PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between xu Chen (ranked 2955 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kristaps Zutis (ranked 2930 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Chen
vs
Zutis

190 cm
20
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

202 cm
25
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, xu Chen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kristaps Zutis!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Darius Henderson and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zutis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Chen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Chen looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Chen pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Chen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Zutis quickly recovers to half guard.
Zutis trying to control but Chen postures up.
Chen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zutis tries to kick Chen off but Chen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Zutis wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chen seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zutis sees it coming and defends easily.
Chen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zutis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Chen stuffs the takedown.
Zutis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Chen sprawls well. Chen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zutis gets slowly back to his feet.
xu Chen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kristaps Zutis.
Chen fails to land the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Chen.

Zutis moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen fails to pull guard.
Zutis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Chen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zutis fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Zutis pushes Chen up against the cage in a clinch.
Chen wants a takedown.
Zutis is trying to break the clinch but Chen is controlling him.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Chen manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zutis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Chen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zutis.
Chen lands with a shot to the body.
Zutis shoots in for a double leg but Chen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zutis darts in looking for a takedown but Chen gets double underhooks and turns Zutis into the cage.
Zutis looks winded!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Chen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zutis defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zutis slaps away a takedown attempt from Chen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As Chen backs off Zutis throws a huge counter combo but Chen manages to avoid it all.
Zutis misses with a few strikes there.

Zutis forces Chen back against the cage and clinches.

Zutis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Chen shoots in but Zutis avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Zutis throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Chen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Zutis is in Chen's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Chen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Chen looking for a guillotine here but Zutis defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kristaps Zutis will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zutis tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Chen defends well and Zutis ends up having to push Chen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Zutis throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Zutis drives through and clinches with Chen against the cage.

Chen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Zutis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zutis tries to stall but Chen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Chen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zutis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Zutis decides to pull guard.
Chen passes Zutis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zutis is trying to stand back up but Chen is controlling him

Zutis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Zutis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Zutis is trying to stand up here but Chen is controlling him well.
Zutis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chen.
Zutis wants to control but Chen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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.
Zutis tries to roll over but Chen keeps him under control.
Chen controlling the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zutis shoots for a takedown but Chen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zutis is breathing heavily.
Zutis on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Zutis moves into the clinch.
Chen stops a takedown attempt from Zutis.
xu Chen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kristaps Zutis.
Chen can't get the takedown.

Zutis gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Chen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Chen is controlling Zutis's trapped leg to prevent Zutis from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen missing with punches from the bottom.
Chen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Chen looking to control.
Zutis is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four 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.
Zutis won't allow Chen to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Chen throws a sloppy head kick and Zutis moves out of range easily.
Zutis works over Chen's head and body with a nice combination.
Chen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Zutis moves into range and clinches up with Chen.

Zutis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chen darts in looking for a takedown but Zutis gets double underhooks and turns Chen into the cage.

Zutis closes the distance and clinches.
Chen keeps control of Zutis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kristaps Zutis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Chen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zutis but Zutis pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zutis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Chen as he avoids it easily.
Chen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zutis.
Chen blocks the body kick.

Chen gets a clinch.

Chen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zutis closes the distance and clinches up with Chen, looking for a takedown. Zutis pushes Chen against the cage but Chen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Zutis clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kristaps Zutis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zutis shoots in for a takedown but Chen shows good takedown defense.
xu Chen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kristaps Zutis.
Chen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Zutis instigates a clinch.
Zutis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Chen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zutis prevents it.
Kristaps Zutis seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zutis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Chen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zutis looking for a takedown.

Chen lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Chen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zutis has managed to free his arm - good work.
Zutis tries to get to full guard but Chen has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zutis keeps working.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zutis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Chen stays in close to Zutis's body and controls the position.

Chen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zutis is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Chen, into his guard.

Chen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen has a closed guard, preventing Zutis from standing up.
Chen wants to sweep here but Zutis controlling him for the moment.
Zutis postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zutis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Chen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Chen has closed the distance and engaged Zutis in a clinch.
Zutis is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Chen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zutis is trying to pull guard but Chen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Zutis stalling in the clinch but Chen improves position.
xu Chen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kristaps Zutis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zutis blocks an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
xu Chen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zutis 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kristaps Zutis!