PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cedric Zhang (ranked 6001 p4p, 552 weight class) and Sturm Brightblade (ranked 7146 p4p, 599 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zhang
vs
Brightblade

184 cm
18
189 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

184 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

The Juice

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cedric Zhang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sturm Brightblade!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Jonathan Paton and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhang misses with a low kick.

Zhang fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Brightblade sprawls well initially but Zhang persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zhang is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Zhang throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zhang perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Zhang lands strikes from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhang with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Brightblade really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zhang. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zhang throwing shots but Brightblade is blocking nicely.
Zhang is looking to advance position but Brightblade won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhang throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zhang throwing shots but Brightblade is blocking nicely.
Brightblade is trying to maintain the position but Zhang is very close to passing his half guard.
Still in half guard, Zhang seems content to control.
Zhang thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brightblade's head.
Zhang slips a nice elbow through Brightblade's hands, connecting with Brightblade's forehead.

That's two 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.
Zhang missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zhang trying to pass the guard but Brightblade defending well.
Zhang not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zhang trying to control the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Brightblade blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zhang.
Brightblade trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Brightblade avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhang looking to score a takedown here. Brightblade is defending well but Zhang drives through and ends up in Brightblade's guard.
Zhang loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zhang controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Our spies down at at The Forge inform us that Brightblade has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Zhang with a flurry of punches that miss.
Brightblade is trying to keep Zhang in close.
Zhang is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zhang throws a big elbow that misses.
Zhang postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhang wants to pass the guard but Brightblade is keeping the position.
Zhang scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zhang loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zhang stays in close to Brightblade's body and controls the position.
Zhang is looking to work some ground and pound but Brightblade has wrist control.
Zhang wants to pass the guard but Brightblade is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zhang moves into the clinch.

Zhang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cedric Zhang dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zhang moves into range and clinches up with Brightblade.
Zhang manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zhang as Brightblade tries to tie him up.
Zhang managing to block the knees to the body from Brightblade.
Brightblade looking to stall.
Zhang stalling against the cage.
Brightblade misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zhang breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Brightblade stuffs the takedown attempt from Zhang. Zhang gets slowly back to his feet.
Brightblade fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zhang shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Brightblade but Brightblade pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhang fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cedric Zhang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brightblade darts in trying to clinch

and Zhang counters with a takedown into side control.
Brightblade is looking for a sweep.

Zhang tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Zhang controlling the position from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhang in side control, throwing shots but Brightblade defends.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhang in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Zhang tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Brightblade is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zhang connects with a decent elbow.
Zhang moves into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhang looking to finish with strikes here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brightblade blocking the ground and pound.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zhang cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zhang scoring with strikes but Brightblade is staying in there.

It looks like Sturm Brightblade has been cut.
Zhang looking to finish Brightblade with some ground and pound. This is bad for Brightblade!
Zhang throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Zhang putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Zhang with good strikes from the mount here!
Zhang with the ground and pound from mount.

Brightblade is rocked!
Brightblade tries to hold on but Zhang pushes him away.

Zhang jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Brightblade manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Brightblade is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brightblade taking punishment in the form of punches.
Zhang looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Brightblade is avoiding damage well.
Zhang misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Brightblade dodges the ground and pound from Zhang.
Brightblade is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zhang connects with a decent elbow.
Zhang in side control lands a decent elbow.
Zhang throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Brightblade is letting Zhang control him for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cedric Zhang dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sturm Brightblade's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zhang rushes Brightblade and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Brightblade is trying to maintain a safe position but Zhang gets an underhook and turns Brightblade into the cage.

Zhang's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Brightblade throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Brightblade managing to block the knees to the body from Zhang.
Zhang is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Brightblade can do to turn this around?

Zhang breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zhang throws a series of punches but Brightblade avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brightblade is looking to clinch but Zhang is avoiding it.
Brightblade wants to clinch up but Zhang keeps it at a distance.
Zhang drops down looking for a counter takedown but Brightblade sprawls and moves away.

Zhang rushes Brightblade and presses him up against the cage.
Nice elbow from Brightblade.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brightblade misses with a hook to the ribs.
Brightblade working Zhang over with knees to the body.

Zhang wants the takedown. Brightblade is fighting it off but Zhang persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Brightblade's guard against the cage.
Zhang engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Zhang scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zhang not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Zhang working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Brightblade's head.
Zhang stays in close to Brightblade's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhang sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Brightblade's guard.
Zhang is looking to advance position but Brightblade won't allow it.
Zhang uses his free foot to push down on Brightblade's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Brightblade.
Zhang pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Brightblade is trying to escape the mount.

Zhang working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhang punishing his opponent with strikes.
Zhang raining down hammerfists from mount.
Zhang throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Zhang punishing his opponent with strikes.
Zhang is landing with some decent strikes but Brightblade is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Brightblade is still in real trouble! Can Zhang finish him?
Brightblade takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Oooooh, big shot lands for Zhang! Brightblade is hurt baaadly! Zhang is firing away with more strikes - Brightblade is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cedric Zhang!