PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mao Zedong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Powers comes to the cage accompanied by We Run This - Missy Elliot. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Powers
vs
Zedong

184 cm
29
147 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

173 cm
27
135 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jerome Powers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mao Zedong!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Powers gets a takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Zedong is looking to control Powers's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zedong avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zedong is not content to let Powers control the position.
Zedong trying to hold on to Powers's head to control him but Powers postures up.
Powers trying to mount his opponent but Zedong defends it.
Powers works his way into side control.
Zedong is trying to control Powers's posture but Powers avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zedong trying to remain calm as Powers controls from the top position.

Powers is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zedong is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Powers will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Powers misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Powers trying to control the action but Zedong is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Zedong's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
What's Zedong going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Powers wants to control for a moment but Zedong uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zedong wants to control the action here but instead Powers manages to pass to full mount!
Powers avoids the attempt from Zedong to control.
Powers trying to control but Zedong is having none of it.
Zedong reaches up to try and control the position but Powers seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Zedong rolls and tries to escape and now Powers has his back!

Zedong is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Powers gets his way!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zedong is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Powers is trying to stick to Zedong's back but Zedong is turning into Powers. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Powers's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Zedong.
Zedong trying to control the position from guard on top but Powers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powers is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zedong defends well.
Powers keeping full guard, as Zedong tries to pass.

Powers has his foot on Zedong's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zedong works his way back into a safe position though.
Zedong wants to pass the guard but Powers is keeping the position.
Zedong wants to control from the top but Powers keeps moving.
Powers wants to sweep here but Zedong controlling him for the moment.
Zedong must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zedong wants to control from the top but Powers keeps moving.
Zedong wants to pass the guard but Powers is keeping the position.

Zedong got a little sloppy there for a moment and Powers has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zedong has managed to get both his arms back between Powers's legs - danger averted.
Zedong wants to control from the top but Powers keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mao Zedong wasn't active enough on the ground.
Zedong fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Powers dominated that round.
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.

Zedong tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zedong is trying hard to land a takedown here. Powers sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zedong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Powers is fending him off so far but Zedong persists. Nope, Powers circles away and we're back to standing.

Powers throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zedong was covering up waiting for the punch and Powers finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zedong seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Zedong keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.
Powers controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Powers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zedong is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Powers defends well.
Jerome Powers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Powers content to stall in guard here.
Powers passes Zedong's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zedong is trying to control but can't.
Zedong might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Powers kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Powers thows a huge punch but Zedong dodges it nicely.
Powers keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Powers lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers wants to free his trapped foot but Zedong is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Powers is thwarting Zedong's attempts to control the position.
Powers missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mao Zedong.
Zedong is trying hard to land a takedown here. Powers sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jerome Powers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mao Zedong.
Powers connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zedong decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Powers gets back to full guard.
Powers throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zedong postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Powers is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Zedong, into his guard.
Zedong working a defensive guard here.
Zedong wants to stand but Powers is controlling the position.
Powers looking to pass the guard.
Zedong is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers tries to free his leg and advance position but Zedong is retaining full guard.
Zedong working a defensive guard here.
Powers really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Mao Zedong has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Powers looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zedong is not content to let Powers control the position.
Powers moves into full mount! Zedong won't be happy about that!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zedong is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zedong has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Zedong trying to control but not successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Powers dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Powers throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Powers shoots in for a double leg but Zedong sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Powers closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Powers lands in his opponent's guard.
Powers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zedong is keeping the position for now.
Zedong can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Powers controls the pace.

Zedong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zedong is looking to sweep but instead, Powers has passed into half guard.

Powers wants to work for an arm triangle but Zedong is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zedong looking for submissions off his back.
Powers trying to mount his opponent but Zedong defends it.
Zedong trying to control here.
Powers thows a huge punch but Zedong dodges it nicely.
Powers moves nicely into side control.

Powers goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Zedong has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Powers but great work by Zedong.

Zedong decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Powers misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Horrible takedown by Powers or perhaps it was just good defense by Zedong which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Powers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Powers is defended easily by Zedong.
Zedong doesn't manage to clinch there - Powers circles away.
Zedong fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Powers fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Zedong to the ground. Powers is now in Zedong's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Powers postures up.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Zedong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zedong's guard.
Zedong wants to get back to his feet.
Zedong takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zedong regains full guard. Nicely done.
Powers won't allow Zedong to sweep him here.
Zedong trying to control the position.
Zedong keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.
Powers with a flurry of punches that miss.
Powers passes Zedong's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mao Zedong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jerome Powers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zedong's head.

Zedong is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Powers pulls his head out easily.
Powers with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Powers passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Zedong!
Powers in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Powers looking to control but Zedong is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zedong tries to strike from the bottom but he's left himself exposed and Powers has taken his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerome Powers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Powers has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerome Powers!
An out of breath Jerome Powers thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.