PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Giovanni Nicodemo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zang Zhai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhai has chosen Sampans as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nicodemo
vs
Zhai

170 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

169 cm
24
146 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Voodoo Nutrition
Bullet Proof System

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 Helsinki, Giovanni Nicodemo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Zang Zhai!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicodemo throws a solid leg kick but Zhai takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Nicodemo.
Zhai let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Nicodemo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nicodemo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nicodemo scores with a hook to the body. Zhai takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nicodemo lands the left hand.
Nicodemo sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Zhai listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Zhai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zhai throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Zhai avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nicodemo scores with a jab to the head.
A jab lands there for Nicodemo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhai looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A counter left hand to the body from Nicodemo misses its target.
Nicodemo throws the left hand but Zhai avoids the punch easily.
Zhai feints a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Nicodemo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nicodemo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zhai. Zhai obviously looking to wear him down.
Nicodemo misses with a series of wild punches.
Nicodemo tries to land a front kick but Zhai steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nicodemo misses with a right hand
and Zhai counters with a nice body kick.
Zhai looks to land a right hand but Nicodemo moved out of range.
Jab by Nicodemo.
Nicodemo darts in trying to clinch
and Zhai counters with a body kick.
Nicodemo misses with a looping right.
Zhai uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A low kick from Zhai is predictable there
and Nicodemo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicodemo uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zhai has time to react.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nicodemo throws a right hand that misses
and Zhai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A clash of legs there as Nicodemo blocks the low kick.
Zhai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Nicodemo's sensitive parts.

Nicodemo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zhai blocks an elbow strike from Nicodemo.
Zhai tries to land knees in the clinch but Nicodemo avoids the damage to the body.
Zhai lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nicodemo lands a shoulder strike.
A nice left hand lands by Zhai.

Zhai breaks the clinch.
Nicodemo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nicodemo looks to land a body kick but Zhai moved away.
A left lands for Nicodemo.
Nicodemo misses the shot to the body.
Nicodemo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicodemo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nicodemo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nicodemo swings for the body but Zhai moves out of range.
Nicodemo's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Nicodemo duly obliges.
Zhai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A quick step to the side and Nicodemo tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Nicodemo closes the distance and pushes Zhai back into the cage.
Zhai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice left hand lands by Zhai.
Nicodemo tries to work over Zhai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zhai lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nicodemo backwards.
Zhai lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice left hand lands by Zhai.
Nicodemo misses with a body punch.
Nicodemo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nicodemo being controlled against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nicodemo.
Nicodemo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicodemo swings wildly with an uppercut but Zhai uses good head movement to avoid it.

Zhai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zhai lands a nice hook to Nicodemo's body. Nicodemo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zhai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nicodemo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zhai.
Nicodemo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A jab lands there for Nicodemo.
It looks like Nicodemo has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Zhai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nicodemo throws an off balance right hand
and Zhai counters with a body kick that stops Nicodemo in his tracks momentarily.
Nicodemo fails to land with a series of punches.
Zhai lunges at Nicodemo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nicodemo's hand.
Zhai moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nicodemo is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nicodemo throws a poor cross that misses
and Zhai counters with a slapping leg kick.
No joy there for Nicodemo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nicodemo moves out of range as Zhai strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Giovanni Nicodemo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nicodemo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Zhai has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Zhai and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Zhai misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nicodemo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zhai connects with an inside leg kick.
Nicodemo throws a body shot but no joy.
Nicodemo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zhai has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
A punch combination from Nicodemo misses.
Nicodemo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Good exchange - Zhai coming out on top.
Nicodemo pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Zhai back to the cage. Nicodemo follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Giovanni Nicodemo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nicodemo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zhai can pounce on him.
Nicodemo tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nicodemo throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zhai digs a good hook to Nicodemo's body.
A big left from Zhai misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicodemo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nicodemo misses the shot to the body.
A slow jab from Zhai misses its intended target.
Nicodemo misses with an uppercut. Zhai saw that one coming.
Nicodemo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nicodemo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Zhai in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Nicodemo tries to close the distance and clinch but Zhai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zhai now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Zhai throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A little feinted left hand from Nicodemo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zhai scores with a punch to the head.
Zhai scores with a hook.

