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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Zhu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0 |
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178 cm
23
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin |
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BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined |
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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
0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zhang Zhu!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Dean Styles and Anthony Taglia.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James scores with a kick to the midsection.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zhu is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Zhu circles away and we're back to standing.
James tries to clinch there but Zhu circles away.
Zhu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zhu throws a head kick but James moves out of range.
Zhu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zhu drives through with a takedown into guard.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zhu.
James has his foot on Zhu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zhu works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhu won't allow James to get back to his feet.
Zhu is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.
Zhu thows a big elbow that misses.
Zhu looks gassed!
James lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zhu!
James controlling the pace for now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
James throwing strikes here but Zhu is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Zhu is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
James moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Zhu has worked his arm free - good work by Zhu!
The ground and pound from James seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
James wants to control but Zhu is keeping him busy.
That's two 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.
Zhu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zhu managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by James.
James stands up and beckons Zhu to his feet.
Zhu misses with a takedown
and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
James lands a couple of digs.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
James looking to pass the guard.
James wants to stand but Zhu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
James wants to stand but Zhu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
James pushes down on Zhu's leg and manages to get into half guard.
James thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
James is looking for a kimura but Zhu is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for James to get the leverage.
James is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zhu defends it well.
Zhu wants to improve his position but James is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Sam James dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
James goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
James throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zhu was covering up waiting for the punch and James finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zhu keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James stands and throws Zhu's legs to the side, diving into side control.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zhu keeps working.
Zhu is breathing heavily.
James thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhu tries to improve position but can't.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zhu can do anything to dispel that myth.
James postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
James tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
James swings around for an armbar but Zhu sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into James's guard.
That's two 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.
Zhu wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Zhu has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of James is proving hard to escape from.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
James looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zhu is fending him off so far but James persists. Nope, Zhu circles away and we're back to standing.
Zhu throws a head kick that misses
and James counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zhu's guard now.
James trying to control but Zhu is working from the bottom.
James seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control but Zhu is working from the bottom.
James looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
James wants to pass the guard but Zhu is keeping the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
James stands and steps away. Zhu gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from James is defended easily by Zhu.
James shoots in and bounces Zhu off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
James sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zhu's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Sam James dominated that second round.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Zhu dodges the punch combination from James.
James throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zhu.
Zhu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says James as he avoids it easily.
Zhu throws a lazy head kick
and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
James sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Zhu working a defensive guard here.
James is stalling in the full guard.
Zhu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with James. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sam James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zhu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zhu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as James controls the pace.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sam James.
Zhu slaps away a takedown attempt from James, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zhu tries for a takedown but James circles away easily
and James counters with a shoot takedown. Zhu fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James passes into half guard.
James scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
James trying to control the pace.
James's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to control but Zhu is keeping him busy.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sam James.
Zhu with a poor takedown
and James counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zhu's guard now.
Sam James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zhang Zhu.
James is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zhang Zhu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zhu is keeping the position for now.
James is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
James wants to control from the top but Zhu keeps moving.
And that's the end of the fight!
Sam James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well James has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam James!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
38% |
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