PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zhang Chunqiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chunqiao comes to the cage accompanied by You Can't Be Friends With Everyone by MAKE OUT. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Chunqiao
vs
Maia

168 cm
26
150 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

176 cm
32
156 lbs
8 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zhang Chunqiao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Maia!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chunqiao lands with a right hand.
Chunqiao throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Chunqiao comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Chunqiao misses with a double jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Chunqiao.
Chunqiao connects with a body shot that sends Maia's belly button to the back.
Sloppy strikes from Chunqiao. Those never looked like landing.
Chunqiao swinging wildly here.
Chunqiao tests Maia's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Chunqiao misses with a lunging right hand
and Maia counters with a series of strikes. Chunqiao will be more careful next time no doubt.
Maia takes one to the side of the head.
Chunqiao throws a looping overhand right but Maia ducks down to avoid it.
We've been hearing reports that Chunqiao has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Chunqiao with a poor takedown
and Maia counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Chunqiao misses with the combination.
Chunqiao rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chunqiao throws out a powerful jab.
Chunqiao with a nice cross.
Chunqiao lands with an overhand left.
Maia is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Chunqiao throws a right hand that Maia ducks under and follows up with a left that Maia also avoids with ease.
Maia walks into a left hand.
Chunqiao connects with a right hand. Maia shakes it off.
Maia leaves Chunqiao with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhang Chunqiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chunqiao connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Chunqiao shoots in but no luck this time.
Chunqiao closes the distance and clinches up with Maia, looking for a takedown. Chunqiao pushes Maia against the cage but Maia circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Maia walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Chunqiao throws a lazy right hand but Maia sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A left and a right from Chunqiao both land. Nice combination.
A shot to the body from Chunqiao misses
and Maia counters with a left and a right that stings Chunqiao.
Chunqiao changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maia tries to avoid it but Chunqiao manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maia to the ground. Maia escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chunqiao with a jab.
Chunqiao goes for a double leg but Maia avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Maia continues to drive forward.
Chunqiao misses with a punch to the body.

Maia breaks the clinch.
Chunqiao dives in for a single leg takedown but Maia sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Maia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A jab lands there for Chunqiao.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chunqiao moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A jab from Chunqiao misses.
Maia has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Chunqiao throws a nice looking combination but Maia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Chunqiao dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Chunqiao fails to land with a series of punches.
Chunqiao tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Maia defends well and Chunqiao ends up having to push Maia into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Chunqiao tries to circle away but Maia has him pinned against the cage.

Maia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chunqiao swinging wildly here.
Chunqiao throws a right hand that Maia ducks under and follows up with a left that Maia also avoids with ease.
Chunqiao throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Maia's waist but Maia gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Chunqiao off to one side.
Nice uppercut there from Chunqiao.
Chunqiao scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chunqiao punishes Maia's body with a nice straight punch.
Chunqiao uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Maia has time to react.
Chunqiao misses with a straight left.
Chunqiao throws out a loose jab but Maia uses good head movement to avoid it.
John Maia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maia dodges the punch combination from Chunqiao.
Zhang Chunqiao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice jab there from Chunqiao.
Chunqiao misses with a body shot.
Chunqiao looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhang Chunqiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Maia has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Maia uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chunqiao.
Maia steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Chunqiao.
Zhang Chunqiao is winning the standup battle so far.
Maia slips a straight right by Chunqiao.
Maia takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Chunqiao takes a swing at Maia's ribcage but misses.
Maia avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Chunqiao misses with a body shot
and Maia counters with a nice kick to the body.
Zhang Chunqiao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia dodges the punch combination from Chunqiao.
Chunqiao catches Maia with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Chunqiao is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Chunqiao fails to land with a series of punches.
Chunqiao throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maia.
Chunqiao scores with the left hand. Maia knows he should have avoided that one.
Chunqiao rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Chunqiao throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Chunqiao. Those never looked like landing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chunqiao misses with a takedown attempt
and Maia counters with a body kick that stops Chunqiao in his tracks momentarily.
Chunqiao throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Chunqiao misses with a straight right.
Chunqiao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maia circles away quickly and effectively.
Chunqiao throws a nice looking combination but Maia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Chunqiao misses with a two punch combination.
Chunqiao misses with a double jab.
Maia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Chunqiao.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Chunqiao dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Chunqiao is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maia.
The fighters circling - Chunqiao throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Chunqiao misses with the combination.
A big right from Chunqiao misses.
Chunqiao tries for a takedown but Maia circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Maia doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Chunqiao misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chunqiao getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Chunqiao misses with the combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chunqiao misses the jab.
Chunqiao shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maia counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Chunqiao throws a right hand that Maia ducks under and follows up with a left that Maia also avoids with ease.
Chunqiao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chunqiao stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zhang Chunqiao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Chunqiao misses.
Chunqiao misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Maia makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Chunqiao misses with a jab, cross combination.
Maia avoids a punch combination nicely.
Chunqiao throws a right hand that Maia ducks under and follows up with a left that Maia also avoids with ease.
Maia ducks under a wild hook from Chunqiao.
Chunqiao looks to land a combination but Maia avoids it well.
John Maia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Maia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Chunqiao throws out the jab.
A jab from Chunqiao finds it's way through Maia's defenses.
Chunqiao throws a series of punches but Maia avoids them all with ease.
Maia slips under a jab.
Chunqiao lands with an uppercut that bounces Maia off the cage and back into range.
Chunqiao catches Maia with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Maia walks into a straight right hand from Chunqiao.
Chunqiao fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maia avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhang Chunqiao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chunqiao lands a jab to the nose.
Maia steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Chunqiao.
Chunqiao uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Chunqiao fails to land with a series of punches.
Chunqiao works Maia's body with a nice hook.
Chunqiao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhang Chunqiao showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Chunqiao, 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhang Chunqiao!
Zhang Chunqiao bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.