PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Afa Sila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Zong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sila
vs
Zong

173 cm
20
163 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
160 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Afa Sila!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zhang Zong!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zong doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sila counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Zong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sila is stalling in the full guard.
Zong trying to keep a closed guard but Sila is proving a slippery customer.

Sila thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Zong trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

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

Sila avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sila's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sila pushes down on Zong's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Zong actively working from the bottom here.
Zong tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Sila has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sila looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sila looking for a guillotine from mount but Zong is having none of it.
Sila controlling his opponent.
Zong is just holding on here. Sila manages to take his back.
Zong wants to escape the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sila working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Zong is doing well to defend. Sila seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Zong is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Afa Sila!
Afa Sila retains his lightweight title!
Afa Sila really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Mango Nutrition logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.