PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Friedrich Alzheimer (ranked 82 p4p, 9 weight class) and Zang Zhai (ranked 182 p4p, 23 weight class). Alzheimer comes into the arena with The Worlds Greatest blaring out of the sound system. Zhai comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Sampans kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Alzheimer
vs
Zhai

163 cm
31
143 lbs
20 - 4 - 0

169 cm
36
146 lbs
28 - 18 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Sportivité
Urban Fighter

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 20 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Friedrich Alzheimer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Zang Zhai!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Hirohito Nitta and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alzheimer throws a sloppy body shot
and Zhai counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Zhai steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Alzheimer. That one must have hurt.
A good leg kick by Zhai.
Zhai scores with a body shot.
Zhai doesn't manage to clinch there - Alzheimer circles away.
Zhai on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Zhai misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zhai. Alzheimer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alzheimer pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zhai misses with a wild body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zhai checks a leg kick.
Zhai throws a looping overhand right but Alzheimer ducks down to avoid it.
Alzheimer lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zhai's sensitive parts.
Alzheimer lands with a hook. Zhai tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Alzheimer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zhai. That did some damage!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alzheimer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zhai takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Alzheimer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zhai. That did some damage!
Alzheimer moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alzheimer.
Zhai smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zhai connects with a looping right hand.
Alzheimer looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Friedrich Alzheimer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alzheimer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Alzheimer lands a glancing blow to the side of Zhai's head.
Zhai tries to clinch there but Alzheimer circles away.
Zhai turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Zhai slips under a jab from Alzheimer.
Alzheimer lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A nice inside leg kick there by Alzheimer. That's going to slow Zhai down.
Alzheimer looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nice defenses there by Alzheimer.
Zhai chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Alzheimer fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zhai has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alzheimer smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zhai's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Alzheimer misses with a jab to the body
letting Zhai counter with a right hand.
Zhai with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zhai is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Alzheimer rather than just go for the knockout.
Zhai throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Alzheimer on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alzheimer tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Alzheimer scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zhai's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Alzheimer connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zhai scrambles back to his feet.
Alzheimer sizes up Zhai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Alzheimer looks to score with a jab to the body but Zhai is just out of range.
Zhai sizes up Alzheimer with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Zhai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alzheimer was well out of range. Poor timing from Zhai.
Zhai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alzheimer.
Alzheimer on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Alzheimer throws a leg kick but Zhai sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Alzheimer throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice shot lands for Alzheimer.
Alzheimer chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Alzheimer takes one on the button.
Zhai throws a lazy head kick
and Alzheimer counters with a stiff right hand.
A leg kick checked by Zhai.
Alzheimer gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zhai.
Crunch! Alzheimer slams his shin into Zhai's torso.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alzheimer looks to land a combination. Zhai sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Alzheimer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zhai avoids the body shot from Alzheimer.
Alzheimer scores with a hook.
Alzheimer thuds a left hand into Zhai's body.
Alzheimer looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Alzheimer throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zhai takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Alzheimer sizes up Zhai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Alzheimer, right into the meat.
Zhai wants to land a leg kick but Alzheimer is out of range.
Alzheimer feints and then cracks Zhai's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zhai down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhai throws a nice inside leg kick.
Alzheimer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zhai.
A jab from Alzheimer finds it's way through Zhai's defenses.
Alzheimer misses with a right hand
and Zhai makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Alzheimer misses with a hook
and Zhai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Alzheimer scoring well with a low kick there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alzheimer tries to score with a low kick but Zhai moves his leg out of the way.
Alzheimer throws a body shot but no joy.
Zhai slips under a jab from Alzheimer.
Zhai will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Zhai cracks Alzheimer with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Alzheimer motions for Zhai to come forward. Alzheimer throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Alzheimer looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Zhai looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Alzheimer throws a leg kick but Zhai sees it coming and moves out of range.
Alzheimer throws a nice outside leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Alzheimer.
Zhai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alzheimer moves away.
Alzheimer swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Alzheimer moves away from the strike by Zhai.
Alzheimer is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alzheimer misses with a wild body shot.
Zhai looks to land a left hand but Alzheimer moved out of range nicely.
Alzheimer avoids the body shot from Zhai.
Zhai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alzheimer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Friedrich Alzheimer dominated that round.
That's time! Alzheimer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Alzheimer missing with a left hand there. Zhai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zhai scores with a sloppy right hand. Alzheimer should have avoided that one.
Zhai throws a body shot but no joy.
Alzheimer scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Alzheimer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhai.
Alzheimer walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Alzheimer wants to slow Zhai down by chopping away at his legs.
Alzheimer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zhai just misses with a punch to the body.
Zhai feints and then cracks Alzheimer's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Alzheimer down.
Zhai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Alzheimer.
A nice side step and Zhai releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Zhai moves into range and connects with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhai throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Nice body punch from Alzheimer.
A slapping leg kick lands for Alzheimer.
Zhai throws a hook but Alzheimer avoids it easily.
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!
A punch combination from Alzheimer misses.
Alzheimer misses with a straight right.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zhai! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alzheimer lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Zhai blocks the leg kick.
Alzheimer throws an overhand right that lands on Zhai's shoulder, as Zhai tries to avoid the shot.
Alzheimer throws a good cross that connects.
Alzheimer throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zhai looks to score with a jab to the body but Alzheimer is just out of range.
Zhai checks a low kick from Alzheimer.
Nice defenses there by Zhai.
Zhai looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nice defenses there by Zhai.
Zhai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alzheimer.
Alzheimer takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Zhai throws a nice outside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Zhai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alzheimer tries to work over Zhai's front leg with a kick but Zhai checks it.
Zhai misses with a looping left.
