PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leka Leuhka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zoe Zhang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Leka Leuhka has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Leka Leuhka seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Leuhka
vs
Zhang

180 cm
21
244 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leka Leuhka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zoe Zhang!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Leuhka drives through and clinches with Zhang against the cage.
Zhang landing knees to the head.

It looks like Leka Leuhka has been cut.
Zhang wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Leuhka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Leuhka jumps guard but Zhang turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Leuhka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zhang using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zhang keeps control of Leuhka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zhang scores a nice knee to the body.

Leuhka breaks the clinch.

Zhang has closed the distance and engaged Leuhka in a clinch.
Zhang is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Leuhka tries to break the clinch but Zhang is controlling the position.
Zhang missing with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhang lands a knee to the body.
Zhang missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zhang landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Zhang instigates a clinch.
Leuhka is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Zhang to keep the fight standing.
Leuhka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Leuhka has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zhang is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leka Leuhka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhang lands a good knee to the midsection. Leuhka won't want to take too many of those.
Leuhka takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zhang misses with a knee strike.
Leuhka is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zhang gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Leuhka breaks from the clinch.
Zhang wants to clinch.

Zhang has taken the fight to the clinch.
Leuhka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zhang.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zhang.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

Leuhka pulls guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zhang tries to free his leg and advance position but Leuhka is retaining full guard.
Leuhka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zhang won't allow Leuhka to get back to his feet.
Zhang advances position into side control!
Leuhka tries to bench press Zhang off him but Zhang keeps the position.

Leuhka throws Zhang to one side and escapes!
Zhang tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leuhka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zhang doesn't manage to clinch there - Leuhka circles away.
Zhang tries to clinch up.
Zoe Zhang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leuhka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zhang.
Zoe Zhang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leuhka shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zhang defends it nicely.
Zhang tries to close the distance and clinch but Leuhka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Zhang clinches.
Zhang unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zhang working Leuhka over with knees to the body.
Zhang presses Leuhka against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Zhang stalling against the cage.
Leuhka has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zhang tries to stall but Leuhka uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Zhang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Leuhka is defending well for now.
Leuhka fails to pull guard.
Leuhka goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zhang prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhang misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Leuhka.

Zhang breaks the clinch.
Leuhka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zhang's waist but Zhang gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Leuhka off to one side.
Leuhka misses with a body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhang tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Leuhka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zhang tries to clinch up

and Leuhka counters by moving into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Leuhka throws an elbow but misses.
Zhang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Leuhka is defending well for now.
Leuhka is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zhang gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Leuhka has Zhang pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zhang manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Leuhka wants to stall.
Zhang with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zoe Zhang dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leka Leuhka's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zhang tries to clinch up.
Leuhka thows a body shot but no joy.
Zhang fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Leuhka closes the distance and clinches up with Zhang, looking for a takedown. Leuhka pushes Zhang against the cage but Zhang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Leuhka throws a wild body kick that Zhang sees coming a mile off.
Leuhka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zhang tries to avoid it but Leuhka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zhang to the ground. Zhang escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zhang tries to close the distance and clinch up but Leuhka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leuhka misses with a low kick.
Zhang tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Leuhka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Leuhka on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Leuhka misses with some punches.

Zhang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leuhka swats away the attempt to clinch by Zhang.
Zhang tries to clinch there but Leuhka circles away.
Leuhka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leka Leuhka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhang wants to clinch but Leuhka slips to the side

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

Zhang scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Zhang is looking to clinch.
Zhang blocks a head kick by Leuhka.

Zhang clinches up with Leuhka and pushes him back against the cage.
Zhang unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
A knee to the head by Zhang.
Zhang lands a good knee to the midsection. Leuhka won't want to take too many of those.
Zhang just leaning against Leuhka, taking a breather.
Zhang misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Leuhka.

Leuhka jumps into guard, dragging Zhang to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Leuhka is working an open guard so Zhang takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Leuhka gets a clinch.
Zhang scores a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leuhka tries to pull guard but Zhang forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Leuhka is trying to break the clinch but Zhang has him pressed against the cage.
Zhang is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Leuhka takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zhang landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Zhang as the two fighters clinch.
Leuhka wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zhang has him pressed against the cage.
Zhang landing knees to the body.
Zhang with a knee to the head.
Zhang lands a knee to the body.
Leuhka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zhang avoids it.
Zhang tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zhang slows down the pace here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zhang obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhang scores with a knee to the head.
Leuhka has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zhang avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Leuhka jumps guard but Zhang turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Leuhka avoiding damage as Zhang throws knees to the body.
Zhang holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Zhang landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zhang working Leuhka over with knees to the body.
Zhang pressing his opponent against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zhang.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leuhka drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leuhka tries to pull guard but Zhang forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Leuhka jumps guard and drags Zhang to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Leuhka is looking to stand up but Zhang isn't so interested in that idea.
Zhang controls from within his opponent's guard.
Leuhka is trying to control the position but Zhang postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zoe Zhang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Leka Leuhka's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Zhang tries to clinch up but Leuhka circles away and keeps his distance.

Leuhka clinches with his opponent.
Zhang utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Zhang using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zhang connects with a nasty looking knee right to Leuhka's face.
Leuhka tries to circle away but Zhang has him pinned against the cage.
Zhang landing knees to the body.
Zhang pushes Leuhka back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Zhang using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Zhang manages to break the clinch.
Zhang doesn't manage to clinch there - Leuhka circles away.
Zhang tries to clinch but Leuhka is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zhang wants to clinch.

Leuhka clinches up with Zhang and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zhang obliges.
Zhang unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zhang gets underhooks to prevent Leuhka's takedown attempt.

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

Zhang instigates a clinch.
Zhang trying to land knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Zhang.
Zhang unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Leuhka is looking for a takedown.
Zhang working Leuhka over with knees to the body.

Zhang breaks the clinch.
Zhang tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leuhka paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Zhang rushes Leuhka and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Leuhka has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zhang avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leka Leuhka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

Zhang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zhang stuffs the takedown attempt from Leuhka. Leuhka gets slowly back to his feet.
Leuhka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zhang tries to clinch up.
Zhang is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leuhka swats away the attempt to clinch by Zhang.
Leuhka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zhang wants to clinch up but Leuhka keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zhang looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zhang fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zhang doesn't manage to clinch there - Leuhka circles away.
Zhang keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Leuhka.
Zhang tries to clinch up.
Zhang wants to clinch up but Leuhka keeps it at a distance.
Zhang tries to close the distance and clinch but Leuhka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Leuhka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zhang as he avoids it easily.
Leuhka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zhang is fending him off so far but Leuhka persists. Nope, Zhang circles away and we're back to standing.
Zhang tries to clinch up but Leuhka circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zhang looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Zhang clinches with his opponent.
Zhang works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Zhang working Leuhka over with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Zhang.
Zhang with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhang unloads a knee to the mid-section. Leuhka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Zhang lands a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zhang obliges.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhang using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zhang connects with a nasty looking knee right to Leuhka's face.
Zhang lands a knee to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zhang.
Knees to the body from Zhang.
Zhang scores a nice knee to the body.
Zhang connects with a knee to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Zhang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Leuhka shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zhang napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Leka Leuhka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zoe Zhang is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zhang manages to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zoe Zhang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zhang winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zoe Zhang!