PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zhang Zu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gonnovan Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhang Zu has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Zu
vs
Stone

200 cm
19
190 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Zhang Zu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Gonnovan Stone!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stone checks a leg kick.
Zu is looking to slow Stone down with leg kicks.
Zu throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zu misses with a head kick.
Stone misses with a leg kick.
Zu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zu throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stone throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zu's waist but Zu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stone off to one side.
Zu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Zu really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zu throws a head kick but Stone moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zu.
Zu lands with a kick to the ribs.
Zu lands a head kick!

It looks like Gonnovan Stone has been cut.

Stone drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stone looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Stone is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zu is trying to buck Stone off.
Zu parries the strikes from Stone easily there. Stone is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Zu to escape.
Stone tries to score with some ground and pound. Zu controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Stone tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stone has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Stone tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stone has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stone wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zu, who protects the arm well.
Stone looks gassed!
Zu is trying to buck Stone off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stone wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zu, who protects the arm well.
Zu is trying to control Stone's posture but Stone avoids it.
Zu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zu prevents Stone from moving into mount.
Zu is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Stone asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zu scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zu moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stone shoots in for a double leg but Zu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zu lands a head kick. Stone smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Zu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Some wild striking there from Zu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Zu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gonnovan Stone's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stone shoots in but no luck this time.

Stone gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stone wants to control but Zu is keeping him busy.

Stone looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stone is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stone is working for a kimura but Zu is defending it quite comfortably.
Zu wants to get back to his feet.
Zu is trying to get back to full guard.
Stone is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Stone looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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.
Zu is trying to maintain the position but Stone is very close to passing his half guard.
Stone sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zu defending well though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zu throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Stone.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zu throws a leg kick which misses Stone's front leg but catches the back leg as Stone tries to avoid it.

Stone shoots in and bounces Zu off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Stone controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zu wants to sweep but no luck.

Stone has gone for a leg lock! Zu slips out almost immediately though and dives into Stone's guard.
Stone wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zu got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stone has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zu has managed to get both his arms back between Stone's legs - danger averted.
Stone is breathing heavily.
Zu wants to get up but he can't break Stone's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Zu got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stone has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zu has managed to get both his arms back between Stone's legs - danger averted.

Stone has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Zu is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Stone.
Stone tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gonnovan Stone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gonnovan Stone's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Zu.
Zu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zhang Zu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stone blocks a head kick by Zu.
A good leg kick by Zu.
Zu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zu pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Stone shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Zu's guard.
Zu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stone stopping the sweep attempt from Zu.
Stone missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone stays in close to Zu's body and controls the position.
Stone trying to control the position from guard on top but Zu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zu fakes the leg kick and cracks Stone in the body.
Stone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zu throws a nice head kick!
Zhang Zu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zu misses with a kick to the body.
Zu throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Stone.
Stone fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stone stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zu.
Stone chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zu can pounce on him.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Stone shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zu but Zu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zu lands a head kick. Stone smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
An inside leg kick lands from Zu.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zu.
A head kick misses from Zu.
Zu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zu throws a head kick but Stone moves out of range.
Zu pushes Stone away with a front kick.
Zhang Zu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stone's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Stone swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zu misses with a head kick.
Zu throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Stone tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Zu misses with a leg kick.
Stone tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Zu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stone avoids the head kick by Zu.
Zu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhang Zu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zu 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhang Zu!