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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Muuka Laine (ranked 286 p4p, 36 weight class) and Zang Zhai (ranked 323 p4p, 41 weight class). Zhai has chosen Sampans as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Muuka Laine has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 176 cm
33
146 lbs
17 - 9 - 0 |
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169 cm
37
146 lbs
31 - 20 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Muuka Laine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
31 - 20 - 0, fighting out of London, Zang Zhai!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Yamamoto.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zhai comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Laine fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zhai looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Laine throws a leg kick
and Laine takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That kick from Laine tenderised Zhai's leg. Zhai is trying to keep his angry face on.
Laine takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Laine staying out of range there.
Laine connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zhai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Zhai is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Laine with a body shot.
Laine lands a nice hook to Zhai's body. Zhai takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zhai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zhai pivots, looking for a leg kick but Laine is out of range and Zhai settles back down.
Laine uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zhai.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhai moves out of range as Laine strikes.
Zhai looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zhai misses with a hook to the body
and Laine counters with a nice uppercut.
Laine explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Laine misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zhai.
Zhai throws a low kick but it's checked well by Laine.
Laine throws a body punch but Zhai moves out of range.
Zhai is trying to counter with his kicks.
Laine lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zhai's sensitive parts.
Zhai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Laine.
Laine motions for Zhai to come forward. Laine throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhai connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Laine's hands.
Zhai feints and then cracks Laine's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Laine down.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Zhai blocks a jab.
Laine chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zhai can pounce on him.
Laine moves away from the strike by Zhai.
Laine is looking to slow Zhai down with leg kicks.
Zhai takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Laine throws the kick towards the body but Zhai avoids it.
A big right from Zhai misses.
Zhai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Laine lands a jab to the head.
Jab, jab by Laine - just one landing.
Laine is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Zhai's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Laine connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zhai scrambles back to his feet.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Laine.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhai will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nice body punch from Zhai.
Zhai blocks a head kick by Laine.
Laine looks to score with a jab to the body but Zhai is just out of range.
Zhai now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A big left from Laine misses.
Laine tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Zhai counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhai on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Zhai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Laine loads up on a big right hand but Zhai slips the punch.
Laine slips a straight right by Zhai.
Laine uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zhai has time to react.
Zhai scores with a jab to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Zhai. That snapped Laine's head back.
Laine looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Laine throws a shot from downtown. Zhai moves away and avoids it.
Zhai throws a body shot but no joy.
Laine looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
A leg kick checked by Zhai.
Laine throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zhai's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Laine connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zhai scrambles back to his feet.
Zhai looks to score with a jab to the body but Laine is just out of range.
Zhai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zhai slips a straight right by Laine.
Laine lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A jab from Zhai finds it's way through Laine's defenses.
Laine throws the left hand but Zhai avoids the punch easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine blocks a jab.
Laine's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zhai under the eye.
Laine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laine swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zhai drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Laine is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Laine jabs Zhai to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Laine loads up on a big right hand but Zhai slips the punch.
Zhai is trying to counter with his kicks.
Zhai lands a nice shot to the body.
Zhai finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Laine. Zhai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Laine connects with a right hand. Zhai shakes it off.
Laine throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zhai on the side of the head.
Zhai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Laine.
Laine cracks a nice hook into Zhai's ribs.
Laine fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laine looks to score with a jab to the body but Zhai is just out of range.
Zhai lands with a good body shot.
Laine finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Laine tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zhai manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zhai swings widly with a right hand
and Laine counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhai avoids the body shot from Laine.
Laine lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Zhai looks to throw the jab but Laine is out of range.
Laine staying out of range there.
Zhai loads up on a big right hand but Laine slips the punch.
Zhai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laine.
Laine walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zhai checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zhai misses with a body shot.
Laine will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Zhai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laine.
Laine thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zhai fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Laine throws a head kick that misses.
Laine swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zhai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laine manages to avoid it.
Nice body kick from Laine.
Zhai lands a nice hook to Laine's body. Laine takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zhai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laine.
Zhai throws a leg kick but Laine moved away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Muuka Laine dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Laine has Zhai up against the cage in a clinch.
Laine lands a nice shot to the body.
Laine is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zhai can do to turn this around?
Laine misses with a hook to the ribs.
Still in the clinch, Zhai scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zhai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Laine lands with a light punch inside.
Laine swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zhai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Laine throws a head punch that misses.
Laine throws a head punch that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zhai.
Zhai scores with a hook to the body.
Laine tries to throw a body punch but Zhai avoids it by throwing Laine back against the cage.
Laine breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab from Zhai.
Laine throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zhai stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhai scores with a punch to the head.
Laine ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zhai moves away.
Laine moves out of range as Zhai throws a body kick.
Zhai throws a jab but it's blocked by Laine.
Laine throwing a counter right hand but Zhai manages to avoid it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhai throws a front kick aimed at Laine's knee but Laine avoids it well.
Laine blocks a jab.
Zhai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laine paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Laine cracks Zhai with a right hand to the side of the head.
Zhai has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zhai there as he acknowledges the shot.
Laine moves away from the strike by Zhai.
Zhai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Laine keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zhai.
Zhai looks to land a right hand but Laine moved out of range.
Laine doesn't manage to clinch there - Zhai circles away.
