PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zang Zhai (ranked 985 p4p, 102 weight class) and Li Kong Ho (ranked 2249 p4p, 223 weight class). Zhai comes to the cage accompanied by Sampans. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Zhai
vs
Kong Ho

169 cm
32
146 lbs
17 - 15 - 0

162 cm
31
149 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 17 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Zang Zhai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Li Kong Ho!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Reed Andrews and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhai will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Zhai throws a nice outside leg kick.
Donk. Ho catches Zhai right on the button with a cross.
Zhai walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ho checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Donk. Zhai catches Ho right on the button with a cross.
Zhai takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Zhai darts in and clinches Ho up against the cage.
Ho digs a right hand underneath Zhai's ribcage. Zhai let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Zhai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ho swings wildly with an uppercut but Zhai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zhai digs a right hand underneath Ho's ribcage. Ho let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Zhai lands a nice uppercut.
Zhai working aggressively here.
Ho blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zhai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhai misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ho has a couple of punches blocked by Zhai.
Ho displaying some good clinch control by pressing Zhai up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zhai.
Ho's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zhai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ho working hard to break the clinch.
Ho swings wildly with an uppercut but Zhai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zhai lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ho can't find room to land a body shot as Zhai controls the action.
Ho tries to work over Zhai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ho is trying to drag Zhai to the mat but Zhai just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zhai.
Ho misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zhai lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ho backwards.

Ho lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhai is not content to let Ho control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhai wants to improve his position but Ho is controlling well.
Zhai is trying to control but can't.
Ho wants to pass the guard but Zhai is defending well.
Zhai wants to control but Ho is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zhai tries to get to full guard but Ho has control of the leg.
Zhai has his hands clasped together around Ho's back. He's all about the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai trying to control here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ho misses with a hook. Zhai ducked under it nicely.
It looked like Zhai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ho throws a leg kick that is checked
and Zhai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ho misses with a left hand
and Zhai counters with a nice uppercut.
Zhai thuds a left hand into Ho's body.
Ho misses with a hook
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zhai lands a slapping body shot.
Zhai throws a body punch but Ho moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ho checks a leg kick.
Ho changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhai loads up on a big right hand but Ho slips the punch.
Zhai feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ho's calf.
Zhai tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ho is able to avoid easily.
Ho swings away with a body shot that misses
and Zhai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ho throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ho swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ho connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ho throws an off balance right hand
and Zhai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ho misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Zhai counters with a nice body kick.
Ho scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ho connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A nice leg kick lands there from Zhai.
Zhai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Zhai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Zhai darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ho misses with a wild body shot.
Ho lands with a shot to the body.
Ho moves out of range as Zhai throws a body kick.
Despite the aggression on Ho's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Zhai missing with a left hand there. Ho was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ho misses with a looping left.
Zhai is looking to counter with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ho tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zhai was well out of range. Poor timing from Ho.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ho. Zhai does a little dance to reset his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Zhai misses the target.
Zhai 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.
Zhai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ho.
Zhai fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ho just manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho throws a hook to the side of Zhai's head but Zhai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ho avoids the body shot from Zhai.
Ho flicks out a counter leg kick but Zhai steps away.
Zhai swings widly with a right hand
and Ho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zhai avoids the body shot from Ho.
Zang Zhai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zhai misses with a low kick.
Ho scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zhai jabs at Ho's body.
Zhai tests Ho's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zhai moves away from the strike by Ho.
Zhai quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Ho uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zhai.
And Ho tries to counter it with a takedown but Zhai pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Zhai dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Zhai throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ho fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhai manages to avoid it.
Zhai scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Zhai on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ho ducks under a wild hook from Zhai.
The fighters circling - Ho throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ho throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zhai stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Zhai lands a jab to the head.

Ho fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zhai sprawls well initially but Ho persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ho is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zhai controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Ho wants to pass the guard but Zhai is defending well.
Zhai is trying to get back to full guard.
Ho stalling away here and it's allowed Zhai to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Zhai pulls Ho in close to prevent any damage.
Ho won't allow Zhai to sweep him here.
Zhai controlling Ho's posture.
Ho preventing the sweep.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Li Kong Ho will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ho chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zhai can pounce on him.
Ho throws a low kick but Zhai avoids it.
Zhai misses with a straight right.
Zhai is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Good standup being displayed there by Zhai as he connects with a hook.
Ho lands with a cross.
Ho wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Ho forces Zhai back against the cage and clinches.

Ho escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ho connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ho punishes Zhai's body with a nice straight punch.
Ho darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhai listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Zhai.
Zhai thuds his right hand into Ho's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ho fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ho motions for Zhai to come forward. Ho throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Zhai. No joy for Ho on that attempt.
Good shot there by Ho.
Zhai just misses with a punch to the body.
Li Kong Ho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhai dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zhai.
Zang Zhai is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhai connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Zhai takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zhai throws a hook to the side of Ho's head but Ho sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
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!
Ho takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ho throws an off balance right hand
and Zhai counters with a nice body shot.
Ho misses with a hook. Zhai ducked under it nicely.
Zhai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Decent striking displayed by Zhai there.
Ho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zhai moves away.
Ho moves forwards but Zhai connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Zhai scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai avoids the body shot from Ho.
Ho with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ho misses with a takedown attempt - Zhai sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zang Zhai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Li Kong Ho.
Zhai scores with a hook to the body. Ho takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ho's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ho throws a leg kick but Zhai moved away.
Ho swings for the body but Zhai moves out of range.
Ho misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Zhai to counter with a crisp jab.

Ho gets tackled into the cage by Zhai. Zhai maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ho's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ho misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ho lands a head shot.
Ho takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Zhai lands with a thumping leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ho connects with a right hand. Zhai shakes it off.
Nice takedown defense from Zhai. No joy for Ho on that attempt.
Zhai lands a leg kick that knocks Ho off balance momentarily.
Zhai blocks a leg kick.
Zhai ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A good leg kick by Zhai.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zang Zhai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zhai 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zang Zhai!
A relieved looking Zang Zhai thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.