fight!
Karl Weathers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Weathers, 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:24
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl Weathers!