PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zhang Jun (ranked 5846 p4p, 1205 weight class) and Bernhard River (ranked 222 p4p, 69 weight class). River is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Metallica: Enter Sandman. Zhang Jun could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Bernhard River's chin.

Jun
vs
River

173 cm
24
139
6 - 10 - 0

170 cm
23
135
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zhang Jun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernhard River!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

River gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jun is trying to break free.
River lands a nice shot to the body.
Jun tries to stall but River uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
River tries to throw a body punch but Jun avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
River misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from River.
Jun looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
River stalling in the clinch.

Jun breaks the clinch.
Nice defenses there by River.
River misses with a low kick as Jun jumps back.
Bernhard River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jun misses the body punch
and River connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jun throws a hook but River avoids it easily.
River lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Jun connects with the punch.
River tries a head kick but it misses.
Jun throws a body shot but no joy.
River let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

River gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River keeps control of Jun as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Jun is struggling to control the position.
River lands with a short shot to the head.
River working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nice body punch from River.
Jun is trying to break the clinch but River has him pressed against the cage.
River swings wildly with an uppercut but Jun uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jun blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jun tries to break free but River pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jun.

Jun escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jun ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
River dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Jun. That did some damage!
Jun throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As Jun backs off River throws a huge counter combo but Jun manages to avoid it all.
Jun pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Jun takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
River has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Jun throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jun tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but River was well out of range. Poor timing from Jun.
River checks a low kick from Jun.
A big right from River misses.
River looks to land a left hand but Jun moved out of range nicely.
Jun just misses with a punch to the body.
River bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jun is looking to wear down River with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Jun swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Jun misses with a leg kick.
Jun tries to work over River's front leg with a kick but River checks it.
Good exchange - River coming out on top.

River gets a double leg takedown into Jun's guard.
River advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River is looking to take a break and control but Jun is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
River misses with the ground and pound.

River goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Jun rolls with the submission and now he's on top in River's guard! Nice work there by Jun!
Jun trying to control but River is working from the bottom.

River throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jun trying to control the position from guard on top but River is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jun is stalling in the full guard.
River is trying to keep Jun in close.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
River keeping moving, preventing Jun from controlling successfully.
Jun won't allow River to sweep him here.
Jun trying to control the position from guard on top but River is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
River seems keen to control Jun's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard River dominated that round.
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.

River bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Jun's head backwards.
River is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jun.
Zhang Jun has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
River throws a leg kick
and Jun counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
River has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
River cracks Jun with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
River connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
River looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
River looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

River has managed to clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Jun's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by River.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Jun blocks a body shot from River.
Jun is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
River lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jun is trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jun is trying to break the clinch but River has him pressed against the cage.
I was talking to Jun's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Jun can't find room to land a body shot as River controls the action.
River misses with a body punch.
Jun lands a hook to the side of the head.
River lands a body punch.
River lands a body shot in the clinch.
Jun is trying to break the clinch but River has him pressed against the cage.

River lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
River seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jun does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

River is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
River is trying to control. Jun wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jun wants to sweep but River has passed to side control!
Jun tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jun is not content to let River control the position.
Jun tries to bench press River off him but River keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Jun's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bernhard River has got the better of the ground game so far.
River landing a few strikes.
River lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Jun down.

It looks like Zhang Jun has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jun tries to bench press River off him but River keeps the position.
River landing a few strikes.
River is looking to take a break and control but Jun is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Jun to see if he's OK.
River postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
River has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
River creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Jun sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
River trying to control the position but Jun is working away.
Jun is looking for a sweep.
Jun is trying to control River's posture but River avoids it.
River landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
River lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Jun down.
River wants to control but Jun is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jun tries to bench press River off him but River keeps the position.
River cracks Jun with a big elbow.
River working the body and head with strikes.
River wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jun keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jun can't do much from the bottom here.
Jun tries to buck River off but River is having none of it.
Jun takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

River is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jun has escaped the position, nice work there.
Jun manages to work his way to half guard, despite River's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard River showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zhang Jun'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. This is the final round!

River shoots in and drives through. Jun sprawls well.
A nice leg kick lands there from Jun.
River moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Jun misses with an uppercut.
River walks into a stiff left hand from Jun.
Jun takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Jun takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

River moves into range and clinches up with Jun.
Jun wants to get back to striking at distance but River won't allow it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by River.
River pressing his opponent against the cage.
River keeps control of Jun as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
River wants to stall.
A short uppercut from River.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jun wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
River scores with a nice hook to the head.
River lands a right hand.
Jun stalling in the clinch but River improves position.

Jun breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
River lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
River connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
River connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Jun stuffs the takedown.

River takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by River.

River has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Jun uses from the top position.

Jun got a little sloppy there for a moment and River has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Jun has managed to get both his arms back between River's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jun stays in close to River's body and controls the position.

River is looking for a triangle but Jun pushes his legs off easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jun postures up in River's guard and throws a big left but River blocks it.

River looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

River is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jun working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jun has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of River is proving hard to escape from.
River has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Jun has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River is trying to get back to half guard.

Jun tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jun has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
River gets back to half guard.
Jun wants to lay and pray for a moment but River keeps working.
River trying to control here.

Jun is working for a kimura but River is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jun trying to control the action but River is working from the bottom.

Jun is working for a kimura here but River manages to reverse the position and he's now in Jun's guard.
Jun can't keep his opponent in guard - River advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
River looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Jun is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but River pulls his head out easily.

Jun looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernhard River comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well River 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernhard River!
Our winner, Bernhard River, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.