PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Petey Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Zhu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Inside The Fire by Disturbed. Zhang Zhu will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Smith
vs
Zhu

172 cm
19
178 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
24
180 lbs
2 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Petey Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zhang Zhu!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Joseph Jones and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith avoids the head kick by Zhu.

Zhu has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Zhu shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Zhu lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Petey Smith has been cut.
Zhu is pressed up against the cage. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zhu down to the mat. Zhu avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smith takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Zhu pushes Smith away with a front kick.
Zhu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Zhu fails with the takedown
enabling Smith to counter with a crisp jab.

Zhu rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zhu missing with knees to the body.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zhu avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petey Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhu drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Smith gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Smith stops a takedown attempt from Zhu.
Zhu prevents the takedown attempt.
Zhu lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Zhu shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Zhu stalling against the cage.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zhu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smith is breathing heavily.

Zhu forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
Smith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zhu gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Zhu unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Zhu drags the fight down to the ground.
Zhu wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Zhu keeps moving.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zhu is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Smith, into his guard.
Zhu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zhu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zhu postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Zhu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zhu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zhu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zhu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zhu wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Zhu trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zhu is controlling him.
Zhu thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four 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.
Zhu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zhu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zhu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zhu tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Zhu trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Zhu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Petey Smith's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A head kick from Zhu lands but Smith takes it in his stride.
Zhu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zhu lands a nice looking body kick.
Zhu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Zhu makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zhu makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Smith really felt that one!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zhu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Zhu moves into the clinch.
Zhu gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petey Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhu landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Zhu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zhu with a knee to the head.

Zhu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zhu misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhu misses with a head kick.
Zhu misses with a takedown

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Zhu blocks nicely.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Smith working the head with strikes.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
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.
Smith tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the body and head with strikes.
Smith working the ground and pound but Zhu is defending the strikes.
Smith in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Zhu avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Smith.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Zhu tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Petey Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Petey Smith's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zhu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zhu's waist but Zhu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.

Zhu rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zhu lands an elbow inside.
Zhu unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zhu wants a takedown.
Zhu missing with knees to the body.
Smith avoids the elbow strike from Zhu, against the cage.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zhu gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith is trying to drag Zhu to the mat but Zhu just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petey Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zhu avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith has Zhu pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zhu manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Zhu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smith is defending well for now.
Zhu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zhu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Zhu feints and then cracks Smith's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smith down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Zhu shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Smith somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

Zhu has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zhu obliges.
Zhu prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Zhu landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Smith tries for a takedown but Zhu manages to get underhooks.
Smith avoids the elbow strike from Zhu, against the cage.
Zhu tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Zhu stops a takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zhu avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zhu looking to slow down the pace here.
Zhu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zhu pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Zhu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zhu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Zhu fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhu trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Smith scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zhu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zhu wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four 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.
Smith trying to control but Zhu is working from the bottom.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith passes Zhu's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Smith looks to land a strike but Zhu avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Zhu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zhu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith postures up in Zhu's guard and throws a big left but Zhu blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zhang Zhu.
I think Zhu has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

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