Laine misses with a head kick.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zhai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zhai walks forward, straight into a front kick from Laine.
Laine tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zhai was well out of range. Poor timing from Laine.
Laine swings for the body but Zhai moves out of range.
Zhai misses with a low kick.
Laine uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Zhai scores with a nice right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laine tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zhai was well out of range. Poor timing from Laine.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhai tried to score with a low kick but Laine checks it.
Zhai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zhai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zhai misses with a kick to the body.
Laine rushes Zhai and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Laine breaks from the clinch.
The fighters circling - Laine throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zhai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laine moves away.
Zhai scores with a jab to the body.
Laine blocks a jab.
Laine fakes the leg kick and cracks Zhai in the body.
Laine scores with a nice right hand.
Laine throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zhai appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Laine jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zhai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zhai rushes Laine and presses him up against the cage.
Laine working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Laine lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Zhai works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Laine.
Laine lands on the inside with an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zhai.
Zhai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Laine goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zhai blocking some punches.
Laine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big left from Zhai misses.
A big right from Zhai misses.
Laine takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Zhai tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Laine is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Zhai.
Laine lands with an uppercut that bounces Zhai off the cage and back into range.
Nice body kick there by Zhai.
Muuka Laine is winning the standup battle so far.
Zhai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zhai has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Zhai on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Muuka Laine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laine fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zhai has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laine manages to avoid it.
Laine lands a really nice looking cross but Zhai seems unphased.
Laine lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Zhai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zhai swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhai feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Laine's calf.
Zhai throws a leg kick that misses.
Laine tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Zhai manages to circle out of the way.
Zhai throws a body punch but Laine moves out of range.
Laine misses with a wild body shot.
Laine lands a nice looking body shot.
Laine slips under a jab.
Laine takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Laine lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Laine crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Zhai - the referee stops the clock and Laine gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Zhai. Laine manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zhai.
Laine checks a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zhai. Laine does a little dance to reset his feet.
Laine throwing a counter right hand but Zhai manages to avoid it.
Laine avoids the body shot from Zhai.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters circling - Laine throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zhai's corner calls for a 1-2. Zhai obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Laine misses with a straight left.
Laine checks a low kick from Zhai.
Zhai's jab looks to have found its range, popping Laine under the eye.
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 Muuka Laine will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Zhai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laine manages to avoid it.
Zhai lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Laine throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zhai takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zhai is looking to slow Laine down with leg kicks.
Laine connects with an inside leg kick.
Zhai misses with a body shot.
Zhai moves away from the strike by Laine.
Zhai misses with a body shot.
Zhai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laine was well out of range. Poor timing from Zhai.
Laine was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Laine jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A good leg kick by Zhai.
Laine ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laine tests Zhai's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zhai cracks Laine with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Zhai takes one to the chin there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhai looks to score with a jab to the body but Laine is just out of range.
Zhai lands with a good body shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhai lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zhai checks a leg kick.
Laine uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhai.
Zhai closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Zhai throws a shot from downtown. Laine moves away and avoids it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zhai.
Laine lands with a kick to the ribs.
Zhai misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Laine loads up on a big right hand but Zhai slips the punch.
Zhai scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zhai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Laine.
A big left from Laine misses.
A good leg kick by Zhai.
Laine lands a leg kick that knocks Zhai off balance momentarily.
Laine lands a lovely overhand right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laine looks to land a left hand but Zhai moved out of range nicely.
Zhai's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Laine blocks a jab.
Zhai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhai lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Laine at a distance.
Laine throws a solid leg kick but Zhai takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Laine.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Laine, right into the meat.
Laine throws a nice inside leg kick.
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.
Laine moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Laine lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Laine throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zhai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Laine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zhai.
Laine doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zhai. Laine does a little dance to reset his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Laine misses the target.
Laine tries to clinch but Zhai is having none of it.
Laine scores with a hook.
Laine moves into the clinch.
Laine makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zhai lands with a short shot to the head.
Zhai is working Laine over against the cage.
Zhai tries to work over Laine's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laine scores with a jab to the head.
Zhai tries to land a leg kick but Laine saw it coming and moves away.
A low kick from Zhai is predictable there
and Laine counters with a nice uppercut.
Zhai missing with a left hand there. Laine was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Laine lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Laine feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zhais jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Zhai keeps the fight on the outside.
Zhai is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zang Zhai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Laine keeps the fight on the outside.
Zhai takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zhai looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zhai throws a lazy uppercut
and Zhai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Laine uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhai.
Laine lands a really nice looking cross but Zhai seems unphased.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhai moves out of range as Laine strikes.
Zhai now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Zhai moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Zhai scoring well with a low kick there.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhai swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Zhai takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Laine takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Laine lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zhai at a distance.
Laine lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A solid body kick from Laine.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Zhai, as that shot connected.
A chopping leg kick lands by Laine.
Zhai with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Zhai just misses with a punch to the body.
Zhai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laine was well out of range. Poor timing from Zhai.
Laine moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Laine takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zhai tries to work over Laine's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Muuka Laine has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Laine breaks from the clinch.
Laine throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zhai looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zhai feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Laine's calf.
And that's the end of the fight!
Muuka Laine showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Laine has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muuka Laine!
In his post fight interview, Muuka Laine started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
94% |
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