PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zhao Zhuo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuki Yasuda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhuo comes into the arena with Kung Fu You blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zhuo
vs
Yasuda

184 cm
25
177 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

178 cm
27
180 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zhao Zhuo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kazuki Yasuda!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yasuda scores with a kick to the body.
Zhuo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yasuda throws a jab but it's blocked by Zhuo.
Yasuda fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Zhuo on the side of the head.
Zhuo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Zhuo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yasuda is fending him off so far but Zhuo persists. Nope, Yasuda circles away and we're back to standing.
Zhuo staying out of range there.
Zhuo defending well as Yasuda loads up on a big left hand.
Yasuda misses with a straight right.
Zhuo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yasuda.
Yasuda pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yasuda throws a sloppy head kick and Zhuo moves out of range easily.
Zhuo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yasuda circles away quickly and effectively.

Zhuo clinches up with Yasuda and pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Yasuda fails to land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yasuda looking to slow down the pace here.
Zhuo blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Zhuo successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Zhuo throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yasuda stopping the sweep attempt from Zhuo.
Yasuda sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zhuo keeping moving, preventing Yasuda from controlling successfully.
Zhuo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Yasuda's guard.
Zhuo connects with a couple of short punches.
Zhuo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yasuda pulls Zhuo in close to his closed guard and prevents Zhuo from doing any damage or advancing position.
Zhuo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zhuo throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhuo throws an elbow that misses. Yasuda uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zhuo's guard. Nice move by Yasuda!
Yasuda sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Yasuda must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zhuo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Zhuo looking for a guillotine here but Yasuda defends easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhuo wants to sweep here but Yasuda controlling him for the moment.
Zhuo throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yasuda trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhuo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yasuda stands and throws Zhuo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Zhuo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Yasuda trying to control the position but Zhuo is working away.
Yasuda is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Zhuo is trying to improve his position.
Yasuda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zhuo keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhuo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhuo misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Zhuo moves into full guard.
Zhuo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yasuda trying to control but Zhuo is working from the bottom.
Zhuo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yasuda is one step ahead there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zhuo is looking for a triangle but Yasuda pushes his legs off easily.
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!
Zhuo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zhao Zhuo will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zhuo is looking to clinch.
Yasuda pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Zhuo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zhuo throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zhuo throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Yasuda is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Yasuda manages to work his way to half guard, despite Zhuo's best efforts.
Yasuda keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Zhuo has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Yasuda defend it? Zhuo steps over the head and cranks it - Yasuda is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Zhuo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Zhao Zhuo!
Zhao Zhuo managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Affaketion, into his post fight interview.