PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Nukem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bolo Zhan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Nukem
vs
Zhan

188 cm
24
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
215 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Nukem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bolo Zhan!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nukem stuffs the takedown.
Zhan shoots in for a takedown but Nukem shows good takedown defense.
Nukem slaps away a takedown attempt from Zhan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Chris Nukem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bolo Zhan.
Zhan looks for a takedown but Nukem sprawls well.
Zhan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nukem as he jumps to the side.
Zhan dives in and grabs Nukem's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nukem pushes down on Zhan's head and hops out.
Nukem feints a jab promting Zhan to slip. Nukem then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Zhan slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Bolo Zhan has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big left from Nukem misses.
Nukem misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bolo Zhan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nukem throws a sloppy head kick and Zhan moves out of range easily.

Zhan gets the takedown into side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zhan just content to control the position.
Nukem is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhan has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Zhan controlling his opponent.
Nukem is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Zhan controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nukem has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Zhan controls the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Zhan might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Bolo Zhan wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nukem pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zhan.
Nukem tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nukem leaves Zhan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nukem looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zhan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nukem sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zhan blocks a head kick by Nukem.
Zhan shoots in and drives through. Nukem sprawls well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nukem but Nukem pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nukem misses with a few strikes there.
Nukem is breathing heavily.
A leg kick checked by Zhan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bolo Zhan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bolo Zhan's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nukem defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zhan.
Zhan fails to land the takedown.
Nukem throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zhan.
Chris Nukem is winning the standup battle so far.
Sloppy strikes from Nukem. Those never looked like landing.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Zhan fails with a takedown attempt.
Chris Nukem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bolo Zhan.
Nukem fails with a takedown attempt.
Nukem goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nukem leaves Zhan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nukem throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zhan.
Nukem throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nukem defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zhan.
Nukem throws a hook to the side of Zhan's head but Zhan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zhan shoots in looking for a takedown. Nukem tries to sprawl out of it but Zhan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nukem manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zhan fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Chris Nukem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zhan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nukem as he jumps to the side.
Nukem misses with a double jab.
Zhan fails with a takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Nukem.
Zhan misses with a takedown attempt - Nukem sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nukem throws a combination. Zhan tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Zhan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nukem sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zhan somewhat.
Nukem fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zhan scores a takedown into full mount!
Zhan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nukem is looking to escape.
Zhan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nukem knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zhan on the ground.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zhan looking to control but Nukem is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zhan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bolo Zhan.
Zhan blocks a head kick by Nukem.
Nukem throws a head kick but Zhan moves out of range.
Nukem misses with a straight left.

Zhan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nukem seems a little lost for a moment, as Zhan dominates the positioning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Zhan has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bolo Zhan has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nukem looks for a takedown but Zhan sprawls well.

Zhan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zhan showed some decent athleticism there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bolo Zhan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bolo Zhan'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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zhan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nukem did well to prevent Zhan getting side control.
Nukem scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Zhan manages to mount him!
Zhan controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolo Zhan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nukem tries to buck Zhan off but he can't manage it.
Zhan controlling the pace for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bolo Zhan.

Zhan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Zhan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Zhan drops back looking for a leg! Nukem is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nukem manages to kick Zhan off! Zhan jumps back into Nukem's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nukem being controlled here, momentarily.
Zhan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nukem is keeping the position for now.
Zhan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bolo Zhan.

Zhan shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nukem is trying to defend but Zhan finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Zhan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolo Zhan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Bolo Zhan hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nukem misses with a head kick.
Zhan shoots in and drives through. Nukem sprawls well.
Zhan shoots in but Nukem avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zhan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Chris Nukem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bolo Zhan.

Zhan closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Chris Nukem has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nukem wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bolo Zhan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zhan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bolo Zhan!