PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Clemens (ranked 1861 p4p, 3098 weight class) and Jian Zhao (ranked 229 p4p, 364 weight class). Zhao has chosen GZA - Shadowboxin' as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Clemens
vs
Zhao

178 cm
20
160
3 - 1 - 0

173 cm
20
155
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Samuel Clemens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jian Zhao!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot by Clemens.
Jab by Zhao.
A left lands for Clemens.
Zhao throws a lazy uppercut
and Clemens counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Clemens looks to score with a jab to the body but Zhao is just out of range.
Zhao lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Donk. Zhao catches Clemens right on the button with a cross.
Clemens swings for the body but Zhao moves out of range.
Clemens throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zhao on the side of the head.
Clemens moves out of range of the body kick from Zhao.
Good standup being displayed there by Clemens as he connects with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhao fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Clemens manages to avoid it.

Zhao lands a big head kick that sends Clemens tumbling to the mat! Zhao takes a step backwards and waves Clemens back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Samuel Clemens has been cut.
A good leg kick by Clemens.
Zhao takes a swing at Clemens's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhao works Clemens's body with a nice hook.
Clemens connects with a nice looking jab.
Zhao staying out of range there.
Zhao scores with a nice body kick.
Clemens misses with a body shot.
It looks like Clemens has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Clemens misses with a lunging right hand
and Zhao counters with a nice uppercut.
A clash of legs there as Zhao blocks the low kick.
Zhao scores with a hook.
Zhao looks to land a left hand but Clemens moved out of range nicely.
Clemens swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Clemens.
Decent striking displayed by Clemens there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Clemens ducks under a wild hook from Zhao.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhao jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zhao connects with a nice looking jab.
Clemens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhao manages to avoid it.
Clemens goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Clemens lands an overhand right.
Clemens scores with a spinning back kick!
Clemens lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zhao closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Zhao throws a hook to the side of Clemens's head but Clemens sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A head kick misses from Clemens.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhao slips a straight right by Clemens.
Zhao misses with a body kick.
Zhao connects with a good right hand that stumbles Clemens. Clemens circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Zhao lands with an overhand left.
Clemens tries a low kick but Zhao avoids it.
Zhao looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Clemens connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zhao's hands.
Zhao checks a leg kick.
Clemens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zhao.
Clemens moves out of range as Zhao throws a body kick.
Clemens lands with a good body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zhao checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhao throws a hook but Clemens blocks it.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Zhao.
Clemens throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zhao counters with a left to the body.
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!
Clemens tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Clemens thumps Zhao with a low kick.
Zhao throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Zhao lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Zhao uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clemens.
Zhao doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Zhao misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clemens misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zhao.
Zhao lands a really nice looking cross but Clemens seems unphased.
Zhao tries to land a front kick but Clemens steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jian Zhao dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Samuel Clemens's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zhao misses the shot to the body.
Zhao changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Clemens throws a leg kick
and Zhao counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Clemens showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zhao.
Zhao avoids the body shot from Clemens.
Zhao throws a head kick that misses.
Zhao lands a right hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clemens blocks a head kick by Zhao.
Clemens blocks a head kick by Zhao.
Clemens misses with a low kick.
Zhao misses with a looping right.
Clemens was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Clemens has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clemens chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Clemens misses with a low kick.
Clemens connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zhao blocks a leg kick.
Zhao raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Zhao lands a nice shot that snaps Clemens's head back.
Zhao misses with a looping right.
Clemens looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Samuel Clemens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhao jabs at Clemens's body.
Clemens throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Zhao counter with a right hand.

Clemens is rocked!
Clemens thows a leg kick but Zhao checks it
and Zhao counters with a straight right hand.
Oh Clemens is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhao scores with a kick to the midsection.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhao throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Zhao throws a good cross that connects.
Clemens lands with a cross.
Clemens misses with a leg kick
and Zhao counters with a monster head kick that knocks Clemens out cold! He topples like fallen a tree, crashing to the mat! Timbeeeeeerrr!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Jian Zhao!
During a confident post fight interview, Jian Zhao thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
In defeat, Samuel Clemens stepped up to the mic, saying 'The question is: did I fail the chin check or the confidence test? Or both?'.