Nicodemo is rocked!
Nicodemo misses with a straight right.
A big left from Zhai misses.
Zhai lands a front kick.
Zhai ducks under a wild hook from Nicodemo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Nicodemo.
A jab from Nicodemo misses.
Nicodemo scores with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nicodemo throws a hook but Zhai blocks it.
A slow jab from Nicodemo misses its intended target.
Zhai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nicodemo.
Zhai lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Nicodemo rushes Zhai and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Zhai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nicodemo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nicodemo is looking to land body kicks.
Nicodemo backing away here, and Zhai unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Zhai throws a front kick aimed at Nicodemo's knee but Nicodemo avoids it well.
Nicodemo misses with a looping left.
Zhai misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicodemo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zhai.
Nicodemo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nicodemo. Zhai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zhai swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Zhai misses with a straight right.
Zhai connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zhai staying out of range there.
Nicodemo listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nicodemo cracks a nice hook into Zhai's ribs.
Zang Zhai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zhai misses with a body shot.
Zhai takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nicodemo throws an overhand right that lands on Zhai's shoulder, as Zhai tries to avoid the shot.
Nicodemo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zhai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zhai circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zhai fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nicodemo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicodemo misses the body punch
letting Zhai counter with a right hand.
Zhai throws a leg kick
and Nicodemo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nicodemo tries to clinch but Zhai is having none of it.
Zhai digs a good hook to Nicodemo's body.
Nicodemo sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Nicodemo jabs Zhai to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Zhai fakes the leg kick and cracks Nicodemo in the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nicodemo throws a leg kick that misses.
Nicodemo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Zhai misses with a hook.
Nicodemo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Nicodemo will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Zhai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nicodemo manages to avoid it.
Zhai throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nicodemo looks to land a left hand but Zhai moved out of range nicely.
Nicodemo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zhai under the eye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zang Zhai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Nicodemo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nicodemo lands a body shot.
Nicodemo clobbers Zhai with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nicodemo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nicodemo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zhai throws a push kick but Nicodemo slaps the foot to one side.
Nicodemo misses with a hook to the body
and Zhai counters with a thumping low kick.
Nicodemo doesn't manage to clinch there - Zhai circles away.
Nicodemo throws a one two combo.
Nicodemo darts in trying to clinch
letting Zhai counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nicodemo has managed to clinch.
Nicodemo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zhai misses with an elbow over the top.
Zhai with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zhai.
Zhai lands with a right to the head.

Zhai breaks from the clinch.
Zhai throws a body punch but Nicodemo moves out of range.
Zhai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nicodemo.
Nicodemo throws an overhand right that lands on Zhai's shoulder, as Zhai tries to avoid the shot.
Zhai connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nicodemo. Zhai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nicodemo backing away here, and Zhai unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Nicodemo clinches with his opponent.

Zhai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nicodemo throws a series of punches but Zhai moves out of range.
Good shot there by Zhai.
Nicodemo misses the jab.
Zhai throws a poor cross that misses
and Nicodemo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Zhai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nicodemo.

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!
Nicodemo takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zhai scores with a crisp jab that stopped Nicodemo in his tracks.
Nicodemo takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
No joy there for Nicodemo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nicodemo takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Decent striking displayed by Zhai there.
Oh Nicodemo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zhai scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Zhai with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nicodemo scores with a hook to the body. Zhai takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Zhai with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nicodemo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zhai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zhai appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Nicodemo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nicodemo wants to clinch
and Zhai counters with a nice body shot.
Nicodemo seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zhai.
Zhai throws an overhand right that lands on Nicodemo's shoulder, as Nicodemo tries to avoid the shot.
Nicodemo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zhai is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nicodemo with a body shot.
Nicodemo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zhai was well out of range. Poor timing from Nicodemo.
Zhai ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Zhai misses with a body kick.
Zhai ducks under a wild hook from Nicodemo.
Zhai lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nicodemo at a distance.
Nicodemo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zhai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A head kick misses from Zhai.
Nicodemo digs a good body shot into Zhai's ribs.
Zhai uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nicodemo moves into the clinch.
Zhai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
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!
Zhai pushes Nicodemo back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Zhai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zhai.
Zhai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nicodemo blocks a head kick by Zhai.
Zhai wants to slow Nicodemo down by chopping away at his legs.
Zhai lands with a hook. Nicodemo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Zhai avoids the body shot from Nicodemo.
Nicodemo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zhai is trying to counter with his kicks.
Nicodemo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nicodemo blocks a jab.
Nicodemo digs a good body shot into Zhai's ribs.
Nicodemo swinging wildly here.
And Zhai responds with a good body kick, but Nicodemo manages to step out the way in time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zang Zhai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zhai 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zang Zhai!
Zang Zhai thanked the fans post fight for their support.