PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jacky Zhang (ranked 25013 p4p, 4220 weight class) and Kurt Abke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurt Abke told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Zhang
vs
Abke

177 cm
22
174
0 - 3 - 0

181 cm
21
170
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jacky Zhang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kurt Abke!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhang avoids the head kick by Abke.

Abke throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zhang was covering up waiting for the punch and Abke finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Abke seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Abke drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Abke jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abke lands a couple of elbows.
Abke stays in close to Zhang's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Abke 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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Zhang knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Abke on the ground.
Abke looking to pass the guard.
Abke slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zhang shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Abke but Abke pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zhang shoots in looking for a takedown. Abke tries to sprawl out of it but Zhang keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Abke manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zhang tries to score a power double leg takedown but Abke sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zhang somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacky Zhang. That's going to take a lot out of him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zhang enables Abke to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zhang manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Abke slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abke has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Abke sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Zhang squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Abke looking to control and managing it successfully.
Abke scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Zhang?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abke landing strikes, looking to finish!
Abke takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Abke pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Abke looking to secure an arm triangle but Zhang defends it well.
Abke scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Zhang?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Abke dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zhang will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Abke is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Zhang misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Abke looks to land a body kick but Zhang moved away.
Abke misses the body punch
letting Zhang counter with a right hand.

Abke shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Abke showed some decent athleticism there.
Zhang is looking for a sweep. Abke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abke takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Zhang tries to kick Abke off but Abke keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abke is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Abke works his way into full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Abke content just to control the position here.
Abke lands a big shot there that rocks Zhang but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abke looking to control and managing it successfully.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Abke.
Abke with the ground and pound from mount.
Abke controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abke's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Abke prevents Zhang from getting the reversal.
Abke with a couple of short strikes.
Abke content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abke landing strikes from the mount.
Abke raining down shots from the mount!
Abke controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Abke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Abke tries to land a front kick but Zhang steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Abke misses with a hook to the body
and Zhang counters with a good, hard body kick but Abke shrugs it off.
Kurt Abke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abke throws a low kick but Zhang moves out of range easily.
Zhang misses with a takedown attempt - Abke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Abke shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Abke showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abke is continuing to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abke gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Abke feints and as Zhang raises his hands in defense, Abke changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Abke advances to half guard.
Abke moves into full mount! Zhang won't be happy about that!
Abke with the ground and pound from mount.
Abke controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abke landing shots from mount.
Abke looking to control and managing it successfully.
Abke lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Abke looking to finish Zhang with some ground and pound. This is bad for Zhang!
Abke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abke looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Abke controlling the pace for now.
Kurt Abke has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yet more stalling tactics from Abke.
Abke lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Zhang hang on?
The referee warns Zhang that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Zhang is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Abke controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Abke is working for a guillotine from mount but Zhang frees his head quite easily.
Abke controlling the pace for now.
Abke looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Abke content just to control the position here.
Jacky Zhang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kurt Abke is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurt Abke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Abke 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurt Abke!