PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Link Durham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xin Zhao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhao has chosen Heart Of Courage as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Durham
vs
Zhao

185 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
204 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Link Durham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Xin Zhao!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durham misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Durham misses with a two punch combination.

Zhao closes the distance and clinches.
Durham swings wildly with an uppercut but Zhao uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zhao prevents Durham from breaking the clinch.
Durham is trying to force a seperation but Zhao has the dominant position.

Zhao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Durham swinging wildly here.

Zhao clinches up against the cage.
Durham tries to break free but Zhao pushes him back against the cage.

Zhao manages to break the clinch.
Link Durham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhao lands a head kick. Durham smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Durham gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Zhao counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
No joy there for Durham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A jab from Durham misses.
Durham tries to clinch but Zhao moves out of range.
Durham misses with a wild combination.
Durham throws a right and a left that Zhao avoids nicely.
Durham throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Zhao counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Durham is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Zhao closes the distance and clinches.
Durham looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Durham drops down looking for an ankle pick but Zhao pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zhao uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhao tries a head kick but it misses.
Zhao looks for a takedown but Durham sprawls well.

Zhao shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Durham is trying to defend but Zhao finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Zhao prevents Durham from standing back up.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Durham tries to roll over but Zhao keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhao seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Xin Zhao was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Durham misses with a kick to the body
and Zhao counters with a nice body kick.
Durham is breathing heavily.

Zhao shoots in and bounces Durham off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zhao's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Xin Zhao hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Durham falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zhao counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zhao.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zhao decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zhao.
Zhao controlling the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Zhao stands up and beckons Durham to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xin Zhao dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Durham takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Durham jabs Zhao right on the nose. Zhao blinks but takes it well.

It looks like Xin Zhao has been cut.
Durham rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zhao moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Durham swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zhao counters with a big head kick but Durham shrugs it off.
Durham throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zhao counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Durham.
Nice takedown defense from Zhao. No joy for Durham on that attempt.
Zhao thuds his shin into the meat of Durham's side.
Zhao misses with a takedown attempt - Durham sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zhao throws a head kick that half lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zhao moves into range and clinches up with Durham.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zhao pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Zhao closes the distance and pushes Durham back into the cage.
Durham wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zhao blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zhao with a knee to the head.
Durham is trying to break the clinch but Zhao is controlling him.
Durham tries to circle away but Zhao has him pinned against the cage.
Durham wants to get back to striking at distance but Zhao won't allow it.
Durham is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Zhao pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Durham darts in and clinches Zhao up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durham wants to break the clinch but can't.
Durham wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zhao has him pressed against the cage.
Durham looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Zhao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Xin Zhao seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Durham throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Durham takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Durham misses with an uppercut

and Zhao counters by moving into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Durham has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Zhao escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Durham gets tackled into the cage by Zhao. Zhao maintains the clinch.
Zhao keeps control of Durham as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Zhao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Link Durham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhao jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Durham walks away with a smile on his face. Zhao gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Link Durham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xin Zhao.
Durham shoots in for a double leg but Zhao sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zhao buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zhao lands with a nice body kick.
Zhao wants to clinch.

Zhao scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Durham is looking to reverse the position.
Zhao working the ground and pound but Durham is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durham takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Durham is looking for a sweep.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zhao stands up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fight stays on the outside here - Zhao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xin Zhao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Xin Zhao's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Durham gets caught napping as Zhao dives in and scores a takedown. Durham manages to retain guard.
Durham is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Durham throws a combination that misses
and Zhao counters with a nice body kick.
Zhao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Durham.
Durham is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Durham misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zhao throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zhao connects with a high kick.
Zhao throws a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zhao throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Durham.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Durham misses with a combination
and Zhao counters with a head kick. That will keep Durham thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Zhao throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Durham is rocked!

Zhao clinches with his opponent.

Zhao manages to break the clinch.
Zhao throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Durham throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zhao counters with a nice body kick.
Zhao moves in looking to clinch but Durham pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zhao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Durham tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Zhao cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durham takes a kick to the side of the head.
Zhao closes this distance looking for a takedown but Durham circles away.
Durham falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zhao counters with a good low kick that Durham was not able to check.
Durham looks to clinch
and Zhao counters with a leg kick.
Zhao fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Durham has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Zhao shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Durham is trying to defend but Zhao finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Durham is trying to stand up here but Zhao is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhao stands up out of the half guard.
Zhao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zhao throws a head kick that Durham semi-blocks.

Durham drives through and clinches with Zhao against the cage.
Durham working hard to break the clinch.
A knee to the head by Zhao.

Zhao manages to break the clinch.

Zhao clinches with his opponent.
Durham wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durham fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Zhao manages to break the clinch.
A head kick from Zhao lands but Durham takes it in his stride.
Durham swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zhao counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zhao delivers a nice body kick.
Link Durham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Durham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durham falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zhao counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Durham will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Zhao throws a head kick that Durham semi-blocks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zhao plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Xin Zhao is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zhao connects with a body shot that sends Durham's belly button to the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xin Zhao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zhao has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xin Zhao!
A very excited looking Xin Zhao made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.