PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xiong Cheng Li (ranked 3619 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chunzhi Zheng (ranked 3135 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Cheng Li
vs
Zheng

179 cm
25
158 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
159 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xiong Cheng Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chunzhi Zheng!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Reed Andrews and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li misses with a head kick.
Zheng cracks the inside of Li's front leg.
Zheng blocks a head kick by Li.
Li throws a head kick that misses.
Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Li.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zheng! But no joy.
Li throws a head kick but Zheng moves out of range.
Xiong Cheng Li seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Li pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Li misses with a head kick.
Zheng lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Zheng forces Li back against the cage and clinches.
Li tries to break the clinch but Zheng is controlling the position.
Li tries to circle away but Zheng has him pinned against the cage.
Li gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zheng.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zheng escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zheng scores with a spinning back kick!
Zheng throws a body shot but no joy.

Zheng closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zheng with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Zheng pulls guard effortlessly.
Li wanted to stand there but Zheng had control of the position.

Li stands and steps away. Zheng gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zheng. Li does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zheng avoids the head kick by Li.
Li throws a nice looking combination but Zheng bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Li rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zheng moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Li is breathing heavily.
Zheng looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Li is fending him off so far but Zheng persists. Nope, Li circles away and we're back to standing.
Li throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Zheng clinches.
Zheng is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Li is defending well for now.

Zheng pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Li.
Zheng closes this distance looking for a takedown but Li circles away.
Xiong Cheng Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chunzhi Zheng.
Li misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li throws a head kick that misses.
Li tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Li misses with a head kick.
Zheng shoots in looking for a takedown but Li manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zheng's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zheng stalling the fight.

Zheng successfully pulls guard.
Zheng bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Li's guard.

Zheng tries to free his leg and advance position but Li is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zheng works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zheng prevents Li from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zheng with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Let's hope that Zheng has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Li looks like he's trying to stand up.
Zheng performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Zheng throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zheng performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Zheng tries to pass the half guard into mount. Li knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Zheng not doing much here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chunzhi Zheng will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zheng gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Li wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zheng lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Li backwards.
Zheng goes for a takedown attempt but Li pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Zheng avoids the head kick by Li.

Zheng clinches.

Zheng escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Li misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Zheng closes the distance and clinches.

Zheng breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zheng closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Li's guard.
Zheng missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zheng is looking to work some ground and pound but Li has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zheng postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zheng postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zheng is stalling in the full guard.
Li wants to stand up but Zheng is controlling him.
Zheng stays in close to Li's body and controls the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A head kick misses from Li.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Zheng throws a nice outside leg kick.
Li misses with a head kick.

Zheng shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zheng lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zheng controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Chunzhi Zheng has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zheng advances position into side control!

Zheng thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li defending against the ground and pound.
Zheng takes a little break here. Li wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Zheng has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Li!
Zheng controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zheng misses with a head shot.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zheng looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Li wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Zheng.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Li displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zheng.
Li pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zheng throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Li's waist but Li gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zheng off to one side.
Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Li swinging wildly here.
Zheng feints the counter takedown.
Li throws a sloppy head kick and Zheng moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Li.
A head kick misses from Li.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zheng.
Xiong Cheng Li has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chunzhi Zheng.
Li misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zheng clinches with his opponent.

Zheng breaks the clinch.
Zheng looks for a takedown but Li sprawls well.
Xiong Cheng Li is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zheng is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Li's half guard.
Zheng controlling the pace.
Zheng's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zheng decides to return to a standing position.
Zheng takes a swing at Li's ribcage but misses.
Zheng shoots in but Li avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Li tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Li moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromZheng.
Li throws a series of punches but Zheng moves out of range.

Zheng pushes Li up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zheng goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Zheng escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Zheng with that takedown attempt.
Li throws a head kick that misses.
Li tries a head kick but it misses.
Li swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Xiong Cheng Li is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Zheng shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zheng is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zheng stops Li from standing up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zheng controls from within his opponent's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Xiong Cheng Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chunzhi Zheng is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Zheng stands up and waves to Li to follow him.

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 Xiong Cheng Li.
I think Zheng 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chunzhi Zheng!