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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Dark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Zu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhang Zu will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.
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| 180 cm
18
186 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
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200 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin |
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BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan Dark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Zhang Zu!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and Andrew Berry.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zu explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Zu is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Zu throws a nice looking combination but Dark bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dark drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dark is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zu has escaped the position, nice work there.
Dark advances to full mount.
Zu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dark. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zu tries to hold on but Dark postures up.
Dark unloading with bombs!
Dark is going olschool here, as he tries to force Zu to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Zu shrugs it off.
Zu is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dark misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Zu holds on for dear life, controlling Dark's posture momentarily.
Dark won't let Zu get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Dark is working for a guillotine from mount but Zu frees his head quite easily.
Zu tries to get back to half guard but can't.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dark gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Dark decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dark wants to take a breather but Zu is having none of it.
Dark is trying to work for a kimura but Zu is defending well.
Zu tries to roll over but Dark keeps him under control.
Still in half guard, Dark seems content to control.
Dark's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zu wants to get back to full guard but Dark has passed into side control.
Dark takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dark stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Good leg kick by Zu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Zu cracks the inside of Dark's front leg.
Dark takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zu throws a head kick that Dark semi-blocks.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dark fails to land the takedown.
Dark looks for a takedown but Zu sprawls well.
Dark is breathing heavily.
Zu throws a head kick that half lands.
Zu cracks the inside of Dark's front leg.
Zu misses the shot to the body.
Zu lands with a slapping head kick.
Dark chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zu can pounce on him.
Dark looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Dark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zu throws a front kick that sends Dark stumbling back into the cage.
Zu buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zu misses with a head kick.
Dark moves out of range of the body kick.
A head kick misses from Zu.
Zu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zu throws a head kick but Dark moves out of range.
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 Nathan Dark will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Dark shoots in for a takedown but Zu shows good takedown defense.
Nathan Dark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dark bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Dark tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dark has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Dark tries to move into full mount but can't pass Zu's legs.
Zu is working to avoid the ground and pound but Dark connects with a decent elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dark thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zu is trying to buck Dark off.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Dark happy to just control the position for now.
Dark thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Zu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
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.
Dark is trying to get an arm triangle but Zu is defending well.
Zu wants to get back to his feet but Dark drags him back down.
Dark lands a few punches from side control.
Dark wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zu, who protects the arm well.
Dark misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zu is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Dark is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dark tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Zu prevents Dark from improving position.
Dark is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zu knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zu tries to buck Dark off but Dark is having none of it.
Dark stands up and beckons Zu to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dark drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dark stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Nathan Dark dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Dark scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nathan Dark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dark tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Dark working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Dark working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Dark wants to control but Zu is keeping him busy.
Dark working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Dark is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dark wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zu, who protects the arm well.
Dark working away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dark wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zu keeps working.
Dark is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dark trying to control the position but Zu is working away.
Dark decides to stand back up. Dark steps back and let's Zu get back to his feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dark takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Zu buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Dark drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dark wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zu keeps working.
Dark has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Zu throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Dark's head.
A solid body kick from Zu.
Dark shoots in for a takedown but Zu shows good takedown defense.
Zu on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zu throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Dark fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zu plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Dark shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zu as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Dark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dark has a takedown stuffed.
Zu throws a nice inside leg kick.
Dark takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Zu scores with a leg kick.
Nathan Dark is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zu throws a head kick but Dark moves out of range.
Zu throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zu throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Dark fails with the takedown.
Zu is looking to slow Dark down with leg kicks.
Dark takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Zhang Zu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dark tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
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 Nathan Dark.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dark, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Dark!
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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
41% |
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