PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Fjera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ji Lu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Fjera
vs
Lu

188 cm
25
277 lbs
14 - 2 - 1

205 cm
26
269 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu
Museum of Monsters & Madmen

Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Fjera!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ji Lu!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lu takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fjera throws a poor cross that misses
and Lu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Nick Fjera has been cut.
Fjera throws a hook but Lu blocks it.
Lu slips under a jab from Fjera.
Lu throws out a counter right but Fjera avoids it with no problem.
Lu throws a push kick but Fjera slaps the foot to one side.
Lu's corner calls for a 1-2. Lu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Lu shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

It looks like Ji Lu has been cut.
Lu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fjera blocks the body kick.
Fjera scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lu doesn't seem bothered though.
Fjera missing with a left hand there. Lu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lu scores with a nice body kick.
A big right from Lu misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lu throws a poor cross that misses
and Fjera cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fjera looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fjera closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The strikes coming from Fjera are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Fjera goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lu rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Fjera's guard! Nice work there by Lu!
Fjera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lu distracts Fjera with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lu wants to control from the top but Fjera keeps moving.
Lu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Lu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lu trying to control but Fjera is working from the bottom.

Fjera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fjera tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fjera is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fjera missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fjera is thwarting Lu's attempts to control the position.
Fjera throwing shots but Lu is blocking nicely.

Fjera seems to be looking for submissions.
Fjera thows a huge punch but Lu dodges it nicely.
Fjera sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lu defending well though.
Lu blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fjera.

Fjera is working for a kimura but Lu is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fjera thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fjera scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Fjera not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lu is looking to control Fjera's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lu avoid being mounted?
Fjera with the ground and pound but Lu uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Fjera throws an elbow that misses. Lu uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fjera's guard. Nice move by Lu!

Fjera working for a triangle but Lu defends it easily.

Fjera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fjera wants to improve his position but instead Lu has moved into half guard.
Lu takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fjera wants to get back to full guard but Lu has passed into side control.
Fjera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Fjera manages to get back to half guard.

Fjera actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fjera is pressing down on Lu's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Fjera is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fjera can't keep his opponent in guard - Lu advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nick Fjera will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Fjera feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lus jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Fjera lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lu at a distance.
Fjera lands with a nice body punch.
Lu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fjera.
Lu gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Fjera slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Fjera loads up on a big right hand but Lu slips the punch.
Fjera is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lu can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fjera misses with a body shot.
Nick Fjera is winning the standup battle so far.
Lu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fjera fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lu scores with a spinning back kick!

Fjera drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fjera working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fjera looking to pass the guard.
Fjera looking to sit in guard and control but Lu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lu preventing the sweep.

Fjera has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lu pushing down on Fjera's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Fjera is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lu pulls his head out easily.
Fjera is trying to maintain the position but Lu is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Fjera doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lu.
Fjera has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lu lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lu blocks the strikes from Fjera.
Nick Fjera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fjera works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lu cracks Fjera with a solid left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fjera is on top in guard.

Lu wants to sweep here but Fjera controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lu is adopting a defensive guard.
Fjera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fjera scoring with punches to the head and body.
Fjera preventing the sweep.

Lu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fjera is aware though and is defending well.
Fjera cracks Lu with a solid left hand.
Fjera makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Lu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fjera preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fjera with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fjera trying to control but Lu is working from the bottom.
Lu working a defensive guard here.
Fjera wants to control from the top but Lu keeps moving.

Lu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fjera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fjera advances position into side control!
Fjera throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Fjera dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lu's corner calls for a 1-2. Lu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Nick Fjera's cut is getting worse.
A punch lands to the side of Lu 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Fjera manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lu on his heels. He'll look to pass Lu's guard now, I'm sure.
Lu looking for a sweep. Not yet Lu, not yet.
Lu is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Fjera trying to control from the bottom.
Fjera on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Fjera wants to sweep but Lu has passed to side control!
Lu cracks Fjera with a big right hand but Fjera just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Lu lands a decent elbow from side control.
Fjera wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fjera tries to bench press Lu off him but Lu keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fjera is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lu off and has taken his back!
Lu trying to control the hands but Fjera won't let him.
Fjera missing with strikes from the back.
Lu trying to control the position but Fjera manages to sink in the hooks.
Fjera punishes Lu with strikes from the back mount.

That has opened up Ji Lu's cut even more.
Fjera missing with strikes from the back.

Fjera has got his arm under Lu's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Lu has spun round into Fjera's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Lu chips away with some ground and pound.

Nick Fjera's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

Fjera is looking for a triangle but Lu pushes his legs off easily.
Lu trying to control the position from guard on top but Fjera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Fjera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fjera is looking to sweep but instead, Lu has passed into half guard.
Fjera is trying to get back to full guard.
Lu wants to control but Fjera is keeping him busy.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lu connects with a nice short shot to Fjera's temple.

Jeez, Nick Fjera's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Nick Fjera's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Ji Lu!
Ji Lu is the new heavyweight champion!
A victorious Ji Lu thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.