PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roman Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Zu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Davis
vs
Zu

182 cm
25
194 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

200 cm
20
190 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

•‡• LION Clothing •‡•

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Roman Davis!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Zhang Zu!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zu throws a sloppy head kick and Davis moves out of range easily.
Zu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Zu throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Zu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Davis's sensitive parts.
No joy there for Davis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zu tries to work over Davis's front leg with a kick but Davis checks it.
Zu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zu wants it to stay on the feet.
A head kick from Zu lands but Davis takes it in his stride.
A good leg kick by Zu.
Zu chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Davis scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zu is trying to buck Davis off.
Zu wants to control but Davis postures up.
Davis is looking to take a break and control but Zu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Zu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zu is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Davis wants to pass the guard but Zu is defending well.
Zu wants to improve his position but Davis is controlling well.
Davis wants to take a breather but Zu is having none of it.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Davis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zu bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Davis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zu, right into the meat.
Zu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Zu. Davis shrugs it off though.
Zu tries a head kick but it misses.
Zu is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Both fighters circling a little - Zu finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Davis checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Davis tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Davis is breathing heavily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zu.
Davis walks forward, straight into a front kick from Zu.
Zu lands with a kick to the temple. Davis shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Roman Davis has been cut.
Zu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Zu scores with a kick to the body.
Zu throws a sloppy head kick and Davis moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis takes a kick to the side of the head.
Zu connects with a high kick.
Zu throws a head kick that Davis semi-blocks.
Davis takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Davis shoots in looking for a takedown. Zu tries to sprawl out of it but Davis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Davis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zu plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Davis slips a jab and a cross from Zu.
Zu thumps Davis with a low kick.
Zu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zu throws a leg kick which misses Davis's front leg but catches the back leg as Davis tries to avoid it.
Davis chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zu can pounce on him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zu. That's going to slow Davis down.
Davis will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zu, right into the meat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zu.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zu throws a head kick that Davis semi-blocks.
Davis takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Davis is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Zu throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Davis's head.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zu, right into the meat.
Davis has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Zu.
Zu feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Davis's calf.
Zu lands with a slapping head kick.
Zu throws a nice head kick!
Zu throws a leg kick which misses Davis's front leg but catches the back leg as Davis tries to avoid it.
Zu lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Roman Davis's cut is getting worse.
Zu moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zu lands with a slapping head kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zu scores with a leg kick.
Davis takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick from Zu lands but Davis takes it in his stride.
Zu lands a head kick. Davis smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Zu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roman Davis's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A slapping body kick lands there for Zu.
Davis lands a two punch combo.
Zu falls off balance throwing a combination
and Davis makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Zu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Davis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zu scores with a kick to the body.
Roman Davis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zu moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Good leg kick by Zu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Zu lands a nice looking kick to the body. Davis takes a step back to recover.
Davis sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Davis takes a kick to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Davis blocks a head kick by Zu.
Zu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Davis.
Davis doesn't manage to clinch there - Zu circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zu throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Davis.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zu, right into the meat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zu.
Zhang Zu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zu lands with a slapping head kick.
Zu feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Davis's calf.
Zu misses the shot to the body.
Zu scores with a head kick.
Zu lands a high kick!
Zhang Zu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zu delivers a nice body kick.
Zu lands a head kick!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Davis takes a swing at Zu's ribcage but misses.
Zu is looking to slow Davis down with leg kicks.
Zu throws a head kick that misses

and Davis counters with a shoot takedown. Zu fights it but they end up in guard.
Davis wants to control from the top but Zu keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zu has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Davis has gone for a leg lock! Zu slips out almost immediately though and dives into Davis's guard.

Davis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Davis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Davis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Zu trying to control but Davis is working from the bottom.
Davis wants to sweep here but Zu controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Davis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Davis manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Zu tries to hold on but Davis pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Zu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Roman Davis's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zu tries a head kick but it misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zu.

Davis clinches with his opponent.
Zu tries to break free but Davis pushes him back against the cage.

Davis ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Davis no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zu gets to his feet - Davis follows without any prompting.
Davis takes a kick to the side of the head.
An inside leg kick lands from Zu.
Zu throws out a leg kick but Davis moves out of range and Zu only half commits.
Davis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zu sprawls well. Zu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Davis gets slowly back to his feet.
Zu is looking to chop away at Davis's legs.

