PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yun Zhang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pico Rodrigo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yun Zhang has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zhang
vs
Rodrigo

180 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yun Zhang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pico Rodrigo!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zhang dives in and scores a takedown into Rodrigo's guard.
Rodrigo looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rodrigo keeping moving, preventing Zhang from controlling successfully.

Rodrigo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Zhang uses it to pass to side control.

Zhang decides to stand back up.
Zhang connects with a high kick.

Zhang gets the takedown into side control.
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!
The strikes coming from Zhang are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Zhang has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Zhang decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Zhang trying to mount his opponent but Rodrigo defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zhang is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zhang in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhang wants to control but Rodrigo is keeping him busy.
Zhang throwing shots but Rodrigo is blocking nicely.
Rodrigo wants to improve his position but Zhang is controlling well.

Zhang is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rodrigo sees it coming and defends easily.
Rodrigo is staying active underneath Zhang, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhang tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Rodrigo.
Zhang is trying to control. Rodrigo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rodrigo is trying to get back to full guard.
Zhang is looking to advance position but Rodrigo won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zhang seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodrigo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Yun Zhang wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rodrigo is looking to land body kicks.
A head kick misses from Rodrigo.

Zhang fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rodrigo, pushing him back against the cage.
Zhang jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rodrigo walks away with a smile on his face. Zhang gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Rodrigo gets tackled into the cage by Zhang. Zhang maintains the clinch.
Zhang is trying to break free.
Rodrigo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zhang is defending well for now.
Zhang drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rodrigo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rodrigo pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhang dives in and scores a takedown into Rodrigo's guard.
Zhang controlling from the top position.
Zhang tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodrigo is retaining full guard.

Rodrigo working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Zhang has passed into half guard!

Zhang wants to work for an arm triangle but Rodrigo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zhang is looking to take a break and control but Rodrigo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zhang has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Zhang decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rodrigo, up you get!
Rodrigo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zhang pinned against the cage. Zhang gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Zhang fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rodrigo, pushing him back 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 is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rodrigo is defending well for now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rodrigo as Zhang tries to tie him up.
Zhang is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rodrigo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yun Zhang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodrigo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zhang.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yun Zhang dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rodrigo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Zhang scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Zhang decides to stand and escape the position.

Zhang shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rodrigo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Zhang wants to control but Rodrigo is keeping him busy.
Rodrigo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rodrigo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Rodrigo looking for submissions off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhang trying to control from half guard but Rodrigo is working away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhang wants to stand up but Rodrigo has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Zhang seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodrigo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Zhang is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Rodrigo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rodrigo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zhang.
Zhang wants to control but Rodrigo is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zhang is working for a submission of some sort.

Rodrigo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zhang pulls his head out easily.
Zhang is pressing down on Rodrigo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rodrigo is holding on for now.

Rodrigo looking for submissions off his back.
Zhang sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rodrigo defending well though.
Zhang is trying to control. Rodrigo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhang decides to stand and escape the position.
Rodrigo tries a head kick but it misses.
Zhang avoids the head kick by Rodrigo.

Zhang scores a takedown into full mount!
Rodrigo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zhang can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rodrigo is looking to escape.
Rodrigo is looking to improve his position but Zhang isn't that keen on the idea.
Zhang controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhang trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rodrigo is looking to improve his position but Zhang isn't that keen on the idea.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhang looking to control but Rodrigo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rodrigo is looking to improve his position but Zhang isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yun Zhang 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!

Zhang closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rodrigo to the mat! Rodrigo manages to get full guard.

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

Zhang stands up and waves to Rodrigo to follow him.
Zhang throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Zhang throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rodrigo's waist but Rodrigo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zhang off to one side.
Rodrigo throws a low kick but Zhang moves out of range easily.

Zhang feints and as Rodrigo raises his hands in defense, Zhang changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Yun Zhang overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rodrigo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Zhang has picked Rodrigo up and slammed him! Rodrigo can't keep hold of the triangle and Zhang manages to pass to side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zhang wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodrigo keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zhang tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Zhang is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rodrigo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rodrigo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Zhang looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Zhang seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodrigo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zhang thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rodrigo's head.
Pico Rodrigo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigo actively working from the bottom here.
Rodrigo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Rodrigo looking for submissions off his back.
Zhang is keen to just control but Rodrigo is a slippery customer.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zhang in particular looking to stall.

Rodrigo has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Zhang. Oh but Rodrigo has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Zhang goes limp - he's gone! Rodrigo jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Pico Rodrigo!