PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marshall Mathers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Zhu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mathers comes into the arena with Anthem of Kings blaring out of the sound system. Zhang Zhu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mathers
vs
Zhu

180 cm
27
170 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

178 cm
26
180 lbs
4 - 12 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Very quick

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marshall Mathers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zhang Zhu!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Joseph Jones and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathers scores with the left hand. Zhu knows he should have avoided that one.

It looks like Zhang Zhu has been cut.
Mathers takes a kick to the side of the head.
Mathers throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mathers connects with a leg kick. Zhu looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
No joy there for Mathers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Marshall Mathers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mathers misses with a low kick.
Mathers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zhu slips under a jab.
Mathers lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mathers.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zhu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zhu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mathers.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mathers throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mathers looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zhu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mathers.
Zhu avoids the head kick by Mathers.
Mathers lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Mathers misses.
Mathers misses with a head kick.
Mathers throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Mathers misses with a head kick.
Mathers tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zhu was well out of range. Poor timing from Mathers.
Mathers throws a sloppy head kick

and Zhu counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mathers's guard now.
Zhu wants to pass the guard but Mathers is keeping the position.
Mathers wants to stand up but Zhu is controlling him.

Mathers scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Mathers tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zhu gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zhu tries to land knees in the clinch but Mathers avoids the damage to the body.
Zhu throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Zhu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mathers has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zhu stalling against the cage.
Zhu missing with knees to the body.

Mathers breaks from the clinch.
Zhu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marshall Mathers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mathers throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mathers avoids it really well and circles away.
Mathers connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zhu. Zhu circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mathers moves into range and connects with a jab.
Mathers throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Zhu closes the distance and clinches up with Mathers, looking for a takedown. Zhu pushes Mathers against the cage but Mathers circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mathers stalks Zhu and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Zhu's face. Zhu staggers backwards, shaken.
Mathers with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zhu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zhu avoids the head kick by Mathers.
Mathers fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mathers misses with a leg kick

and Zhu counters by clinching up.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Zhu just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mathers's brow.
Zhu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mathers has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhu creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Mathers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mathers plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A clash of legs there as Zhu blocks the low kick.
Mathers plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Mathers scores with a one two! Zhu had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Zhu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mathers paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mathers misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zhu.
A cross from Mathers lands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A nice leg kick lands there from Mathers.
Zhu stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Mathers.
Mathers throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mathers punishes Zhu's body with a nice straight punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Mathers dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zhang Zhu'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.

Mathers lands a jab-cross combination.

Zhu is rocked!
Mathers pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A punch combination from Mathers misses.
Mathers throws out a powerful jab.
Zhu avoids the head kick by Mathers.
Zhu wants to clinch up but Mathers keeps it at a distance.

Zhu clinches with his opponent.
Zhu is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Mathers breaks the clinch.
Mathers scores with the left hand. Zhu knows he should have avoided that one.
Mathers fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mathers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhu manages to avoid it.
Mathers throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice uppercut lands for Mathers. That snapped Zhu's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zhu avoids the head kick by Mathers.

Zhu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Mathers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zhu tries to clinch up.
Mathers swats away the attempt to clinch by Zhu.
Mathers lands a front kick.
Mathers fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Zhu on the side of the head.
Mathers lands a high kick!
Mathers throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mathers throws a sloppy head kick and Zhu moves out of range easily.
Zhu tries to clinch there but Mathers circles away.
Good leg kick by Mathers there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathers throws a head kick but Zhu moves out of range.
Zhu's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Mathers lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zhu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An inside leg kick lands from Mathers.
Zhu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Mathers manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mathers wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mathers misses with a body shot.
Zhu wants to clinch.
Mathers scores with a leg kick.
Mathers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhu manages to avoid it.
Mathers circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zhu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathers fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zhu has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zhu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mathers throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mathers fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mathers fails to land with a series of punches.
Marshall Mathers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zhu tries to close the distance and clinch but Mathers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zhu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zhu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zhu tries to clinch there but Mathers circles away.
Mathers lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zhu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mathers connects with a single shot there.
Mathers's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zhu under the eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathers looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mathers scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mathers goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mathers.
Mathers lands a jab to the head.

Zhu moves into the clinch.

Mathers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zhu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zhu is breathing heavily.
Danga de danga de dang - Mathers scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zhu shoots in but no luck this time.
Marshall Mathers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zhang Zhu.
Mathers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zhu tries to close the distance and clinch but Mathers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mathers throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zhu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mathers but Mathers pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zhu tries to clinch up but Mathers circles away and keeps his distance.
Mathers lands a nice looking kick to the body. Zhu takes a step back to recover.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mathers, right into the meat.
Zhu wants to clinch.
Mathers looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mathers falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zhu counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zhu.
Mathers has had enough of the clinch but Zhu keeps him there for the moment.

Mathers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathers turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mathers looks to land a combination but Zhu avoids it well.
Mathers throws a combination. Zhu tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Zhu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mathers, right into the meat.
Zhu has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Mathers moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Mathers scores with a decent looking hook.
Zhu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zhu takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Mathers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mathers lands a head kick!
Mathers scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zhu doesn't seem bothered though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mathers tests Zhu's chin there with a solid looking shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mathers.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Mathers.
Mathers throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Zhu counters by clinching up.

Mathers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mathers misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zhu is looking to clinch but Mathers is avoiding it.
Zhu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Marshall Mathers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zhang Zhu.
Mathers lands a nice hook to Zhu's body. Zhu takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zhu takes one on the button.
Mathers throws a nice head kick!
Zhu is still on wobbly legs! Can Mathers finish him?
Mathers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zhu can do to turn this around?
Mathers tries a head kick but it misses.
Mathers looks to land a combination but Zhu avoids it well.
Zhu seems to have recovered his senses.
Zhu takes a jab right on the kisser.
Mathers looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathers throws a head kick but Zhu moves out of range.
Mathers throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Mathers scores with a hook.
Zhu is looking to clinch but Mathers is avoiding it.
Mathers circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mathers moves into range and connects with a jab.
Mathers pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mathers throws a head kick that misses
and Zhu counters with a thumping low kick.
Mathers plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The fight stays on the outside here - Zhu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zhu tries to clinch up but Mathers circles away and keeps his distance.

Zhu gets a clinch.
Zhang Zhu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathers has Zhu pressed against the cage, preventing Zhu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zhu tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zhu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Zhu creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Zhu throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mathers managing to block the knees to the body from Zhu.
Zhu tries a knee to the head but Mathers blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhu looking to throw knees to the head but Mathers is blocking nicely.
Marshall Mathers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mathers tries to circle away but Zhu has him pinned against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marshall Mathers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mathers, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marshall Mathers!