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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Holzken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zang Zhai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhai has chosen Sampans as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!
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| 179 cm
26
157 lbs
17 - 9 - 0 |
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169 cm
27
146 lbs
8 - 4 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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
17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodney Holzken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Zang Zhai!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Richard Clark and Andrew Berry.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhai scores with a leg kick.
Holzken staying out of range there.
Holzken tries to counter with a takedown but Zhai is quick to defend against it.
An inside leg kick lands from Zhai.
Holzken doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zang Zhai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhai swings for the body but Holzken moves out of range.
Zhai tries to close the distance and clinch but Holzken swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Holzken throwing a counter right hand but Zhai manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick lands from Zhai.
Holzken bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Holzken feinted with a counter takedown.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Zhai
enabling Holzken to counter with a crisp jab.
Zhai is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Holzken takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zhai.
Holzken keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Zhai throws a lazy right hand but Holzken sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Holzken circles away from the clinch attempt.
Holzken changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zhai.
Zhai tries to clinch
and Holzken counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zhai throws a poor cross that misses
and Holzken connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zhai swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Holzken counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhai pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Zhai wants to slow Holzken down by chopping away at his legs.
Zhai tries to land a body kick
and Holzken counters with a straight right hand.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Holzken sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Holzken swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Holzken walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zhai. That's going to slow Holzken down.
Nice body punch from Zhai.
Holzken avoids the body shot from Zhai.
Holzken bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Holzken tries to counter with a takedown but Zhai is quick to defend against it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhai misses with a left hand
and Holzken counters with a nice uppercut.
Zhai wants to clinch up but Holzken keeps it at a distance.
Holzken appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Zhai lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Holzken ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Holzken changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Zhai keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Zhai throws a poor cross that misses
and Holzken counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zhai throws out a leg kick but Holzken moves out of range and Zhai only half commits.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Zang Zhai dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Zhai throws a lazy uppercut
and Holzken counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Zhai thinking.
Holzken is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Holzken steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Zhai. That one must have hurt.
Zhai throws a leg kick
and Holzken counters with a right hand to the body.
A slow jab from Zhai misses its intended target.
A telegraphed right hand from Zhai misses the target.
Holzken swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhai throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Holzken.
Zhai wants to slow Holzken down by chopping away at his legs.
Zhai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Zhai.
Holzken moves out of range as Zhai throws a body kick.
Holzken swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Zhai is looking to land body kicks.
Holzken drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zhai sprawls and moves away.
Zhai thows a leg kick but Holzken checks it
and Holzken counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Holzken stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zhai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zhai pulls Holzken in close to his closed guard and prevents Holzken from doing any damage or advancing position.
Zhai is continuing to stall.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holzken controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zhai seems keen to control Holzken's posture.
Holzken's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai managing to control the position.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Holzken gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zhai.
Zhai misses with a wild body shot.
Zhai misses with a kick to the body
and Holzken connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zhai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhai scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zhai throws a leg kick
and Holzken makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zhai misses with an uppercut
and Holzken connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zhai swings widly with a right hand
and Holzken counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Zhai lands with a straight right. Holzken didn't see that one coming.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zhai tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Holzken swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Zang Zhai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Zhai scores with a push kick.
Zhai connects with a single shot there.
Zhai getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Zhai misses with a hook.
Zhai throws a jab when Holzken was well out of range.
It looks like Holzken has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holzken ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A low kick from Zhai misses
and Holzken counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zhai won't be happy with that.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhai keeping his opponent close.
Zhai is trying to escape the position but Holzken is controlling the position.
Holzken trying to control the position but Zhai is working away.
Holzken is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Holzken wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zhai keeps working.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Holzken is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Zhai's shoulder. That is not cool.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Holzken bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
An attempted straight right counter from Holzken misses the target.
Zang Zhai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai lands with a nice body punch.
Zhai rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Holzken counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Zhai thinking.
Zhai throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zang Zhai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zhai gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Holzken counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zhai swings widly with a right hand
and Holzken counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Zhai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Holzken.
Rodney Holzken has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhai finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Holzken misses the target.
Zhai throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Holzken counters with a stiff right hand.
Holzken moves out of range as Zhai strikes.
Holzken swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zhai misses with a right hand
enabling Holzken to counter with a crisp jab.
Zhai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zhai just misses with a punch to the body.
Zhai moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rodney Holzken.
I think Zhai has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zang Zhai!
An out of breath Zang Zhai thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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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
34% |
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