PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Solomon Slater (ranked 2203 p4p, 222 weight class) and Wang Qiang (ranked 2849 p4p, 271 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Slater
vs
Qiang

180 cm
21
160 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

175 cm
19
155 lbs
5 - 0 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Solomon Slater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Wang Qiang!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, John Kavanagh and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Qiang throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Slater sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've been told by Slater's head coaches at Fight Club FC that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Slater throws a leg kick that misses.
Slater looks to land a right hand but Qiang moved out of range.
Slater scores with a jab. Qiang acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

It looks like Wang Qiang has been cut.
Nice cross by Qiang.
A left lands for Qiang.
Qiang 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.
Slater defending well as Qiang loads up on a big left hand.
Qiang missing with a left hand there. Slater was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Slater throws a jab but it's blocked by Qiang.
Qiang misses with a right hand
letting Slater counter with a right hand.
Qiang lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Slater avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Slater throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Qiang counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Slater slips a straight right by Qiang.
A little feinted left hand from Slater on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Qiang is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Slater.
As Qiang looks to move away, Slater throws a big counter combo but Qiang just gets out of the way.
Slater throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qiang misses with an uppercut. Slater saw that one coming.
Qiang throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Slater.
Slater swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Slater defending well as Qiang loads up on a big left hand.
Wang Qiang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Qiang misses with a body punch
and Slater counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Slater lunges at Qiang with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Qiang's hand.
Slater cracks a nice hook into Qiang's ribs.
Qiang misses with a straight right.
No joy there for Slater, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Slater keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Qiang throws a looping overhand right but Slater ducks down to avoid it.
Slater scores with a nice head shot.
Qiang walks into a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Slater steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Qiang.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Slater. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Slater.
Slater avoids a punch combination nicely.
Qiang takes one to the chin there.
Slater wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice body punch from Qiang.
A telegraphed right hand from Slater misses the target.
Qiang throws a hook but Slater blocks it.
Slater displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Qiang throws out the jab.
As Qiang looks to move away, Slater throws a big counter combo but Qiang just gets out of the way.
Qiang might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A telegraphed right hand from Qiang misses the target.
Qiang waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Slater.
Slater lands with a cross.
Qiang will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slater ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Slater appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A slow jab from Qiang misses its intended target.
Qiang misses with an uppercut. Slater saw that one coming.
Slater scores with a punch to the head.
Slater lands a nice looking body shot.
Slater throws a lazy right hand but Qiang sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Qiang throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Slater to counter with a crisp jab.
Qiang connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
An inside leg kick from Slater misses.
Slater misses with a hook. Qiang ducked under it nicely.
Slater bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Qiang misses with a looping left.
Slater half committed to a counter leg kick.
Qiang waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Slater.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slater waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Qiang.
Slater throws a hook to the side of Qiang's head but Qiang sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Slater moves out of range of the strikes.
Qiang misses with a looping left.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab from Qiang misses.
Slater slips under a jab from Qiang.
A quick step to the side and Slater tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big left from Qiang misses.
Qiang throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Qiang throws the left hand but Slater avoids the punch easily.
Qiang ducks right into an uppercut from Slater.
Slater misses with a low kick.
Jab, jab by Slater - just one landing.
Slater is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Qiang staying out of range there.
Slater is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Qiang.
It seemed like Qiang was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
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 Solomon Slater will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wang Qiang's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Qiang throws a hook but Slater blocks it.
Slater slips a jab from Qiang.
Qiang jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Qiang swings widly with a right hand
and Slater counters with a right hand to the body.
A jab from Slater misses.
Qiang throws a big shot that misses.
Slater works Qiang's body with a nice hook.
Slater misses with an uppercut
and Qiang counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Qiang ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Slater moves away.
Solomon Slater is winning the standup battle so far.
Qiang throws a hook but Slater avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Qiang scores with a crisp jab that stopped Slater in his tracks.
Qiang misses with a hook. Slater ducked under it nicely.
Slater throws out a powerful jab.
Slater looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nice straight punches there by Qiang. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Qiang.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Slater swings for the body but Qiang moves out of range.
Slater pivots, looking for a leg kick but Qiang is out of range and Slater settles back down.
Qiang throws a looping overhand right but Slater ducks down to avoid it.
Slater uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Qiang.
Slater attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Qiang looks to land a right hand but Slater moved out of range.
Slater scores with a shot to the body.
Slater misses with a wild body shot.
Qiang swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A jab from Qiang finds it's way through Slater's defenses.
