PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tony Zhang (ranked 4503 p4p, 4340 weight class) and Adam Anderson (ranked 0 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.

Zhang
vs
Anderson

179 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
150
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tony Zhang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Adam Anderson!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Anderson is defended easily by Zhang.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zhang.
A low kick from Zhang is predictable there

and Anderson counters by clinching up.

Anderson manages to pull guard.
Zhang trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhang trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhang stopping the sweep attempt from Anderson.

Anderson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zhang is aware though and is defending well.
Anderson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Anderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Anderson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Anderson postures up and lands a big shot to Zhang's brow.

Zhang is looking for a triangle here but Anderson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Anderson decides to stand back up.

Anderson drives through and clinches with Zhang against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Zhang throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Anderson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Anderson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zhang throws a low kick, looking for Anderson's leg but Anderson calmly moves out of range.
Anderson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zhang appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Anderson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zhang swivels and escapes.
Tony Zhang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Anderson.
Zhang throws a sloppy head kick and Anderson moves out of range easily.

Anderson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zhang was covering up waiting for the punch and Anderson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Anderson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Zhang throws a sloppy head kick and Anderson moves out of range easily.
Zhang looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zhang is looking to score with low kicks.
Zhang throws a nice inside leg kick.
Anderson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Anderson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zhang throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Anderson blocks it with crossed arms.

Anderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Anderson avoids the head kick by Zhang.
Anderson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Anderson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zhang throws a counter high kick but Anderson was just alert enough to avoid it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Anderson looks winded!
Zhang throws a front kick aimed at Anderson's knee but Anderson avoids it well.
Zhang misses with a head kick.
Anderson moves out of range of the leg kick from Zhang.
Anderson throws a counter combo.
Zhang misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Anderson moves out of range as Zhang throws a body kick.
Tony Zhang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson takes a kick to the side of the head.

Anderson has closed the distance and engaged Zhang in a clinch.
Zhang pushes off an throws an elbow but Anderson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhang throws an elbow that misses.
Zhang creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Zhang using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A right hand to the body from Anderson.
Zhang throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Anderson has Zhang pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zhang manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Anderson managing to block the knees to the body from Zhang.
Zhang throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Anderson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zhang connects with an inside leg kick.
Zhang feints and then cracks Anderson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Anderson down.
Anderson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Anderson throws a head kick but Zhang moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Adam Anderson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Anderson shoots in for a takedown but Zhang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zhang throws a leg kick but Anderson checks it.
Zhang lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Adam Anderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zhang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zhang throws a leg kick that misses.
Anderson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zhang swivels and escapes.
Anderson fails with the takedown.
Tony Zhang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Anderson.
Zhang misses with a head kick.
Zhang dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Anderson. That did some damage!
Zhang looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhang throws a leg kick
and Anderson counters with a one-two to the body.
A clash of legs there as Anderson blocks the low kick.

Anderson rushes Zhang and presses him up against the cage.
Zhang misses with an elbow strike.
Zhang is looking to break free of the clinch but Anderson has double underhooks.
Zhang throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anderson breaks the clinch.
Anderson avoids the head kick by Zhang.
Zhang throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Zhang.
A head kick by Zhang misses

and Anderson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Anderson.

Anderson pulls Zhang into guard.

Anderson has his foot on Zhang's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zhang works his way back into a safe position though.
Anderson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Anderson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zhang wants to get back to full guard.
Anderson is controlling the pace.
Zhang has a hand on Anderson's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Anderson takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Anderson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Zhang knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Anderson on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Anderson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Zhang to take his back!
Anderson keeps control of the position as Zhang tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson biding his time, controlling Zhang.
Anderson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Anderson has the hooks in. Zhang is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Anderson biding his time, looking for the opening.
Anderson keeps control of the position as Zhang tries to break free.

Zhang preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Anderson.
Anderson keeps control of the position easily here as Zhang tries to buck him off.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Anderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zhang throws a head kick that misses.
Zhang throws a head kick but Anderson moves out of range.
Anderson blocks a head kick by Zhang.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zhang. That's going to slow Anderson down.
Tony Zhang is winning the standup battle so far.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Anderson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Zhang - the referee stops the clock and Anderson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Zhang. Anderson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Anderson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zhang.
Anderson darts in looking for a takedown but Zhang gets double underhooks and turns Anderson into the cage.
Zhang misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zhang misses with a leg kick
and Anderson counters with a series of strikes. Zhang will be more careful next time no doubt.

Zhang is rocked!
Zhang gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Anderson counters with a thumping low kick.
Zhang misses with a low kick.
Anderson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zhang as he jumps to the side.
Zhang is looking to chop away at Anderson's legs.
Zhang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Anderson clinches up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhang prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tony Zhang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Anderson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhang has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Anderson managing to block the knees to the body from Zhang.
Zhang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Anderson is defending well for now.
Adam Anderson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zhang throws an elbow that misses.
Anderson works on Zhang's body with a couple of short punches.

Anderson decides to pull guard.

Zhang drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Anderson dives on top into guard.

Anderson slips nicely into half guard.

Anderson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Anderson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Zhang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tony Zhang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zhang connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zhang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tony Zhang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anderson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zhang sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zhang throws a head kick that misses.
Zhang lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zhang throws a head kick that misses.

Anderson rushes Zhang and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Anderson wants the takedown. Zhang is fighting it off but Anderson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Zhang's guard against the cage.
Zhang being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Anderson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anderson advances to half guard.

Zhang is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Anderson pulls his head out easily.

That's four 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.
Zhang wants to sweep but Anderson has passed to side control!
Anderson controlling the position.

Anderson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Anderson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zhang sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Anderson is looking to land body kicks.
Anderson fails to land the takedown.
Adam Anderson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zhang throws a leg kick but Anderson sees it coming and checks it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Adam Anderson.
I've got Anderson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adam Anderson!