PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zhang Jun (ranked 1395 p4p, 1553 weight class) and Theodore Nouveau (ranked 77 p4p, 85 weight class). Zhang Jun has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Jun
vs
Nouveau

173 cm
26
139
8 - 14 - 0

168 cm
32
145
15 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Knock Out Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zhang Jun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Theodore Nouveau!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Jun tenderised Nouveau's leg. Nouveau is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jun misses with a wild body shot.
Nouveau changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Nouveau shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nouveau would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nouveau looking to sit in guard and control but Jun gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nouveau has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Jun has passed into side control.
Jun tries to move to mount but Nouveau blocks the move with his legs.
Nouveau seems a little lost for a moment, as Jun dominates the positioning.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nouveau manages to get back to half guard.

Jun is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nouveau has managed to free his arm - good work.
Jun works his way into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nouveau tries to improve position but can't.

Jun is trying to get an arm triangle but Nouveau is defending well.
Jun wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nouveau keeps working.
Nouveau tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nouveau is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Jun asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Nouveau is trying to get back to half guard.

Jun is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nouveau has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nouveau prevents Jun from moving into mount.
Jun trying to control the position but Nouveau is working away.

Jun is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nouveau has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nouveau tries to bench press Jun off him but Jun keeps the position.
Nouveau has one of Jun's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Nouveau is not content to let Jun control the position.
Nouveau wants to control but Jun postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jun thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Nouveau can't do much from the bottom here.
Nouveau tries to buck Jun off but Jun is having none of it.

Jun is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nouveau knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nouveau tries to bench press Jun off him but Jun keeps the position.

Jun is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nouveau is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Jun happy to just control the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jun tries to stand but Nouveau controls the position and pulls Jun into his guard.
Jun is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nouveau is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nouveau is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Jun has managed to free his arm - good work.
Jun is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jun is looking to control Nouveau's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jun avoid being mounted?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Jun dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jun connects with an inside leg kick.
Jun tries a low kick but Nouveau avoids it.
Nouveau shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jun is looking to score with low kicks.
No luck for Nouveau with that takedown attempt.
Jun fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nouveau.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jun with the inside leg kick.
Jun keeps the fight on the outside.
Jun connects with a body shot.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nouveau or perhaps it was just good defense by Jun, which made it look bad.
Zhang Jun has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theodore Nouveau.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jun wants to slow Nouveau down by chopping away at his legs.
Nouveau tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jun defends well and Nouveau ends up having to push Jun into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Theodore Nouveau is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jun throws a nice inside leg kick.
Jun scores with a hook to the body. Nouveau takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jun lands with an overhand left.
Zhang Jun is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nouveau looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nouveau has his takedown stuffed

and Jun counters with a nice right hand that sends Nouveau toppling to the canvas! Nouveau scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Jun finish him?!

Nouveau is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice inside leg kick there by Jun. That's going to slow Nouveau down.
Nouveau is still on wobbly legs! Can Jun finish him?

Jun sends Nouveau crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Jun is motioning to the referee to let Nouveau up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Nouveau walks into a straight right, dropping him to the canvas! Jun swarms him and finishes the fight with a hail of punches! What a brutal finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Zhang Jun!
In defeat, Theodore Nouveau stepped up to the mic, saying 'what a mess...'.