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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Malaki Zhang (ranked 3059 p4p, 3029 weight class) and O Brian Nortega (ranked 261 p4p, 258 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 180 cm
27
135
3 - 2 - 0 |
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173 cm
27
155
3 - 3 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Good chin |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin |
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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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Malaki Zhang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, O Brian Nortega!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhang closes the distance and pushes Nortega back into the cage.
Zhang throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nortegas head.
Zhang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zhang takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Zhang closes the distance and clinches.
Zhang breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zhang throws a lazy right hand but Nortega sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nortega uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zhang.
Zhang throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A nice side step and Nortega releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Nortega on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nortega doesn't manage to clinch there - Zhang circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Zhang as Nortega shoots in.
No joy there for Zhang, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A little jabbing left from Nortega on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Zhang looks to land a right hand but Nortega moved out of range.
Nortega has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhang just misses with a punch to the body.
Nortega bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Zhang swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nortega throws a right and a left that Zhang avoids nicely.
No joy there for Zhang, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zhang throws the left hand but Nortega avoids the punch easily.
Nortega tries to bum rush Zhang with a series of wild strikes but Zhang uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zhang lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Zhang scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nortega is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nortega throws a poor cross that misses
and Zhang counters with a left to the body.
Zhang lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Zhang.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nortega shoots in and drives through. Zhang sprawls well.
A quick step to the side and Zhang tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhang closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zhang pushes Nortega back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nortega prevents Zhang from breaking the clinch.
Nortega wants to break free but Zhang has control.
Nortega tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zhang smiles and moves away.
Malaki Zhang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of O Brian Nortega.
Nortega misses with a body kick.
Zhang takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nortega closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A combination from Nortega does no damage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nortega takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nortega throws a poor cross that misses
and Zhang counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A big right from Zhang misses.
Nice defenses there by Zhang.
Nortega tries to clinch there but Zhang circles away.
Zhang throws a right hand that Nortega ducks under and follows up with a left that Nortega also avoids with ease.
Zhang scores with a crisp jab that stopped Nortega in his tracks.
Nortega thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nortega shoots for a takedown but Zhang saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zhang swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Zhang ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nortega moves away.
Malaki Zhang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhang scores with a jab to the body.
Zhang swings for the body but Nortega moves out of range.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhang 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.
Zhang misses with a hook.
Nortega tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zhang manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zhang darts in and clinches Nortega up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A frustrated look appears on Zhang's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nortega working aggressively here.
Zhang is trying to push Nortega away but Nortega has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zhang goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zhang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zhang is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nortega fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhang manages to avoid it.
Nortega throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zhang's waist but Zhang gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nortega off to one side.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Malaki Zhang dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Nortega throws a hook but Zhang blocks it.
It looked like Zhang wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Zhang misses with a hook. Nortega ducked under it nicely.
Nortega misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Zhang to counter with a crisp jab.
Zhang digs a good body shot into Nortega's ribs.
Zhang throws a one two combo.
A jab from Nortega misses.
Zhang stalks Nortega and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nortega's face. Nortega staggers backwards, shaken.
Malaki Zhang is winning the standup battle so far.
Zhang gets a clinch.
Zhang struggles to land a body shot inside as Nortega controls his hands.
Zhang manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nortega shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zhang pinned against the cage. Zhang gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nortega takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Zhang pushes Nortega up against the cage in a clinch.
A short uppercut from Zhang.
Zhang wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zhang struggles to land a body shot inside as Nortega controls his hands.
Zhang lands a nice uppercut.
Zhang throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zhang.
Zhang lands with a right to the head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhang is trying to push Nortega away but Nortega has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zhang makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zhang lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Nortega.
Zhang wants to break free but Nortega has control.
Zhang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zhang has closed the distance and engaged Nortega in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good body shot from Zhang.
Nortega looking to throw knees to the head but Zhang is blocking nicely.
Nortega is trying to maintain a safe position but Zhang gets an underhook and turns Nortega into the cage.
