PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zang Zhai (ranked 622 p4p, 70 weight class) and Aribert Heim (ranked 1153 p4p, 122 weight class). Zhai comes to the cage accompanied by Sampans. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zhai
vs
Heim

169 cm
31
146 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

175 cm
40
143 lbs
33 - 23 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Powerful

Bullet Proof System
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Voodoo Nutrition
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Zang Zhai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aribert Heim!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhai finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zhai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Heim throws out the jab.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Heim has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Zhai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Heim.
A swing and a miss from Zhai.
Heim loads up on a big right hand but Zhai slips the punch.
A jab from Heim misses.
Heim misses with a lunging right hand
and Zhai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Heim with a poor takedown
and Zhai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zhai ducks under a wild hook from Heim.
Zhai throwing a counter right hand but Heim manages to avoid it.
Heim has a takedown stuffed.
Zhai has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhai throws a hook but Heim avoids it easily.
Heim cracks Zhai with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Horrible takedown attempt by Heim or perhaps it was just good defense by Zhai, which made it look bad.
Zhai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Zang Zhai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aribert Heim.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heim loads up on a big right hand but Zhai slips the punch.
Zhai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Heim cracks Zhai with an open hand slap.
A good leg kick by Zhai.

Heim scores with a takedown into Zhai's guard.
Heim is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Heim throwing strikes but missing.
Heim scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Heim lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Heim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Heim 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 avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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!
Zhai controls from within his opponent's guard.

Heim looking for a guillotine here but Zhai defends easily.
Zhai pushing down on Heim's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zhai seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heim is looking for a sweep. Zhai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zhai is controlling the pace.
Zhai continues to stall.
Heim is looking for a sweep. Zhai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Heim wants to control but Zhai is keeping busy.

Heim looking for a kimura from the bottom but Zhai passes into side control!
Zhai working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Heim is looking to regain half guard here but Zhai keeps moving and retains side control.
Heim is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Zhai not doing much here.
Zhai's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Heim is looking for a sweep. Zhai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Heim looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Heim looking for submissions off his back.
Zhai is keen to just control but Heim is a slippery customer.
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 Zang Zhai will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Heim uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zhai.
Aribert Heim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Heim throws a hook but Zhai avoids it easily.
Heim bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Zhai's head.
Heim throws a sloppy body shot
and Zhai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zhai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Heim.
Heim swings widly with a right hand
and Zhai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zhai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zhai misses with an uppercut. Heim saw that one coming.
Heim pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zhai lunges at Heim with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Heim's hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Heim.
Zhai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zhai moves out of range as Heim strikes.
Heim fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhai manages to avoid it.
Heim swings away with a body shot that misses
and Zhai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhai moves away from the strike by Heim.
Zhai is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Zhai walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zhai lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Heim missing with a left hand there. Zhai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
It looked like Zhai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Zhai takes a swing at Heim's ribcage but misses.
Heim looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Heim uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Zhai looks for the body kick but Heim saw that one coming.
Zhai moves forwards but Heim connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Heim pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zhai slips under a jab from Heim.
Zhai ducks under a wild hook from Heim.
Zang Zhai is winning the standup battle so far.
Heim lands an overhand right.
Heim throws a lazy uppercut
and Zhai counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Zhai throws a leg kick but Heim sees it coming and checks it nicely.
It seemed like Heim was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heim throws a body shot but no joy.
Heim avoids the body shot from Zhai.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Heim misses with a straight right.
Heim lands with a nice body punch.
Zhai blocks a jab.
Zhai went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Zhai lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Heim shoots in for a takedown but Zhai shows good takedown defense.
Zhai thinks about countering with a body kick.
Heim on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zhai. Zhai obviously looking to wear him down.
The fighters circling - Heim throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Heim scores with a nice right hand.
A good leg kick by Zhai.
Zhai lands with a hook. Heim tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Heim lands with an overhand left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai misses with a hook. Heim ducked under it nicely.
Zhai fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Heim has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zhai.
Heim just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Zhai.
Zhai just misses with a punch to the body.
Heim throws a poor cross that misses
and Zhai counters with a nice body shot.
Heim throws a hook but Zhai avoids it easily.
Heim feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zhais jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Heim tries to work over Zhai's front leg with a kick but Zhai checks it.
Zhai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zhai stuffs the takedown attempt from Heim. Heim gets slowly back to his feet.
Heim swings widly with a right hand
and Zhai counters with a low kick, right behind Heim 's knee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heim moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Zhai connects with a good right hand that stumbles Heim. Heim circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Heim misses with a looping right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Heim.
Heim connects with a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Heim. Zhai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Heim buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zhai fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Heim looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Heim keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Zhai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Heim looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Heim misses with an uppercut
and Zhai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Heim is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhai.
Heim misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zang Zhai will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zhai misses with a wild body shot.
Zhai throws a lazy right hand but Heim sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Heim throws a right hand that misses
and Zhai counters with a nice low kick that buckles Heim's knee momentarily.
Heim has his takedown stuffed
and Zhai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Zhai cracks Heim with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Zhai has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Heim to stand back up!

Heim is rocked!
Zhai connects with a body shot.
Heim is still on wobbly legs! Can Zhai finish him?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhai cracks Heim with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Zhai measures up his opponent and throws a superman punch that connects to the jaw! Down goes Heim! The ref steps in, and that's the ball game folks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Zang Zhai!
During a confident post fight interview, Zang Zhai thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.