Qiang uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Slater throws a lazy uppercut
and Qiang counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jab, jab by Slater - just one landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slater lands a nice shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Slater connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Qiang cracks Slater with a good jab.
Slater scores with a one two! Qiang had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That has opened up Wang Qiang's cut even more.
Qiang's jab looks to have found its range, popping Slater under the eye.
Qiang misses with an uppercut.
Slater misses with a looping left.
Qiang misses with a straight left.
Slater was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Slater staying out of range there.
Slater ducks under a wild hook from Qiang.
Qiang moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Slater misses with a wild body shot.
Qiang avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Qiang! But no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from Slater misses the target.
Qiang throws out a counter right but Slater avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Slater.
Qiang uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Slater.
Slater ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Qiang moves away.
Qiang misses with a looping left.
It looked like Slater wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Qiang misses with a wild combination.
Qiang scores with a shot to the body.
Slater throws the left hand but Qiang avoids the punch easily.
A low kick from Slater is predictable there
and Qiang counters with a nice uppercut.
Slater keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Qiang.
Slater looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Qiang throws the left hand but Slater avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slater throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Qiang sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Qiang gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Slater throws a leg kick
letting Qiang counter with a right hand.
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!
Qiang throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A little feinted left hand from Slater on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Qiang pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Qiang takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Qiang throws a jab but it's blocked by Slater.
Slater is looking to counter punch.
Slater misses with a straight right.
Qiang throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Qiang bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Qiang avoids the body shot from Slater.
Slater fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Qiang checks it well.
Slater misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wang Qiang will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Wang Qiang's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Qiang looks to land a left hand but Slater moved out of range nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Qiang. Slater does a little dance to reset his feet.
Slater connects with a body shot that sends Qiang's belly button to the back.
Nice defenses there by Qiang.
Qiang fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Qiang ducks under a wild hook from Slater.
Qiang swings widly with a right hand
and Qiang takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Slater throws a leg kick but Qiang moved away.
Qiang misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Qiang throws a lazy uppercut
and Slater counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Qiang lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Slater circles away quickly and effectively.
Slater missing with a left hand there. Qiang was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Slater throws a head kick but Qiang moves out of range.
Qiang throws a hook but Slater avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qiang misses with a hook.
Slater shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Slater scores with a nice right hand.
Slater steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Qiang.
Slater moves out of range of the strikes.
Slater throws a series of punches but Qiang avoids them all with ease.
Slater misses with a straight left.
Slater misses with a lunging right hand
and Slater takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Qiang connects with a looping right hand.
Qiang scores with a jab.
Slater rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Qiang moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Slater displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Qiang throws out the jab.
Slater misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Qiang.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slater throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
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!
Nice jab there from Qiang.
Slater misses with a combination
and Qiang cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Qiang misses with a hook.
It looked like Slater was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Qiang.
Qiang has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A big right from Qiang misses.
Slater appears to be looking for a big counter.
Slater throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Qiang loads up on a big right hand but Slater slips the punch.
Qiang scores with the left hand. Slater knows he should have avoided that one.
Slater lands with a cross.
Slater misses with a few strikes there.
Slater misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Qiang throws a shot from downtown. Slater moves away and avoids it.
Qiang lands a nice shot that snaps Slater's head back.
Qiang avoids the body shot from Slater.
Qiang misses with an uppercut
and Slater counters with a one-two to the body.
A jab from Qiang misses.
Slater misses the shot to the body.
Slater throws a left and a right that both miss
and Qiang counters with a left to the body.
Slater ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Qiang lunges at Slater with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Slater's hand.
Qiang ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Slater avoids the body shot from Qiang.
Qiang lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Qiang uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Slater.
Qiang throws a hook but Slater blocks it.
Slater throws a nice looking combination but Qiang bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Slater misses with an uppercut
and Qiang counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Qiang throws the left hand but Slater avoids the punch easily.
Qiang lands a head shot.
Slater swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Qiang counter with a right hand.
Slater scores with a leg kick.
Qiang throws an overhand right that lands on Slater's shoulder, as Slater tries to avoid the shot.
Slater uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Qiang.
Slater staying out of range there.
Slater staying out of range there.
Qiang lands with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wang Qiang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Qiang 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wang Qiang!
A very excited looking Wang Qiang made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.