A short right from Zhang on the inside.
Zhang is trying to break the clinch but Nortega has him pressed against the cage.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Zhang here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Nortega misses with a punch on the inside.
Nortega's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhang takes the fight into the clinch.
Nortega tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zhang just stands there and leans against the cage.
Malaki Zhang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of O Brian Nortega.
Zhang lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Zhang presses Nortega against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nortega throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Zhang on the inside.
Zhang tries to circle away but Nortega has him pinned against the cage.
Zhang lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short right from Zhang on the inside.
Nortega is trying to pull guard but Zhang has him pressed against the cage.
Zhang prevents Nortega from breaking the clinch.
Zhang breaks from the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhang misses with a wild combination.
Nortega shapes to counter with a head kick.
Zhang really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zhang fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A little jabbing left from Nortega on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A head kick misses from Nortega.
As Nortega looks to move away, Zhang throws a big counter combo but Nortega just gets out of the way.
Zhang connects with a right hand. Nortega shakes it off.
Zhang pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Malaki Zhang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhang throws a body punch but Nortega moves out of range.
Nortega throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nortega tries to clinch but Zhang moves away
enabling Zhang to counter with a crisp jab.
Zhang walks into a straight right hand from Nortega.
Nortega slips under a jab from Zhang.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Malaki Zhang dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Zhang clinches.
Zhang breaks from the clinch.
Zhang takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Nortega throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nortega uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhang.
Nortega throws a fast counter high kick but Zhang manages to duck under it in time.
Nortega connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zhang's hands.
Nortega moves in looking to clinch but Zhang pushes him off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zhang. Nortega does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nortega swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nortega misses with a takedown
and Zhang counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Malaki Zhang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zhang misses the shot to the body.
Nortega takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nortega throws a head kick that misses.
Nortega throws a poor cross that misses
and Zhang counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nortega tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zhang lands with an overhand left.
Nortega shoots in but no luck this time.
Nortega tries to keep at a distance but Zhang has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nortega jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zhang walks away with a smile on his face. Nortega gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Malaki Zhang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of O Brian Nortega.
Good standup being displayed there by Zhang as he connects with a hook.
Zhang scores with a jab.
Zhang misses with a right hand
and Nortega counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhang swats away the attempt to clinch by Nortega.
Zhang shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Nortega eats them both and turns towards Zhang to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
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!
Nortega shoots for a double leg takedown but Zhang sprawls well. He's pushed Nortega's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zhang throws a jab when Nortega was well out of range.
Zhang misses with a double jab.
Nortega looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zhang thuds a left hand into Nortega's body.
Zhang walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zhang throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nortega throws a fast counter high kick but Zhang manages to duck under it in time.
Nice defenses there by Zhang.
Zhang is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nortega can do to turn this around?
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nortega connects with a single shot there.
Nice takedown defense from Zhang. No joy for Nortega on that attempt.
Zhang bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nice uppercut lands for Zhang. That snapped Nortega's head back.
Zhang avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zhang throws a series of punches but Nortega moves out of range.
Nortega displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zhang throws out the jab.
A head kick by Nortega misses
and Zhang counters with a two punch combo.
Zhang is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nortega.
Nortega looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhang takes the fight into the clinch.
Zhang misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zhang tries to circle away but Nortega has him pinned against the cage.
Malaki Zhang has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nice body punch from Zhang.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nortega misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zhang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nortega has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Nortega tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zhang sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nortega somewhat.
Zhang misses with a body shot.
O Brian Nortega has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malaki Zhang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nortega pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Zhang on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
And that's the end of the fight!
Malaki Zhang showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zhang 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malaki Zhang!
A victorious Malaki Zhang thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
O Brian Nortega spoke after the fight, saying 'For those who don’t know what the eagle does is the eagle lives for 70 years. At the 40-year mark, the eagle loses the sharpness of its beak, the feathers aren’t as good, and its talons are weak. So it has a choice: The choice is to die, keep doing what you’re doing and living the way you are,'.
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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
55% |
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