PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Don Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhao Zhuo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Shaw might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Body Head Bangerz - Can't Be Touched. Zhuo is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Kung Fu You. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shaw
vs
Zhuo

185 cm
30
178 lbs
20 - 13 - 1

184 cm
25
177 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

$10

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Don Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zhao Zhuo!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaw on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zhuo.
Zhuo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Shaw under the eye.
Shaw doesn't manage to clinch there - Zhuo circles away.
A big left from Zhuo misses.
Zhuo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sloppy strikes from Zhuo. Those never looked like landing.
Shaw loads up on a big right hand but Zhuo slips the punch.
Shaw avoids the body shot from Zhuo.
Zhuo thows a body shot but no joy.
Zhuo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Zhuo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zhuo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Shaw doesn't seem bothered though.
Shaw ducks under a wild hook from Zhuo.
Zhuo ducks under a wild hook from Shaw.
Shaw uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhuo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice sprawl there from Shaw as Zhuo shoots in.
Zhuo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shaw forces Zhuo back against the cage and clinches.
Zhuo has a couple of punches blocked by Shaw.
Zhuo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shaw.
Shaw lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Zhuo trying to control the position but instead, Shaw has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zhuo into the cage.
Zhuo tries to pull guard but Shaw won't allow it.
Don Shaw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zhao Zhuo.
Zhuo is trying to break the clinch but Shaw has him pressed against the cage.

Zhuo decides to pull guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Shaw is looking to stand up but Zhuo won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhuo thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Zhuo wants to sweep here but Shaw controlling him for the moment.
Shaw chips away with some ground and pound.
Zhuo keeping moving, preventing Shaw from controlling successfully.
Zhuo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Zhuo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shaw gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhuo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shaw's guard.
Zhuo throwing strikes but missing.
Zhuo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shaw utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zhuo postures up and lands a big shot to Shaw's brow.
Zhuo tries to free his leg and advance position but Shaw is retaining full guard.
Zhuo throwing strikes from guard but Shaw blocks nicely.
Zhuo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zhuo is looking to work some ground and pound but Shaw has wrist control.
Zhuo throws a strike but Shaw rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zhuo wants to sweep here but Shaw controlling him for the moment.
Zhuo working a defensive guard here.
Shaw has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zhuo is proving hard to escape from.
Zhuo trying to control the position.
Shaw wants to control from the top but Zhuo keeps moving.
Zhuo wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhuo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Shaw is looking to stand up but Zhuo won't let him.
Zhuo is looking to sweep but instead, Shaw has passed into half guard.
Zhuo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zhuo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shaw.
Zhuo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shaw manages to get himself to full guard.
Shaw preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
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!
Zhuo throwing strikes from guard but Shaw blocks nicely.
Shaw preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhuo wants to pass the guard but Shaw is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhao Zhuo 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.

Shaw takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Shaw fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zhuo loads up on a big right hand but Shaw slips the punch.
Zhuo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zhuo misses the shot to the body.
Zhuo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zhuo slips under a jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Shaw.
Shaw keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shaw throws a body punch but Zhuo moves out of range.
Zhuo misses with a wild body shot.
Zhuo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Zhuo takes a swing at Shaw's ribcage but misses.

Zhuo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shaw looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhuo working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Zhuo with the ground and pound but Shaw regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Zhuo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zhuo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Zhuo is trying to work for a kimura but Shaw is defending well.

Zhuo is working for a kimura but Shaw is defending it quite comfortably.

Zhuo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shaw sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shaw manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Zhuo shoots in and gets a takedown into Shaw's guard.
Zhuo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zhuo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zhuo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zhuo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zhuo tries to free his leg and advance position but Shaw is retaining full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shaw utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zhuo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zhuo postures up in Shaw's guard and throws a big left but Shaw blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhuo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zhuo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zhuo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zhuo throws a big elbow that misses.
Shaw working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zhuo.
Zhuo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zhuo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shaw preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zhuo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zhuo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhuo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shaw preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zhuo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shaw utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zhuo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shaw wants to stand but Zhuo is controlling the position.
Zhuo postures up and lands a big shot to Shaw's brow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhuo postures up in Shaw's guard and throws a big left but Shaw blocks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhuo postures up in Shaw's guard and throws a big left but Shaw blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhao Zhuo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zhuo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shaw.
Shaw throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zhao Zhuo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhuo misses with a wild body shot.
Zhuo fails to land the takedown.
Zhao Zhuo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zhuo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shaw fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Zhuo just misses with a punch to the body.
Zhuo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Shaw rather than just go for the knockout.
Zhuo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shaw stuns Zhuo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Zhuo scores with a decent looking hook.
Shaw thows a body shot but no joy.
Zhuo looks for a takedown but Shaw sprawls well.
Shaw uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhuo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shaw throws a good cross that connects.
Zhuo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shaw manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zhuo. Shaw does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shaw uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zhuo.
Zhuo scores with a body shot.
Zhuo misses with a body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zhuo.
Don Shaw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zhao Zhuo.
Zhuo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zhuo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Shaw finds it's way round the side to connect with Zhuo's head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zhuo is defended easily by Shaw.
Zhuo connects with a looping right hand.
Zhuo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zhao Zhuo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw connects with a right hand. Zhuo shakes it off.
Shaw scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zhuo shoots in looking for a takedown but Shaw manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zhuo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shaw.
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!
Zhuo misses with a hook to the body
and Shaw counters with a slapping leg kick.
Shaw wants to clinch up but Zhuo keeps it at a distance.
Zhuo swings widly with a right hand
and Shaw counters with an outside leg kick.

Zhuo has managed to clinch.
Zhuo is working for takedown but Shaw is calmly controlling the position for now.
Shaw tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shaw throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zhuo blocks it with crossed arms.
Shaw misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Shaw fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw misses with some punches.
Zhuo looking to slow down the pace here.
Shaw dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Shaw swings wildly with an uppercut but Zhuo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shaw doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shaw keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zhuo's efforts to push away.
Shaw misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaw throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shaw.
Shaw lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zhuo backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zhuo.
Don Shaw has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zhuo stalls.
Shaw with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A short right from Shaw on the inside.
Shaw fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Shaw showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zhuo 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhao Zhuo!
Zhao Zhuo made sure to mention his sponsor, Affaketion in his post fight interview.