Davis scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zu is letting Davis control him for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zu is trying to get back to half guard.
Zu is not content to let Davis control the position.
Zu tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Davis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Davis looking to control but instead Zu has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

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.
Zu is staying active underneath Davis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Davis is stalling here. Zu is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Davis seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Zu has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Davis tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Zu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Davis's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick misses from Zu.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zu.
Davis fails with a takedown attempt.
Davis takes a kick to the side of the head.
A bone on bone clash there as Davis blocks the leg kick.
Zu misses with a low kick.
Davis avoids the head kick by Zu.
Davis blocks a head kick by Zu.
Zu misses with a body kick.
Davis avoids the head kick by Zu.
Zu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Davis avoids the head kick by Zu.
Zu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zu's waist but Zu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Davis off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Davis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zu throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Davis.
Davis tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Zu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Zhang Zu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zu throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Davis's head.
Davis throws a push kick but Zu slaps the foot to one side.
Zu blocks the body kick.
Zu lands a nice looking kick to the body. Davis takes a step back to recover.
Zu lands with a slapping head kick.
Zu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zu misses with a kick to the body.
Zu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Zu throws a leg kick that misses.
Davis has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Zu.
Davis lands an overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Zu really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roman Davis's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Davis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zu avoids it really well and circles away.
Zu scores with a leg kick.
Zu throws a head kick that misses.
Zu throws a head kick that misses.
Zu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zu tries to bum rush Davis with a series of wild strikes but Davis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Zu throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A thudding body kick lands there by Zu!
Zu scoring well with a low kick there.

Davis moves into the clinch.
Zu wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zu smiles and moves away.
Zu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Davis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Davis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Davis takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Davis connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Davis lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Zu tries a head kick but it misses.
Davis moves out of range as Zu throws a body kick.
Zu throws a right and a left that Davis avoids nicely.
Zu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zu throws a head kick but Davis moves out of range.
Zu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zu thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Davis if he has to take too many more of those.
Zu throws a lazy body kick

and Davis counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Davis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zu is keeping the position for now.
Zu keeping moving, preventing Davis from controlling successfully.
Davis thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Davis wants to control from the top but Zu keeps moving.
Davis is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Zu is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Davis drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zu manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Davis has Zu in his guard.

Davis working for a triangle but Zu defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Davis has his foot on Zu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zu works his way back into a safe position though.
Zu wants to get up but he can't break Davis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Davis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zu won't allow Davis to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Zu dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Roman Davis's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Zu connects with a solid leg kick.
Davis moves out of range as Zu throws a body kick.
Zu throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zu throws a head kick that misses
and Davis counters with a two punch combo.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Zu. Davis shrugs it off though.
Zu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Zu avoids the body shot from Davis.
Zu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Zu.
Zu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Davis. That did some damage!

Davis clinches.
Zu tries to break free but Davis pushes him back against the cage.
Davis is working for takedown but Zu is calmly controlling the position for now.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Davis tries to pull guard but Zu holds him up against the cage and eventually Davis drops back down to his feet.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zu prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Davis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Davis goes for a takedown attempt but Zu pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Davis takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Zu lands a head kick. Davis smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
No luck for Davis with that takedown attempt.
Zu throws a left and a right that both miss

and Davis counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Davis.
Roman Davis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zu keeping moving, preventing Davis from controlling successfully.

Zu kicks Davis off and gets to his feet.
Roman Davis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zu throws a head kick but Davis moves out of range.
Zu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zu throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Davis darts in and clinches Zu up against the cage.
Davis is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zu gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Davis fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Davis is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Davis has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zu uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zu manages to get himself to full guard.
Davis prevents Zu from getting back to his feet.
Zhang Zu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Davis trying to control the position from guard on top but Zu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Davis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Davis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Davis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Davis trying to control but Zu is working from the bottom.
Davis wants to pass the guard but Zu is keeping the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Davis. That did some damage!
Davis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

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 Roman Davis.
I think Zu 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 45:50
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 45:50
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 45:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhang Zu! Zhang Zu retains his middleweight title!