PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zhang Zhu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angel Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zhu
vs
Rivera

178 cm
27
180 lbs
6 - 15 - 0

188 cm
26
179 lbs
8 - 17 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zhang Zhu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 17 - 1, fighting out of New York, Angel Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Columbo Gatti and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zhu clinches up with Rivera and pushes him back against the cage.
Zhu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zhu can't get the takedown.
Rivera wants to break free but Zhu has control.

Zhu pulls Rivera into guard.
Zhu has Rivera pulled in close to control his posture.

Zhu has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rivera off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Rivera misses with a hook
and Zhu counters with an outside leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zhu.
Zhu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rivera defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhang Zhu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhu closes the distance and clinches up with Rivera, looking for a takedown. Zhu pushes Rivera against the cage but Rivera circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhu shoots in but no luck this time.

Zhu clinches with his opponent.
Rivera wants to break the clinch but can't.

Zhu jumps guard.
Zhu keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
Rivera throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhu looking for a sweep. Not yet Zhu, not yet.
Rivera scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rivera stopping the sweep attempt from Zhu.
Zhu manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rivera really wants to buck Zhu off and get back to his feet.
Zhu throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhu looking to control and managing it successfully.
Zhu landing punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivera wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Zhu.
Zhu throws some wild stikes that Rivera manages to avoid easily.
Zhu looking to control but Rivera is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Zhu looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rivera is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Zhu thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Rivera really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zhu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zhu throwing strikes here but Rivera is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhu connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rivera is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zhu working for a submission but Rivera is keeping him at bay.
Zhu looking to control but Rivera is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zhu cracks Rivera with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Zhu unloads with some shots from mount but Rivera bucks and avoids them well.

Zhu is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Rivera has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Rivera!
Rivera throwing strikes but missing.
Zhu trying to control the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rivera manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhu throws a big right hand that misses.
Zhu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zhu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Rivera uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Rivera has Zhu up against the cage in a clinch.

Zhu decides to pull guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhu has Rivera pulled in close to control his posture.
Zhu on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zhu tries to get out of the position.
Rivera won't allow Zhu to sweep him here.
Zhu manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Zhu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Some wild striking there from Rivera.
Zhu has a takedown stuffed.
Rivera dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zhu shoots for a double leg takedown but Rivera sprawls well. He's pushed Zhu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zhu looks for a takedown but Rivera sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhang Zhu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera misses with a shot to the body
and Zhu counters with a big head kick but Rivera shrugs it off.
Zhu dives in and grabs Rivera's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rivera pushes down on Zhu's head and hops out.
Zhu tries for a takedown but Rivera sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zhu has closed the distance and engaged Rivera in a clinch.
Zhu jumps guard but Rivera stands there with Zhu around his waist. Zhu gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Zhu jumps guard.
Zhang Zhu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rivera is fighting to break Zhu's control of his arms but Zhu is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rivera preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Zhu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rivera manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zhu passes into half guard.
Zhu not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zhu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rivera pushes Zhu off but Zhu dives into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhu wants to take a breather but Rivera manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Zhu.
Rivera keeping full guard, as Zhu tries to pass.
Zhu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zhu is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivera has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhu trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zhu looking to pass the guard.
Rivera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rivera is looking to stand up but Zhu isn't so interested in that idea.
Zhu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zhu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zhu throws a big right hand that misses.
Zhu throws a big right hand that misses.
Zhu wants to pass the guard but Rivera is keeping the position.
Zhu trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhu looking to pass the guard.
Zhu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zhu passes into half guard.
Rivera is not content to let Zhu control the position.
Zhu passes to full mount!
Zhu looking to ground and pound but Rivera is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhu misses with a head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
You get the feeling that Rivera really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Rivera is breathing heavily.
Zhu thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Zhu dominated that second round.
That's time! Zhu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rivera instigates a clinch.
Zhu has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rivera avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Zhu works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Zhu content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zhu trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zhu works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zhu drops an elbow to the side of Rivera's head.
Rivera is trying to stand back up but Zhu is controlling him
Zhu wants to free his trapped foot but Rivera is holding on for dear life with his legs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivera wants to get back to his feet.
Rivera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rivera's head.
Zhu moves into full mount! Rivera won't be happy about that!
Zhu can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rivera is looking to escape.
Rivera is in a horrible position here. Zhu smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zhu throwing strikes here but Rivera is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhu trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zhu looking to ground and pound but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Zhu throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Zhu looking to finish with strikes here!
Zhu lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Zhu thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
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 throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rivera is trying to stand.
Zhu throwing strikes here but Rivera is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Zhu misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Zhu is landing with some decent strikes but Rivera is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Zhu there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Zhu misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Zhu misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Zhu punching from mount but Rivera doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Zhu there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Zhu is landing with some decent strikes but Rivera is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Zhu punching from mount but Rivera doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Zhu there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Zhu throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Rivera because Zhu loaded up on that one.
Rivera is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Rivera blocking the ground and pound.
Rivera is in a horrible position here. Zhu smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Zhu punishing his opponent with strikes.
Zhang Zhu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhu looking to ground and pound but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Zhu has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rivera's face.
Zhu sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Zhu lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Zhu cracks Rivera with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Zhu throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Zhu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rivera can do to turn this around?
Zhu trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Angel Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zhu controlling his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zhu seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rivera for as long as he can get away with.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhang Zhu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zhu, 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:26
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:26
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhang Zhu!
Zhang Zhu managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, BioPharm Nutrition, into his post fight interview.