PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lee Zhang (ranked 4253 p4p, 4217 weight class) and Marius Teplionka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zhang
vs
Teplionka

200 cm
19
216
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
200
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 New York, Lee Zhang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marius Teplionka!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Eddie Farnsworth and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Zhang crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Teplionka - the referee stops the clock and Zhang gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Teplionka. Zhang manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Zhang jabs Teplionka right on the nose. Teplionka blinks but takes it well.
Teplionka walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Teplionka tries to clinch but Zhang moves out of range.
Zhang lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Teplionka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zhang is fending him off so far but Teplionka persists. Nope, Zhang circles away and we're back to standing.
It looked like Zhang wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Teplionka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zhang as he jumps to the side.
An attempted straight right counter from Zhang misses the target.
Zhang falls off balance throwing a combination

and Teplionka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Teplionka jumps guard but Zhang turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lee Zhang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marius Teplionka.
Zhang wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zhang is trying to force a seperation but Teplionka has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhang is trying to break the clinch but Teplionka has him pressed against the cage.

Teplionka successfully pulls guard.
Teplionka looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Zhang puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Zhang seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Teplionka is positioning himself well to prevent Zhang advancing to mount.
Zhang prevents Teplionka from improving his position.
Teplionka is trying to stand back up but Zhang is controlling him
Teplionka is staying active underneath Zhang, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Teplionka manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Teplionka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zhang manages to get himself to full guard.

Teplionka thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Zhang knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Teplionka on the ground.
Teplionka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Teplionka trying to control but Zhang is working from the bottom.
Teplionka might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Zhang haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Teplionka looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Teplionka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Teplionka decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Teplionka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zhang counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zhang works the jab nicely.
Zhang defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Teplionka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Zhang coming out on top.
Zhang connects with the punch.
Teplionka with a poor takedown
and Zhang counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Teplionka looks winded!
A right-left combo lands from Zhang.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhang cracks Teplionka with a right hand to the side of the head.
Zhang scores with a punch to the head.
Zhang is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Zhang lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Zhang.
Zhang bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Teplionka's head backwards.
Zhang fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Teplionka on the side of the head.
Zhang connects with a nice looking jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Zhang dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zhang lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Teplionka backs up against the cage.
Teplionka shoots in for a takedown but Zhang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Teplionka swings for the body but Zhang moves out of range.
Zhang defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Teplionka.
It looked like Zhang was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A left lands for Zhang.
Zhang is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Zhang lands with a nice body punch.
Zhang rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Teplionka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Teplionka misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhang misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Teplionka shapes to counter with a head kick.
Zhang fails in his attempt to clinch.
Teplionka lands with a kick to the ribs.
Marius Teplionka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhang throws a hook but Teplionka avoids it easily.
Zhang is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Teplionka can do to turn this around?
Teplionka tries for a takedown but Zhang sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lee Zhang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marius Teplionka.
Teplionka is breathing heavily.
Zhang rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Teplionka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zhang misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jab by Zhang.
Teplionka tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Zhang to counter with a crisp jab.
Teplionka goes for a double leg but Zhang avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zhang continues to drive forward.
Teplionka dodges the punch combination from Zhang.
Teplionka throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zhang.
Teplionka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zhang quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Teplionka closes the distance and clinches up with Zhang, looking for a takedown. Teplionka pushes Zhang against the cage but Zhang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Teplionka tries to clinch up
and Zhang counters with a straight right hand.
Teplionka walks into a stiff left hand from Zhang.
Nice takedown defense from Zhang. No joy for Teplionka on that attempt.
Zhang is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Zhang throws a series of punches but Teplionka avoids them all with ease.
Teplionka looks like he wants to counter punch here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Zhang throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Teplionka tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Zhang is in Teplionka's guard.
Zhang will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Zhang stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Zhang has a takedown stuffed.
Teplionka shapes to counter with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhang scores with a jab.
Teplionka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Teplionka.
Zhang connects with a good right hand that stumbles Teplionka. Teplionka circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Zhang tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhang bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Teplionka's head backwards.
Zhang listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Zhang lands with a good body shot.
Teplionka closes the distance looking to clinch
and Teplionka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zhang scores with a nice right hand.
Zhang fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Teplionka on the side of the head.
Teplionka looks for a takedown but Zhang sprawls well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Zhang dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Zhang misses with a low kick.
Teplionka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
It looked like Zhang was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Teplionka doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zhang cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Teplionka has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Teplionka doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zhang cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lee Zhang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marius Teplionka.
Zhang throws a one two combo.
Teplionka shoots and misses
letting Zhang counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhang goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Zhang lands a left and a right that send Teplionka crashing to the mat, dazed. Zhang thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Teplionka is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Teplionka walks straight into a right hand from Zhang - that's dropped him! Zhang jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Teplionka from any more punishment! Teplionka complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Lee Zhang!