PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jay Zol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yang Xinhai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xinhai has chosen Loco as his entrance music. Jay Zol could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Yang Xinhai's chin.

Zol
vs
Xinhai

170 cm
32
148 lbs
17 - 17 - 1

169 cm
30
143 lbs
18 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jay Zol!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yang Xinhai!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zol changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Xinhai looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Zol trying to control the position but Xinhai is working away.
Xinhai tries to buck Zol off but Zol is having none of it.
Zol staying calm.
Xinhai tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zol is looking to take a break and control but Xinhai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zol taking a break here but Xinhai is having none of it and regains half guard.
Xinhai wants to improve his position but Zol is controlling well.
Xinhai keeps trying to improve his position.
Zol tries to pass the half guard into mount. Xinhai knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Zol wants to take a breather but Xinhai is having none of it.
Xinhai tries to get to full guard but Zol has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zol is pressing down on Xinhai's thigh, looking to free his foot. Xinhai is holding on for now.
Zol seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Xinhai does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zol trying to mount his opponent but Xinhai defends it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Zol dives in and grabs Xinhai's left leg, looking for a takedown. Xinhai pushes down on Zol's head and hops out.
Xinhai raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Xinhai. Zol shrugs it off though.
Zol tries for a takedown but Xinhai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Zol looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Xinhai!
Xinhai is looking for a sweep.
Zol wants to control but Xinhai is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zol is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Xinhai is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Zol looking to control but instead Xinhai has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zol in particular looking to stall.
Zol is looking to advance position but Xinhai won't allow it.
Xinhai is staying active underneath Zol, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Xinhai tries to get to full guard but Zol has control of the leg.
Zol is trying to control the action in half guard but Xinhai is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zol controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zol tries to pass the half guard into mount. Xinhai knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zol fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Zol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xinhai throws a leg kick but Zol moved away.
Xinhai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Yang Xinhai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zol darts in looking for a takedown but Xinhai gets double underhooks and turns Zol into the cage.
Zol displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Xinhai throws out the jab.
Zol appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zol looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Xinhai!
Xinhai is trying to improve his position.
A lull in the action here as Zol stalls from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Zol dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zol checks a leg kick.

Xinhai tries to sprawl but Zol drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Zol trying to control the pace.
Zol is looking to stall here but Xinhai recovers full guard.
Xinhai wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zol showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xinhai keeping moving, preventing Zol from controlling successfully.
Xinhai bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zol's guard.

Zol keeping moving, preventing Xinhai from controlling successfully.
Zol is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Xinhai can do to turn this around?

Zol is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Xinhai presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Xinhai wants to take the fight to the mat but Zol manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Xinhai gets through Zol's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zol has Xinhai pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Xinhai manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Zol has picked Xinhai up - he's going for a ride! Zol dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Zol tries to pass the half guard into mount. Xinhai knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Xinhai is not content to let Zol control the position.

Xinhai has one foot on Zol's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xinhai throws a head kick that misses.
Zol shoots and misses
and Xinhai counters with a two punch combo.
A bone on bone clash there as Zol blocks the leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zol is defended easily by Xinhai.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Zol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xinhai is looking to score with low kicks.
Zol fails with a takedown attempt.
Jay Zol is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zol shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Xinhai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Whack! Xinhai lands a heavy head kick that drops Zol. The ref tackles Xinhai to stop the fight - a great save by the referee because Zol was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Yang Xinhai!
An out of breath and clearly excited Yang Xinhai thanked Worldwide Nutrition (160q) for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).