PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Yoda Fairtex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Li Zhou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhou has chosen Title Fight - Your Pain Is Mine Now as his entrance music. Li Zhou told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Fairtex
vs
Zhou

173 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Excellent MT
Granite chin

Brawler
Solid chin

Venom Combat Sports

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoda Fairtex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Li Zhou!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fairtex misses with a series of wild punches.
Fairtex is looking to clinch but Zhou is avoiding it.
Good leg kick by Fairtex there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Zhou has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Fairtex feints a jab promting Zhou to slip. Fairtex then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Zhou slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Fairtex is looking to clinch but Zhou is avoiding it.
Fairtex missing with a left hand there. Zhou was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Zhou clinches up with Fairtex and pushes him back against the ropes.
Zhou tries to work over Fairtex's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Come on Zhou - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Zhou stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fairtex swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Zhou.
Zhou scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Yoda Fairtex has been cut.
Fairtex letting Zhou take a breather here.
Zhou trying to land knees to the body.
Zhou avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairtex throws a punch but it's blocked by Zhou.
Fairtex being controlled against the ropes.
Fairtex throws a head punch that misses.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Zhou takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Zhou scores with a hook to the body.
Fairtex is breathing heavily.
Zhou gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Fairtex avoids a wild elbow strike from Zhou.
Zhou crunches a lovely knee into Fairtex's ribcage.
Zhou lands an elbow inside that Fairtex shrugs off.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zhou.
Fairtex misses with the head strike.
Zhou lands with a light punch inside.
Fairtex tries to stall but Zhou uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhou creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Fairtex's defenses.
Zhou tries a knee to the head but Fairtex blocks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fairtex misses with the head strike.
Zhou misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fairtex.
Zhou stalls.
Zhou with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Zhou takes a shot to the head.
Zhou creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Zhou lands a shoulder strike.
Zhou lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zhou has Fairtex pressed against the ropes, preventing Fairtex from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zhou keeps control of Fairtex as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zhou manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
I was talking to Fairtex's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Zhou stalling against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Zhou dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yoda Fairtex's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Fairtex throws a lazy right hand but Zhou sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fairtex lands with a cross.
Zhou throws a sloppy head kick and Fairtex moves out of range easily.
Fairtex scores with a shot to the body.
Zhou throws a sloppy head kick and Fairtex moves out of range easily.
Fairtex tries to land a leg kick but Zhou saw it coming and moves away.
Zhou throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zhou steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fairtex.
Jab, jab by Fairtex - just one landing.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Fairtex. Zhou shrugs it off though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhou takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Fairtex fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zhou has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Fairtex finds it's way round the side to connect with Zhou's head.

Zhou moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhou pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Zhou creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhou slowing the pace effectively.
A knee to the head by Zhou.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Fairtex tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zhou's elbow.
Fairtex blocks an elbow strike.
Zhou has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fairtex wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zhou has him pressed against the ropes.
Zhou looking to slow down the pace here.
Fairtex misses with some punches.
Zhou with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Zhou effectively controlling the action here.
Zhou with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Fairtex misses with a punch on the inside.
Zhou lands an elbow that stopped Fairtex in his tracks for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhou blocking some punches.
Zhou is struggling to control the position.
Zhou misses with an elbow strike.
Fairtex lands with a right to the head.
Fairtex fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Li Zhou seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zhou slowing the pace effectively.
Zhou pushes Fairtex back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Zhou's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Fairtex manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhou misses with a body shot.
Fairtex swinging wildly here.
Fairtex takes a kick to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Li Zhou will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Yoda Fairtex's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Fairtex takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Zhou pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fairtex chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fairtex thumps Zhou with a low kick.
Yoda Fairtex is winning the standup battle so far.
Fairtex tries to close the distance and clinch but Zhou swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fairtex slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Fairtex jabs at Zhou's body.
Zhou checks a leg kick.

