PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shu Fang Tzeng (ranked 558 p4p, 803 weight class) and Dragon Li Chai (ranked 35 p4p, 44 weight class). Tzeng comes to the cage accompanied by Mantra Chant. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Tzeng
vs
Chai

165 cm
32
135
19 - 3 - 0

165 cm
26
146
8 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shu Fang Tzeng!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dragon Li Chai!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tzeng tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Chai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've been hearing reports that Tzeng has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Chai shoots in and gets a takedown into Tzeng's guard.

Tzeng has his foot on Chai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Chai works his way back into a safe position though.
Chai trying to control the position from guard on top but Tzeng is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chai showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Chai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tzeng swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tzeng working a defensive guard here.
Chai controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tzeng throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Chai trying to control the position from guard on top but Tzeng is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tzeng 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.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Tzeng is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Chai defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Chai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Chai wants to control from the top but Tzeng keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tzeng leaves Chai with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tzeng drops down looking for a counter takedown but Chai sprawls and moves away.
Tzeng stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tzeng wants it to stay on the feet.
Tzeng shoots for a takedown but Chai saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tzeng shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Chai pinned against the cage. Chai gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzeng closes the distance and clinches up with Chai, looking for a takedown. Tzeng pushes Chai against the cage but Chai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shu Fang Tzeng. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chai darts in looking for a takedown but Tzeng gets double underhooks and turns Chai into the cage.
Tzeng changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Chai tries for a takedown but Tzeng circles away easily

and Tzeng counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tzeng is thwarting Chai's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Chai moves into full guard.
Our spies down at at Brooklyn Mixed Martial Arts inform us that Chai has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Chai pulls Tzeng in close to prevent any damage.
Tzeng pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chai is keeping the position for now.
Tzeng sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tzeng wants to pass the guard but Chai is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tzeng is working hard here to advance position.

Chai has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tzeng can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tzeng looking to pass the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chai is trying to keep Tzeng in close.
Chai pulls Tzeng in close to his closed guard and prevents Tzeng from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shu Fang Tzeng will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tzeng feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Tzeng is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chai can do to turn this around?
Chai wants to sweep here but Tzeng controlling him for the moment.
Tzeng trying to control but Chai is working from the bottom.
Chai trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chai keeping full guard, as Tzeng tries to pass.
Chai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzeng trying to control but Chai is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Shu Fang Tzeng overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tzeng preventing the sweep.

Chai has his foot on Tzeng's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tzeng works his way back into a safe position though.
Tzeng trying to control the position from guard on top but Chai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Chai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tzeng.
Chai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Chai closes the distance and clinches up with Tzeng, looking for a takedown. Chai pushes Tzeng against the cage but Tzeng circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Chai fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Tzeng with that takedown attempt.
Tzeng fails with a takedown attempt.
Chai shoots in for a takedown but Tzeng shows good takedown defense.
Shu Fang Tzeng has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dragon Li Chai.

Tzeng drives through and clinches with Chai against the cage.

Tzeng decides to pull guard.

Tzeng is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Chai is aware though and is defending well.

Tzeng escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Chai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Chai sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai wants to control from the top but Tzeng keeps moving.

Tzeng looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Chai looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Tzeng has control of Chai's left arm, preventing Chai from doing any damage.
Chai trying to control the position from guard on top but Tzeng is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Chai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tzeng swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Tzeng had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Chai defends it easily.
Tzeng keeping moving, preventing Chai from controlling successfully.
Tzeng is trying to keep Chai in close.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Tzeng looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Tzeng is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Chai is aware though and is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shu Fang Tzeng dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Chai fails to land the takedown.
Chai shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tzeng sprawls well. Tzeng wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Chai gets slowly back to his feet.

Chai scores with a takedown into Tzeng's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tzeng is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Tzeng is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Chai is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tzeng is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Chai wants to control from the top but Tzeng keeps moving.

Chai got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tzeng has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Chai has managed to get both his arms back between Tzeng's legs - danger averted.
Chai wants to control from the top but Tzeng keeps moving.
Tzeng can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Chai controls the pace.
Chai slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Dragon Li Chai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Chai moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Let's hope that Chai 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.

Chai is trying to get an arm triangle but Tzeng is defending well.
Tzeng wants to control but Chai postures up.
Tzeng stops Chai from passing to mount.
Tzeng is not content to let Chai control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzeng trying his best to control but Chai has mounted him.
Chai can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tzeng is looking to escape.
Tzeng is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Chai wants to control the pace but Tzeng is squirming around nicely.
Chai avoids the attempt from Tzeng to control.
Chai looking to control but Tzeng is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tzeng is trying to escape the mount.
Chai looking to control but Tzeng is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chai wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Tzeng is looking to improve his position but Chai isn't that keen on the idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dragon Li Chai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tzeng has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shu Fang Tzeng!
Our winner, Shu Fang Tzeng, 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.