PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zang Zhai (ranked 725 p4p, 81 weight class) and Noob Saibot (ranked 517 p4p, 60 weight class). Zhai comes to the cage accompanied by Sampans. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zhai
vs
Saibot

169 cm
31
146 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

168 cm
41
146 lbs
40 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Bullet Proof System

Sin City Allstars
KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Zang Zhai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Noob Saibot!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, David Schapiro and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhai's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Saibot connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zhai scrambles back to his feet.
Saibot explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Zhai wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A telegraphed right hand from Zhai misses the target.
Zhai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saibot pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zhai is out of range and Saibot settles back down.
Saibot throws a low kick but Zhai moves out of range easily.
Saibot moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zhai throws a hook but Saibot avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saibot slips a straight right by Zhai.
Noob Saibot seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice defenses there by Zhai.
Saibot will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saibot moves away.
Saibot has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Saibot throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zhai was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Zhai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saibot throws a body kick that misses.
Zhai swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Saibot misses with a leg kick
and Zhai counters with a thumping low kick.
Zhai misses with an uppercut. Saibot saw that one coming.
Saibot throws a push kick but Zhai slaps the foot to one side.
Zhai throws a big shot that misses.
Zhai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zhai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zhai looks to land a right hand but Saibot moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saibot throws a chopping leg kick but Zhai manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Saibot lands an overhand right.
A telegraphed right hand from Zhai misses the target.
Saibot just misses with a punch to the body.
Zhai misses with an uppercut
and Saibot cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zhai just misses with a punch to the body.
Zhai misses with a body shot.
Zang Zhai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saibot waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zhai.
Zhai on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhai throws a half hearted mid kick.
Saibot misses with a low kick.
Zhai fires out a quick counter leg kick but Saibot just manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zhai wants it to stay on the feet.
Zhai tries to land a leg kick but Saibot saw it coming and moves away.
Saibot only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Zhai misses with a leg kick

and Saibot counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Saibot.
Saibot is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Saibot preventing the sweep.
Zhai seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Saibot passes into half guard.
Nice strikes from Saibot there.
Saibot sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saibot not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zhai controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Saibot looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saibot lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Saibot looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Zhai is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Zhai avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Saibot.
Saibot drops an elbow to the side of Zhai's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noob Saibot dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zhai throws a jab but it's blocked by Saibot.
A little jabbing left from Saibot on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Saibot has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zhai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saibot manages to avoid it.
Saibot lands with a straight right. Zhai didn't see that one coming.
Saibot throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Saibot displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A low kick from Saibot is predictable there
and Zhai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A swing and a miss from Saibot.
A low kick from Zhai misses
and Saibot counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhai motions for Saibot to come forward. Zhai throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zhai blocks the body kick.
Zhai is looking to counter punch.
Noob Saibot seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Saibot throws a left and a right that both miss
and Zhai counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhai ducks under a wild hook from Saibot.
Zhai is looking to counter punch.
Saibot misses with a looping left.
Saibot fails with the takedown
and Zhai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Saibot takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Saibot looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zhai fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Saibot.
Saibot connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zhai ducks under a wild hook from Saibot.

Saibot drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zhai keeping moving, preventing Saibot from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saibot stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zhai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zhai trying to control the position here.
Saibot throws a big right hand that misses.
Zhai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saibot.
Zhai is controlling Saibot's posture.
Zhai avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saibot sitting in guard here, content to control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saibot lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Saibot trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhai is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Noob Saibot has got the better of the ground game so far.
Saibot is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Saibot pushing down on Zhai's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Saibot takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zhai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saibot.
Saibot throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zhai wants to improve his position but Saibot is controlling well.

Saibot is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhai tries to roll over but Saibot keeps him under control.
Zhai is trying to maintain the position but Saibot is very close to passing his half guard.
Zhai is positioning himself well to prevent Saibot advancing to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saibot missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Saibot sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zhai defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noob Saibot showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Zhai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zhai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Saibot cracks Zhai with a good jab.
Saibot keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Zhai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zhai throws a lazy uppercut
and Zhai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saibot keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saibot doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Zhai moves out of range of the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhai throws a leg kick that is checked
and Saibot counters with a stiff right hand.
Zhai has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Saibot finds it's way round the side to connect with Zhai's head.
Saibot digs a good body shot into Zhai's ribs.
Saibot tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zhai swivels and escapes.
As Saibot backs away, Zhai returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saibot walks into a left hand.
Zhai throws a lazy uppercut
and Saibot counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saibot misses with a low kick as Zhai jumps back.
Saibot slips under a jab from Zhai.
Zhai ducks under a wild hook from Saibot.
Zhai scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Saibot ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saibot blocks a leg kick.
Zhai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Saibot throws out a counter right but Zhai avoids it with no problem.
Zhai cracks Saibot with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Noob Saibot 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.
Zhai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Saibot bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zang Zhai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jab from Saibot.
Saibot lands the left hand.
Saibot looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zhai is fending him off so far but Saibot persists. Nope, Zhai circles away and we're back to standing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhai swings widly with a right hand
and Saibot cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zhai drops his hands momentarily and Saibot takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Zhai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The fighters circling - Saibot throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slapping leg kick lands for Zhai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saibot does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Saibot thows a leg kick but Zhai checks it
and Zhai counters with a stiff right hand.
Saibot misses with a low kick.
Saibot misses with a combination
and Zhai counters with an outside leg kick.
Zhai takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Saibot keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saibot tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Zhai takes one to the chin there.
Saibot misses the body punch
and Zhai counters with a nice uppercut.
Zhai blocks the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhai stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Saibot lunges at Zhai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Zhai's hand.
Zhai has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zhai there as he acknowledges the shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhai takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Saibot bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zhai is looking to chop away at Saibot's legs.
Zhai stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Saibot.
Zhai thows a left - swing and a miss!
Saibot misses with a wild body shot.
Zhai drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noob Saibot comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Saibot has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noob Saibot!
Our winner, Noob Saibot, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.