Zhou clinches with his opponent.
Fairtex on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhou using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fairtex has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zhou digs a right hand underneath Fairtex's ribcage. Fairtex let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fairtex takes a knee to the side of the body.
Zhou lands an elbow that stopped Fairtex in his tracks for a moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhou trying to land knees to the body.
Zhou leaning his opponent against the ropes.
A hook to the body from Zhou.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhou lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Zhou's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Zhou lands a knee to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Zhou.
Zhou landing knees to the body.
Fairtex blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zhou tries to land knees in the clinch but Fairtex avoids the damage to the body.
Zhou lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zhou gets through Fairtex's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zhou lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Zhou avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Zhou.
Fairtex fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zhou lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhou stalling the fight.
Zhou throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Zhou using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fairtex has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Zhou.
Fairtex lands a nice uppercut.
Zhou content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Li Zhou.
A jab lands there for Zhou.
A big left from Zhou misses.
Zhou throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice body kick from Fairtex.
Fairtex misses with an uppercut. Zhou saw that one coming.
Fairtex slips under a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Zhou really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yoda Fairtex's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fairtex loads up on a big right hand but Zhou slips the punch.
Fairtex lands with a slapping head kick.
Zhou throws a poor cross that misses
and Fairtex cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fairtex sizes up Zhou with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Fairtex tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zhou swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zhou avoids a kick to the body.

Zhou rushes Fairtex and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zhou.
Fairtex is looking to break free of the clinch but Zhou has double underhooks.
A shot in the inside from Fairtex.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zhou.
Zhou tries to land knees in the clinch but Fairtex avoids the damage to the body.
Zhou just leaning against Fairtex, taking a breather.
A knee to the head by Zhou.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short right from Zhou on the inside.
Zhou just leaning against Fairtex, taking a breather.
Zhou avoiding damage.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhou lands a left hand.
Fairtex tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fairtex is looking to break free of the clinch but Zhou has double underhooks.
Zhou manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Fairtex blocks an elbow strike.
Zhou lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zhou - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zhou's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Li Zhou.

Zhou has Fairtex up against the ropes in a clinch.
A short uppercut from Zhou.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhou creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Zhou landing knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
A head punch on the inside from Fairtex fails to land.
Zhou unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Zhou leaning against his opponent.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Zhou throws an elbow but misses.
Zhou lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhou pushes Fairtex back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fairtex fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zhou softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Zhou tries to land a knee to the head but Fairtex blocks with his arms.
Zhou lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Zhou dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Yoda Fairtex's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Zhou closes the distance and clinches.
Yoda Fairtex has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zhou is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fairtex is defending well for now.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fairtex.
Fairtex wants to stall.
Zhou content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Fairtex is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Fairtex misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zhou avoiding damage.
Zhou taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fairtex is trying to break free.
Zhou lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fairtex backwards.

Zhou drops Fairtex with a big knee! Will Fairtex beat the count? Yep, he's up already and we're only at 3... let's see if he's just faking it or if he's actually OK.

Fairtex is rocked!
Fairtex avoids the head kick by Zhou.
Oh Fairtex is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhou checks a leg kick nicely.
Fairtex seems to have got his legs back now.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Fairtex looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Zhou darts in and clinches Fairtex up against the ropes.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zhou - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Zhou looking to throw knees to the head but Fairtex is blocking nicely.
Fairtex taking a breather.
Fairtex stalling.
Fairtex is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Fairtex swings wildly with an uppercut but Zhou uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zhou stalling the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex swings wildly with an uppercut but Zhou uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zhou misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fairtex.
Zhou tries a knee to the head but Fairtex blocks it.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Zhou throws an elbow but misses.
Fairtex is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zhou is keeping busy.
Zhou lands with a light punch inside.
Li Zhou is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fairtex misses with a punch on the inside.
Knees to the body from Zhou.
Knees to the body from Zhou.
A short uppercut from Zhou.
A short right from Zhou.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhou misses with a knee strike.
Zhou lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

And that's the end of the fight!
Li Zhou comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zhou 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 44:50
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 45:49
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Li Zhou!