Alzheimer checks the leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Zhai checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhai throws a shot to the body.
Alzheimer looks to throw a body kick
and Zhai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alzheimer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zhai misses with a straight left.
Zhai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Alzheimer.
Alzheimer scores with a shot to the body.
A swing and a miss from Zhai.
Alzheimer fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zhai looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zhai takes a swing at Alzheimer's ribcage but misses.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Zhai might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Alzheimer has got the better of the exchanges.
Alzheimer misses with a straight left.
Zhai swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Zhai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zhai throws a looping overhand right but Alzheimer ducks down to avoid it.
Alzheimer connects with a looping right hand.
Zhai has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Alzheimer.
Zhai misses with an uppercut.
The crowd cheers as Zhai lands an impressive looking overhand right. Alzheimer doesn't seem phased though.
Nice defenses there by Alzheimer.
Zhai misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alzheimer thumps Zhai with a low kick.
Alzheimer will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Zhai checks a low kick from Alzheimer.
Alzheimer with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zhai avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Alzheimer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhai.
Zhai throws a jab but it's blocked by Alzheimer.
Alzheimer is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Zhai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alzheimer manages to avoid it.
Zhai throws a body punch but Alzheimer moves out of range.
Zhai checks a low kick from Alzheimer.
Zhai tries a quick counter leg kick but Alzheimer is wise to it.
Alzheimer swings for the body but Zhai moves out of range.
Alzheimer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Alzheimer stuns Zhai with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Alzheimer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alzheimer connects with a right hand. Zhai shakes it off.
Zhai changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alzheimer fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zhai checks it well.
Alzheimer throws the left hand but Zhai avoids the punch easily.
Zhai now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Zhai throws a body shot but no joy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jab from Alzheimer.
Alzheimer shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Alzheimer lands a head kick!
Zhai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alzheimer feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zhai's calf.
Zhai throws a body punch but Alzheimer moves out of range.
Zhai scores with a jab. Alzheimer acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Alzheimer slips a straight right by Zhai.
Alzheimer misses the shot to the body.
It seemed like Zhai was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Zhai swings for the body but Alzheimer moves out of range.
Alzheimer throws a quick counter kick to the body but Zhai avoids it.
Alzheimer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zhai can do to turn this around?
Alzheimer misses with a looping left.
Alzheimer slips under a jab.
Friedrich Alzheimer is winning the standup battle so far.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zhai.
Alzheimer scores with a nice right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Friedrich Alzheimer will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Alzheimer lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zhai's sensitive parts.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Zhai, as that shot connected.
Alzheimer works the jab nicely.
Alzheimer jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Alzheimer connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zhai scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A slow jab from Zhai misses its intended target.
Zhai chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Alzheimer can pounce on him.
Zhai misses with a hook. Alzheimer ducked under it nicely.
A quick step to the side and Alzheimer tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Alzheimer.
Alzheimer connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zhai lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhai throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Zhai misses with a looping left.
Zhai misses with a hook
and Alzheimer counters with a stiff right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Alzheimer misses the target.
Alzheimer scores with the left hand. Zhai knows he should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Alzheimer.
Alzheimer moves into range and connects with a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Zhai misses the target.
Zhai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhai looks to score with a jab to the body but Alzheimer is just out of range.
Alzheimer walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Alzheimer wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zhai walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Alzheimer takes a swing at Zhai's ribcage but misses.
Zhai appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Zhai scores with a body shot.
Zhai looks for the body kick but Alzheimer saw that one coming.
Zhai has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A jab from Zhai misses.
Zhai checks a leg kick.
Zhai scores with a shot to the body.
Alzheimer catches Zhai with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alzheimer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zhai.
Alzheimer takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alzheimer misses with a looping left.
Zhai swings for the body but Alzheimer moves out of range.
Zhai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alzheimer.
Zhai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alzheimer was well out of range. Poor timing from Zhai.
Zhai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alzheimer was well out of range. Poor timing from Zhai.
Alzheimer connects with a single shot there.
Alzheimer finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zhai let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Alzheimer scores with a decent looking hook.
Alzheimer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zhai.
Zhai looks to land a body kick but Alzheimer moved away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alzheimer. Zhai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alzheimer fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Zhai is out of range.
Alzheimer cracks the inside of Zhai's front leg.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zhai.
Alzheimer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zhai. That did some damage!
Zhai looks to land a right hand but Alzheimer moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai misses the jab.
Alzheimer fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zhai.
Alzheimer slips under a jab from Zhai.
Alzheimer connects with a looping right hand.
Alzheimer moves out of range as Zhai strikes.
Alzheimer throws a big shot that misses.
Alzheimer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhai.
A jab from Alzheimer does it's job there.
Alzheimer connects with a right hand. Zhai shakes it off.
Zang Zhai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Zhai gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short uppercut from Zhai.
Alzheimer lands a nice uppercut.
A short uppercut from Zhai.
Zhai takes a shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Alzheimer blocks a body shot from Zhai.
Zhai is leaning against Alzheimer and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Alzheimer lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Alzheimer blocks a body shot from Zhai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zhai.
Zhai softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Alzheimer tries a body shot but Zhai blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Alzheimer fails to land.
Alzheimer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zhai backwards.
Alzheimer blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zhai.
Zhai struggles to land a body shot inside as Alzheimer controls his hands.
Still in the clinch, Zhai scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zhai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zang Zhai seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zhai misses with some punches.
Zhai tries to work over Alzheimer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alzheimer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zhais head.
Zhai throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Zhai has a couple of punches blocked by Alzheimer.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alzheimer working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Zhai can't find room to land a body shot as Alzheimer controls the action.
Alzheimer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Alzheimer misses with a punch on the inside.
Alzheimer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Friedrich Alzheimer.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alzheimer, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

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