PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shu Fang Tzeng (ranked 542 p4p, 1301 weight class) and Denis Denisov (ranked 32 p4p, 74 weight class). Tzeng's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Mantra Chant. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Tzeng
vs
Denisov

165 cm
33
135
22 - 5 - 0

167 cm
28
140
10 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 22 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shu Fang Tzeng!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Denis Denisov!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Denisov is defended easily by Tzeng.
Jab by Denisov.
Denisov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Denis Denisov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Denisov has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tzeng has Denisov pushed against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Tzeng.

Denisov jumps guard and drags Tzeng to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Denisov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denisov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tzeng's guard.

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Denisov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Tzeng is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tzeng has momentary wrist control but Denisov slips an elbow through the middle.
Denisov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Denisov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Tzeng is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Denisov is aware though and is defending well.

Tzeng working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Denisov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Denisov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Denisov working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

Tzeng is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tzeng had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Denisov defends it easily.

Tzeng had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Denisov defends it easily.
Denisov cracks Tzeng with a solid left hand.
Denisov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've been hearing good reports from Tzeng's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Tzeng pulls Denisov in close to prevent any damage.
Denisov cracks Tzeng with a solid left hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Denisov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Tzeng looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Denisov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tzeng is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Denisov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Denisov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tzeng trying to keep a closed guard but Denisov is proving a slippery customer.

Tzeng is looking for a triangle but Denisov pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tzeng looking to control.
Denisov trying to control but Tzeng is working from the bottom.
Denisov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Denisov cracks Tzeng with a solid left hand.
Tzeng looking to hit a scissor sweep but Denisov is one step ahead there.
Tzeng can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Denisov controls the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Denisov with a nice head shot there.

Tzeng has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Denisov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Denisov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tzeng on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Tzeng gets a clinch.
Denisov is trying to pull guard but Tzeng turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tzeng is looking to break free of the clinch but Denisov has double underhooks.
Denisov jumps guard but Tzeng turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Tzeng has picked Denisov up - he's going for a ride! Tzeng dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Denisov is looking to get back to is feet but Tzeng passes into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denisov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Tzeng working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Tzeng is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Denisov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Denisov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Denisov is trying to buck Tzeng off.
Denisov is looking for a sweep.
Denisov misses with a strike from the bottom.
Denisov is looking to regain half guard here but Tzeng keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tzeng gets to mount! Denisov was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Tzeng avoids the attempt from Denisov to control.
Denisov can't escape the position.
Denisov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Denisov is looking to improve his position but Tzeng isn't that keen on the idea.

Tzeng is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Denisov is surviving well by controlling Tzeng's body position as best he can.
Tzeng wants to take Denisov's back but he can't do it this time.
Tzeng controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzeng can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Denisov is looking to escape.
Denisov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Denisov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Denisov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Denisov wants to control but Tzeng is having none of it.
Denisov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Tzeng is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Denisov is surviving well by controlling Tzeng's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denisov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tzeng tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Denisov looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Denisov rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Denisov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Denisov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Denisov tries to get to full guard but Tzeng has control of the leg.
Denisov is trying to control but Tzeng passes into side control!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shu Fang Tzeng dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Denisov lands a nice shot that snaps Tzeng's head back.
Denisov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Denisov throws a leg kick but Tzeng checks it.
Tzeng is looking to clinch.

Tzeng clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Tzeng has hold of one of Denisov's legs. Denisov is fighting the takedown attempt but Tzeng gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Denisov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Denisov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Denisov looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzeng sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tzeng trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tzeng passes Denisov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Denisov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Denisov pulls Tzeng in close to prevent any damage.
Denisov working a defensive guard here.
Denisov striking from his own guard.

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.
Tzeng wants to control from the top but Denisov keeps moving.
Denisov striking off his back but it's not causing Tzeng any problems.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Denisov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tzeng counters with a single leg into guard. Denisov didn't expect that.
Denisov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Tzeng passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

Tzeng is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Denisov missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tzeng wants to pass the guard but Denisov is defending well.

Denisov is defending against the submission attempts here by Tzeng.

Tzeng is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Shu Fang Tzeng overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Denisov trying to hold on to Tzeng's head to control him but Tzeng postures up.

Tzeng is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Denisov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Denisov connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Tzeng prevents Denisov from improving his position.
Tzeng stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tzeng seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Denisov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shu Fang Tzeng showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tzeng has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shu Fang Tzeng!
Shu Fang Tzeng seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.