PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Jennings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Zhu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jennings kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Ruff Ryders' Anthem. 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.

Jennings
vs
Zhu

185 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

178 cm
25
180 lbs
3 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Experienced

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 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xavier Jennings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zhang Zhu!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Dean Styles and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zhu is defended easily by Jennings.
Zhu throws a sloppy head kick and Jennings moves out of range easily.
Xavier Jennings seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jennings shoots for a takedown but Zhu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zhu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jennings tries to close the distance and clinch but Zhu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jennings looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zhu is fending him off so far but Jennings persists. Nope, Zhu circles away and we're back to standing.
Jennings misses with a takedown attempt - Zhu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Jennings. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jennings shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zhu pinned against the cage. Zhu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zhu throws a lazy body kick
and Jennings counters with a big head kick but Zhu shrugs it off.
Zhu throws a lazy head kick
and Jennings counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zhu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zhu cracks the inside of Jennings's front leg.
Jennings shoots in for a takedown but Zhu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zhu tries to clinch but Jennings is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jennings is looking to clinch but Zhu is avoiding it.

Jennings gets caught napping as Zhu dives in and scores a takedown. Jennings manages to retain guard.

Jennings looking for a guillotine here but Zhu defends easily.
Jennings is breathing heavily.
Zhu prevents Jennings from getting back to his feet.
Zhu scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zhu throwing strikes but missing.
Jennings not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zhu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zhu wants to control from the top but Jennings keeps moving.
Zhu connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jennings works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Jennings escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zhu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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!
Zhu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jennings swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zhu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zhu throwing strikes but missing.
Zhu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zhu lands a couple of digs.
Zhu trying to control but Jennings is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jennings keeping full guard, as Zhu tries to pass.
Zhu trying to control the position from guard on top but Jennings is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zhu postures up in Jennings's guard and throws a big left but Jennings blocks it.
Zhu connects with a couple of short punches.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zhu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jennings avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zhu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jennings utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zhu controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jennings keeping full guard, as Zhu tries to pass.
Zhu thows a big elbow that misses.
Zhu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zhu looking to sit in guard and control but Jennings gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zhu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jennings. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jennings prevents Zhu from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Zhu dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zhu looking to score a takedown here. Jennings is defending well but Zhu drives through and ends up in Jennings's guard.
Zhu pushing down on Jennings's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zhu with the ground and pound but Jennings uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Jennings working a defensive guard here.
Zhu is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zhu trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Jennings manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Jennings trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jennings would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jennings stopping the sweep attempt from Zhu.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zhu stuffs the takedown.
Zhu connects with a looping right hand.
That kick from Zhu tenderised Jennings's leg. Jennings is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zhu cracks the inside of Jennings's front leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zhu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zhu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Jennings gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zhu to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Jennings looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhu scoring with some ground and pound.
Zhu trying to control but Jennings is working from the bottom.
Zhu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zhu controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zhu passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zhu tries to advance to mount but Jennings denies him.
Jennings tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhu is looking to take a break and control but Jennings is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jennings struggling a bit here.
Jennings takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Zhu scores with a couple of short elbows.
Zhu wants to control but Jennings is keeping him busy.
Jennings struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Zhu.
Zhu cracks Jennings with a big elbow.
Zhu lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Jennings down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zhu has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
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!
Jennings takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Jennings leaves Zhu with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jennings keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jennings throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Zhu instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Zhu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Crunch! Zhu slams his shin into Jennings's torso.
Jennings shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jennings walks forward, straight into a front kick from Zhu.
A head kick misses from Zhu.
Jennings takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Zhu shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jennings as he jumps to the side.
Zhu throws a sloppy head kick and Jennings moves out of range easily.
Zhu shoots in but Jennings avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Zhu scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhu is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jennings is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BOOM! Zhu connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Zhu tries to control but Jennings wriggling away.
Jennings is in a horrible position here. Zhu smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zhu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zhu lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Zhu looking to finish Jennings with some ground and pound. This is bad for Jennings!
Jennings wants to control but Zhu is having none of it.
Zhu breaks from Jennings's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Zhu is landing with some decent strikes but Jennings is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Zhu lands a heavy elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhu fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhu lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Jennings hang on?
Jennings in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Zhu landing strikes from the mount and Jennings is in trouble!
Zhu landing punches.
Zhu looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Zhu fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Zhu with good strikes from the mount here!
Zhu lands with some strikes.
Zhu punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zhu cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zhu blocks Jennings's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Zhu scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Jennings?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jennings is bucking up trying to escape but Zhu cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Zhu lands a nice shot to the head.

Jennings is rocked!
Zhu scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Jennings?
Oh Jennings is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zhu connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zhu cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zhu with good strikes from the mount here!
Zhu scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Jennings?
Zhu connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Zhu looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Jennings covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zhang Zhu!