PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Robledo Puch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zang Zhai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Puch might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Breathe. Zhai has chosen Sampans as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Puch
vs
Zhai

170 cm
34
155 lbs
39 - 16 - 2

169 cm
28
146 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

House of Valor
Hellbent

Bullet Proof System
Voodoo Nutrition

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 39 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Robledo Puch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Zang Zhai!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puch ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A jab from Puch does it's job there.
Puch takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Puch throws a body punch but Zhai moves out of range.
Puch looks to land a left hand but Zhai moved out of range nicely.
Puch misses with a wild combination.
We've been informed that Zhai has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Zhai connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhai misses with a straight left.
Zhai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zhai takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puch throws a body shot but no joy.
Zhai slips a jab from Puch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zhai! But no joy.
Zhai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Puch.
Zhai ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Puch wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Puch misses with a body shot.
Puch on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Puch swings for the body but Zhai moves out of range.
Puch shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zhai as he avoids it easily.
Puch is looking to wear down Zhai with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Zhai's jab looks to have found its range, popping Puch under the eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhai lands with an overhand left.
Puch has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Valhalla Training Camp in the buildup to the fight.
Puch keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zhai.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Puch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Puch checks a leg kick.
Puch throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zhai counters with a low kick, right behind Puch 's knee.
Zhai blocks a jab.
Zang Zhai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Puch connects with a right hand. Zhai shakes it off.
Zhai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Puch tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zhai swivels and escapes.
Zhai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Puch was well out of range. Poor timing from Zhai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puch takes a swing at Zhai's ribcage but misses.
Zhai defending well as Puch loads up on a big left hand.
Robledo Puch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Puch feints and as Zhai raises his hands in defense, Puch changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Puch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zhai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Puch works over Zhai with some ground and pound from guard.
Puch landing some decent shots from guard.
Puch scoring with some ground and pound.
Puch throwing strikes from guard but Zhai blocks nicely.
Zhai has momentary wrist control but Puch slips an elbow through the middle.
Zhai keeping moving, preventing Puch from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhai keeping full guard, as Puch tries to pass.
Zhai is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Puch throws a big elbow that misses.
Puch has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zhai keeping full guard, as Puch tries to pass.
Puch with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Puch postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Puch throwing strikes but missing.
Zhai looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Puch distracts Zhai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robledo Puch dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Puch throws a predictable looking body shot
and Zhai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Puch lands with a shot to the body.
Puch misses with a left hand
and Zhai makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Puch misses the body punch
and Zhai counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Puch darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Puch lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Zhai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Puch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puch swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zhai.
Puch throws a hook but Zhai blocks it.
Puch moves out of range of the strikes.
Puch drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zhai sprawls and moves away.
Zhai misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puch pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Puch takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Puch shoots in but no luck this time.
Zhai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Puch scores with a jab to the body.
Zhai takes one on the button.
Zhai throws out a loose jab but Puch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Puch misses with a left hand
and Zhai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zhai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Puch throws a hook but Zhai blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhai shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Puch appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Zhai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Puch shoots in for a takedown but Zhai shows good takedown defense.
Zhai shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Puch tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zhai sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Puch somewhat.
Zhai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robledo Puch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zhai throws out a powerful jab.
Zhai moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puch misses with a wild body shot.
Zhai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Zhai lands with an uppercut that bounces Puch off the cage and back into range.
Puch with a poor takedown
and Zhai counters with a stiff right hand.
Zhai wants to slow Puch down by chopping away at his legs.
A low kick from Zhai is predictable there

and Puch counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Zhai pushes Puch off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zhai moves out of range of the strikes.
Zhai fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Puch on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Zang Zhai seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puch staying out of range there.
A lazy left from Puch finds it's target.
Zhai tries to land a leg kick but Puch saw it coming and moves away.
Puch tries to counter with a takedown but Zhai is quick to defend against it.
Puch fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zhai looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Puch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Puch uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zhai has time to react.
Puch slips a straight right by Zhai.
Puch attempts a counter takedown but Zhai avoids it well and moves away.
Puch throws a sloppy body shot
and Zhai counters with a nice uppercut.
Zhai lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Puch with a hook.
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! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Puch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zhai moves away.
Zhai misses with a double jab.
Puch connects with a body shot that sends Zhai's belly button to the back.
Puch connects with a jab.
Zhai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Puch shoots in and drives through. Zhai sprawls well.
Puch bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Zhai's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puch throws a right hand that misses
and Zhai counters with a good, hard body kick but Puch shrugs it off.
Puch misses with a body shot.
Good work by Puch as he checks the leg kick.
Puch tries to counter with a takedown but Zhai is quick to defend against it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zhai. That's going to slow Puch down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhai misses with a looping right.
A telegraphed right hand from Zhai misses the target.
Zhai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zhai throws a looping overhand right but Puch ducks down to avoid it.
Puch drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zhai sprawls and moves away.
Puch lands with a right hand.
Zhai swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Puch counters with a shoot takedown. Zhai fights it but they end up in guard.
Zhai controlling the position.
Zhai is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puch is in close to Zhai's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zhai controlling Puch's posture.
Puch throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Puch landing with the ground and pound.
Puch working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zhai's head.
Puch looking to pass the guard.
Zhai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Puch.
Puch working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zhai's head.
Zhai looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puch distracts Zhai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Puch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Puch loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Puch looking to sit in guard and control but Zhai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zhai wants to control from the top but Puch keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Puch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zhai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Puch wants to sweep here but Zhai controlling him for the moment.

Puch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zhai stopping the sweep attempt from Puch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Puch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Zhai has gone for a leg lock! Puch slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zhai's guard.

Puch with a flurry of punches that miss.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zhai holds on and takes a little breather.
Puch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Puch throws a big right hand that misses.
Zhai trying to keep a closed guard but Puch is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robledo Puch showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Puch has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robledo Puch!
An out of breath Robledo Puch thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.