PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chunzhi Zheng (ranked 4569 p4p, 0 weight class) and Usman Al Naemi (ranked 23717 p4p, 0 weight class). Zheng has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Chunzhi Zheng looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Zheng
vs
Al Naemi

177 cm
27
159 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

173 cm
26
157 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chunzhi Zheng!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Usman Al Naemi!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Bruno Lombardi and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zheng closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zheng is breathing heavily.
Zheng tries to work over Al Naemi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zheng changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Al Naemi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Al Naemi misses with a takedown attempt - Zheng sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Al Naemi shoots in but Zheng avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Al Naemi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Chunzhi Zheng has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Usman Al Naemi.
Zheng throws a body punch but Al Naemi moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Naemi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zheng defends well and Al Naemi ends up having to push Zheng into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Zheng has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zheng prevents Al Naemi from breaking the clinch.
Zheng blocks an elbow strike from Al Naemi.
Al Naemi wants to break free but Zheng has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Naemi is trying to stall.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Zheng's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Al Naemi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zheng tries to avoid it but Al Naemi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zheng to the ground. Zheng escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Al Naemi fails with the takedown.
Al Naemi has a takedown stuffed.
No luck for Al Naemi with that takedown attempt.
Al Naemi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zheng defends well and Al Naemi ends up having to push Zheng into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zheng gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Al Naemi counters with a shoot takedown. Zheng fights it but they end up in guard.
Zheng is wriggling around but Al Naemi manages to pass to half guard.

Al Naemi wants to get back to his feet.

Al Naemi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Naemi is looking to take a break and control but Zheng is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Naemi wants to get back to his feet.
Al Naemi wants to control but Zheng is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Al Naemi slows the pace down in half guard.
Al Naemi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zheng keeps working.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zheng is trying to maintain the position but Al Naemi is very close to passing his half guard.
Al Naemi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
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 Chunzhi Zheng will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Al Naemi throws a nice looking combination but Zheng bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Al Naemi has a takedown stuffed.
Al Naemi looks to land a combination but Zheng avoids it well.
Zheng keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zheng fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Al Naemi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zheng sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Al Naemi somewhat.
Chunzhi Zheng has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Usman Al Naemi.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Naemi closes the distance and clinches up with Zheng, looking for a takedown. Al Naemi pushes Zheng against the cage but Zheng circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zheng seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Al Naemi shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Naemi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zheng circles away.
Zheng is looking to counter punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Al Naemi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zheng stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zheng wants it to stay on the feet.
Al Naemi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zheng throws a series of punches but Al Naemi avoids them all with ease.
Al Naemi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zheng as he avoids it easily.
Al Naemi tries for a takedown but Zheng sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zheng throws a big counter combination but Al Naemi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Al Naemi shoots in but no luck this time.
Zheng shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Naemi wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Al Naemi.

Zheng gets tackled into the cage by Al Naemi. Al Naemi maintains the clinch.
Al Naemi stalling in the clinch but Zheng improves position.
Zheng wants a takedown.

Al Naemi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Al Naemi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zheng avoids it really well and circles away.
As Al Naemi tries to get set, Zheng tries to push him back and clinch up but Al Naemi manages to avoid the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Naemi fails with a takedown attempt.
Al Naemi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Al Naemi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zheng.
Zheng blocks a head kick by Al Naemi.
Al Naemi shoots in and drives through. Zheng sprawls well.
Zheng avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Chunzhi Zheng is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Al Naemi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zheng looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Naemi moves in looking to clinch but Zheng pushes him off.
Al Naemi looks to land a combination but Zheng avoids it well.
Chunzhi Zheng is winning the standup battle so far.
Zheng ducks under a wild hook from Al Naemi.
Zheng was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Al Naemi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zheng tries to clinch up but Al Naemi circles away and keeps his distance.
Al Naemi throws out a counter right but Zheng avoids it with no problem.
Al Naemi tries for a takedown but Zheng sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zheng is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Al Naemi can do to turn this around?
Al Naemi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zheng avoids it really well and circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zheng shoots in for a takedown but Al Naemi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chunzhi Zheng dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Al Naemi misses with a body shot.
Al Naemi fails with the takedown.
Al Naemi slips a jab and a cross from Zheng.
Al Naemi shoots in for a takedown but Zheng shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zheng tries to counter by clinching up but Al Naemi breaks away and moves out of range.
Al Naemi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zheng's waist but Zheng gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Al Naemi off to one side.
Chunzhi Zheng has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Usman Al Naemi.
Al Naemi dives in for a single leg takedown but Zheng sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zheng shoots in and drives through. Al Naemi sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Al Naemi is defended easily by Zheng.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zheng fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Al Naemi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Al Naemi darts in looking for a takedown but Zheng gets double underhooks and turns Al Naemi into the cage.
Zheng wants to clinch.
Al Naemi looks to score with a jab to the body but Zheng is just out of range.
Zheng looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Al Naemi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zheng pinned against the cage. Zheng gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zheng tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Al Naemi defends well and Zheng ends up having to push Al Naemi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Al Naemi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Al Naemi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zheng is fending him off so far but Al Naemi persists. Nope, Zheng circles away and we're back to standing.

Al Naemi clinches up with Zheng and pushes him back against the cage.

Al Naemi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Al Naemi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Al Naemi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zheng wants to stand but Al Naemi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Al Naemi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Naemi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zheng stops Al Naemi from standing up.
Zheng loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Al Naemi is looking to stand up but Zheng isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Al Naemi fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Al Naemi or perhaps it was just good defense by Zheng, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Al Naemi closes the distance and clinches up with Zheng, looking for a takedown. Al Naemi pushes Zheng against the cage but Zheng circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zheng keeps the fight on the outside.
Al Naemi misses with a series of wild punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zheng.
Al Naemi only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Al Naemi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Naemi goes for a double leg but Zheng avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zheng continues to drive forward.
Usman Al Naemi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chunzhi Zheng is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Al Naemi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zheng but Zheng pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chunzhi Zheng showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zheng, 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chunzhi Zheng!