PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kira Miyata (ranked 200 p4p, 22 weight class) and Zang Zhai (ranked 195 p4p, 21 weight class). Miyata comes to the cage accompanied by Boa - Energetic. Zhai has chosen Sampans as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Miyata
vs
Zhai

171 cm
38
153 lbs
36 - 23 - 0

169 cm
29
146 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

KAISER Nutrition - Q160
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 36 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kira Miyata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Zang Zhai!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miyata staying out of range there.
Zhai ducks under a wild hook from Miyata.
Zhai wants to clinch but Miyata slips to the side
and Miyata counters with a straight right hand.
Zhai takes one to the chin there.
A jab from Miyata does it's job there.
Zhai swinging wildly here.
Miyata changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Zhai throws a leg kick

and Miyata counters with a takedown into side control.

Zhai throws Miyata to one side and escapes!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhai looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Zhai ducks under a wild hook from Miyata.
Zhai misses with a hook.
Miyata misses with a wild body shot.
Zhai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Miyata tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zhai was well out of range. Poor timing from Miyata.
Zhai doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyata bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zhai tries to move into range but Miyata moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Miyata dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Miyata connects with a single shot there.
Zhai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zhai flicks out a counter leg kick but Miyata steps away.
Miyata scores with a jab.
Miyata lands a nice shot that snaps Zhai's head back.
Zhai throws a hook to the side of Miyata's head but Miyata sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A bone on bone clash there as Miyata blocks the leg kick.
Miyata throws a jab but it's blocked by Zhai.
Zhai swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Miyata scores with the left hand. Zhai knows he should have avoided that one.
Miyata has been working on his boxing with his coaches at LOD: Lightning Kicks (MaxID290K) in the buildup to the fight.
The fighters circling - Zhai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zhai throws a head kick that half lands.
Miyata is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhai looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zhai takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Miyata throws a body punch but Zhai moves out of range.
Miyata moves out of range of the strikes.
Miyata throws a body punch but Zhai moves out of range.
Miyata throws a hook to the side of Zhai's head but Zhai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Miyata throws a big shot that misses.
Zhai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Miyata. Zhai does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big right from Miyata misses.
Zhai misses with a leg kick.
Miyata throws out a powerful jab.
Miyata misses with a hook to the body
and Zhai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyata scores with a crisp jab that stopped Zhai in his tracks.
Miyata throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Miyata.
Zhai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zhai swings for the body but Miyata moves out of range.
Miyata appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Zhai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Miyata sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Miyata misses with a shot to the body
and Miyata takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Miyata misses with a looping right.
Miyata moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromZhai.
Zhai lands a leg kick that knocks Miyata off balance momentarily.
Decent striking displayed by Miyata there.
Miyata connects with an inside leg kick.
Miyata misses with a takedown attempt
and Zhai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zhai ducks under a wild hook from Miyata.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhai throws a right hand that misses

and Miyata counters with a single leg into guard. Zhai didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Miyata landing with the ground and pound.
Miyata trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zhai managing to control the position.
Miyata looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kira Miyata dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Miyata throws the left hand but Zhai avoids the punch easily.
Kira Miyata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Miyata cracks Zhai with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Zhai moves forwards but Miyata connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Zhai dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zhai throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zhai defending well as Miyata loads up on a big left hand.
Miyata pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Miyata fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miyata fails with the takedown

and Zhai holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Zhai is trying to stall.
Miyata blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhai prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kira Miyata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miyata is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Miyata is looking to take this one to the mat.
Miyata throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zhais head.
Miyata tries for a takedown but Zhai manages to get underhooks.
Miyata blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zhai digs a right hand into Miyata's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Miyata's gas tank.
Zhai working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Zhai lands a shoulder strike.
Miyata misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Zhai fails to land.
Miyata swings wildly with an uppercut but Zhai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zhai scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A right hook to the body lands for Zhai.
Zhai working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Miyata breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zhai connects with a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Miyata throws out a loose jab but Zhai uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyata blocks a jab.
Miyata drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zhai sprawls and moves away.
Zhai lands a head kick!

It looks like Kira Miyata has been cut.
Miyata throws a body shot but no joy.
Miyata moves away from the strike by Zhai.
The fighters circling - Miyata throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zhai now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Zhai throws a jab but it's blocked by Miyata.
Miyata appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Miyata throws a hook but Zhai avoids it easily.
Miyata throws a lazy uppercut
and Zhai counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Miyata stuns Zhai with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Zhai moves out of range of the strikes.
Zhai looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Miyata misses with an uppercut
and Zhai counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Miyata lands a really nice looking cross but Zhai seems unphased.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai takes one to the side of the head.
Miyata motions for Zhai to come forward. Miyata throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zhai staying out of range there.
Zhai stuffs the takedown.
Miyata throws a jab but it's blocked by Zhai.
Zhai swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Miyata ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zhai moves away.
Zhai looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zhai doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Miyata shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zhai sprawls well. Zhai wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Miyata gets slowly back to his feet.
Miyata throws a predictable looking body shot
and Zhai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Miyata misses the shot to the body.
Zhai ducks under a wild hook from Miyata.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miyata misses with a wild body shot.
A head kick misses from Zhai.
Miyata throwing a counter right hand but Zhai manages to avoid it.
Miyata thuds a left hand into Zhai's body.
Miyata uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zhai.
Zhai swings for the body but Miyata moves out of range.
A quick step to the side and Miyata tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Miyata connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zhai momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhai misses with an uppercut. Miyata saw that one coming.
Miyata tries to counter with a takedown but Zhai is quick to defend against it.
Zang Zhai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zhai walks into a jab.
Miyata misses with a right hand
and Zhai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zhai connects with the punch.
Zhai checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Zhai ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
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.
The cut man is working on Kira Miyata's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zhai doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zhai lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Miyata ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Miyata connects with a body shot.
Zhai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Miyata misses with a hook. Zhai ducked under it nicely.
A big left from Zhai misses.
Zhai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Miyata misses with a body punch
and Zhai counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miyata throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Miyata swings widly with a right hand

and Zhai counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A short left from Zhai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyata drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zhai.
Zhai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zhai lands with a light punch inside.
Zhai taking a breather.
Zhai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Miyata is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zhai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zhai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

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

Miyata decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Miyata looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zhai with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kira Miyata overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zhai makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zhai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhai looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Miyata stays in close to Zhai's body and controls the position.
Zhai has control of Miyata's left arm, preventing Miyata from doing any damage.
Miyata trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhai wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Zhai wants to control but Miyata passes easily into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyata wants to take a breather but Zhai is having none of it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Miyata prevents Zhai from improving his position.
Zhai avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Miyata.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zhai cracks a nice hook into Miyata's ribs.
Zhai lands with an uppercut that bounces Miyata off the cage and back into range.

Miyata manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Zhai on his heels. He'll look to pass Zhai's guard now, I'm sure.
Zhai avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zhai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Miyata looking to pass the guard.
Miyata loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhai keeping moving, preventing Miyata from controlling successfully.
Zhai looking to control but Miyata passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zang Zhai.
I think Zhai has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 29:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

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