PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jian Zhao (ranked 1016 p4p, 2158 weight class) and Sauli Somelainen (ranked 147 p4p, 286 weight class). Zhao comes to the cage accompanied by Dirty Harry (Schtung Chinese New Year Remix) - Gorillaz. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Sauli Somelainen was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Zhao
vs
Somelainen

173 cm
29
164
16 - 8 - 1

181 cm
29
166
9 - 8 - 2

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
The Natural Order

HELLBENT

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 16 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Jian Zhao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 2, fighting out of New York, Sauli Somelainen!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhao cracks Somelainen with an open hand slap.
Zhao misses with a wild body shot.
Somelainen keeps Zhao at a distance using the push kick.
Zhao scores with a nice right hand.
Somelainen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zhao.
Zhao attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Somelainen is looking for the big counter here.
Zhao ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Zhao tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Somelainen was well out of range. Poor timing from Zhao.
Zhao lands a jab-cross combination.
Zhao needs to keep his hands up - Somelainen had a free shot at his head there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Somelainen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Somelainen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zhao swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Somelainen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
An attempted straight right counter from Zhao misses the target.
Zhao throws a half hearted mid kick.
Somelainen throws out a loose jab but Zhao uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zhao appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Somelainen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zhao lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhao fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Somelainen manages to avoid it.
Zhao avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zhao throws a looping overhand right but Somelainen ducks down to avoid it.
Zhao has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Somelainen finds it's way round the side to connect with Zhao's head.
Zhao blocks a head kick by Somelainen.
Somelainen throws out a loose jab but Zhao uses good head movement to avoid it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Somelainen.
Zhao lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Somelainen lands a head shot.
A jab from Somelainen misses.
Zhao throwing a counter right hand but Somelainen manages to avoid it.
Zhao throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zhao takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zhao looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Somelainen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Somelainen missing with a left hand there. Zhao was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A nice leg kick from Zhao, right into the meat of the thigh.
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!
A head kick misses from Zhao.
Somelainen scores with the left hand. Zhao knows he should have avoided that one.
Zhao moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Good standup being displayed there by Somelainen as he connects with a hook.
Somelainen lands a nice shot to the body.
Zhao scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Somelainen doesn't seem bothered though.
Zhao throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Somelainen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zhao avoids the body shot from Somelainen.
Zhao throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zhao throws a leg kick
and Somelainen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Zhao thinking.
Somelainen is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Zhao had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Somelainen lands a lovely overhand right.
Good standup being displayed there by Somelainen as he connects with a hook.
Somelainen avoids the head kick by Zhao.
Zhao misses the shot to the body.
Somelainen misses with a body shot.

Zhao gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhao has a couple of punches blocked by Somelainen.
Somelainen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Zhao misses with some punches.
Somelainen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zhao avoids it.
Somelainen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Zhao blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Zhao - that landed with a thud.
Zhao throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Somelainens head.
Somelainen blocks an uppercut.
Zhao scores with a shoulder strike.
Zhao lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Somelainen tries to land a knee to the head but Zhao blocks with his arms.
Zhao tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Somelainen fails to land.
Somelainen has a couple of punches blocked by Zhao.
Zhao working aggressively here.
Zhao throws a punch but it's blocked by Somelainen.
Zhao misses with a punch on the inside.
Zhao avoiding damage as Somelainen throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhao lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhao tries a body shot but Somelainen blocks it.
Somelainen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Zhao misses with a hook from the clinch.
Somelainen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zhao avoiding damage as Somelainen throws knees to the body.
Zhao doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zhao is working Somelainen over against the cage.
Zhao misses with some punches.
Zhao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Somelainen's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zhao.
Somelainen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zhao swings wildly with an uppercut but Somelainen uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zhao.
Zhao blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zhao works on Somelainen's body with a couple of short punches.
Somelainen throws a head punch that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jian Zhao will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Somelainen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And Zhao counters with a quick kick to the body but Somelainen blocks it.
Somelainen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhao.
Somelainen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Somelainen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Zhao's head.
Somelainen lands a jab to the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zhao. Somelainen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zhao connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A head kick misses from Somelainen.
Somelainen checks a low kick from Zhao.
Zhao tries a low kick but Somelainen avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhao throws a body punch but Somelainen moves out of range.
Zhao avoids the body shot from Somelainen.

Zhao clinches up against the cage.
Somelainen blocks an uppercut.
Zhao misses with some punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhao fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhao blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A nice right hand lands inside from Somelainen.
Somelainen scores with a shot to the side of Zhao's head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Somelainen.
Somelainen tries to land knees in the clinch but Zhao avoids the damage to the body.
Somelainen lands a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zhao.
A short right from Somelainen.
Zhao blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zhao softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Zhao misses with a hook to the ribs.
Somelainen missing with knees to the body.
Zhao throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Zhao lands a left hand that snaps the head of Somelainen backwards.
Zhao blocking some punches.
Zhao blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Somelainen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zhao's elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhao swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhao softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Zhao lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Somelainen tries to land a knee to the head but Zhao blocks with his arms.
Zhao works on Somelainen's body with a couple of short punches.
Zhao goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Somelainen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Somelainen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zhao has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zhao swings wildly with an uppercut but Somelainen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zhao pushes Somelainen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Zhao fails to land.
Somelainen misses with a knee strike.
Zhao on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zhao blocks an uppercut.
Somelainen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A right hook to the body lands for Zhao.
Somelainen blocks an uppercut.
Zhao blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zhao swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Somelainen blocking some punches.
Zhao swings wildly with an uppercut but Somelainen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jian Zhao has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Zhao blocks a body shot from Somelainen.
A shot in the inside from Zhao.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Somelainen.
Zhao tries a body shot but Somelainen blocks it.
Zhao lands an uppercut.
Zhao blocks an uppercut.
Somelainen tries to throw a body punch but Zhao avoids it by throwing Somelainen back against the cage.
Zhao on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zhao lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zhao misses with the head strike.
Somelainen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Somelainen throws a head punch that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Zhao.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhao fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zhao has a couple of punches blocked by Somelainen.
Somelainen throws a punch but it's blocked by Zhao.
Somelainen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Somelainen prevents a body shot from Zhao.
Somelainen working aggressively here.
Zhao lands a body shot.
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!
Zhao lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Somelainen backwards.
Somelainen pushes Zhao back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Somelainen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zhao.
Zhao lands a nice shot to the body.
Somelainen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zhao backwards.
Zhao lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Somelainen misses with a punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Zhao.
Somelainen is breathing heavily.
Zhao blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zhao tries to throw a body punch but Somelainen avoids it by throwing Zhao back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jian Zhao will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Zhao looks to land a combination but Somelainen avoids it well.
Somelainen delivers a nice body kick.
Somelainen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Zhao is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Somelainen.
Zhao misses with an attempted mid kick.
Somelainen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zhao circles away quickly and effectively.
Somelainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Zhao is just out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Zhao as he connects with a hook.
Zhao with a jab.

Somelainen is rocked!
Somelainen glances at the clock... BAM! Zhao nails him with a big right hand! A momentary lapse in concentration sends Somelainen crashing to the mat! The referee steps in and this one is over! Damn, Somelainen is out of it, he thinks the ref is his opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jian Zhao!
Jian Zhao seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.