PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Athrun Zala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Herman Trang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zala kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Drowning Pool - Bodies. Athrun Zala has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zala
vs
Trang

185 cm
25
220 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

200 cm
23
220 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

[CBK] The Smashwear Corporation

GMMA Supplements 160
GMMA Supplements 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Athrun Zala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Herman Trang!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Trang wants to clinch
and Zala connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Trang connects with a body shot that sends Zala's belly button to the back.
Zala takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Zala lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Zala shoots in for a double leg but Trang sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zala shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Trang as he jumps to the side.
Trang stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Athrun Zala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zala slips a straight right by Trang.
Zala tries for a takedown but Trang circles away easily
and Trang counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zala shoots in looking for a takedown. Trang tries to sprawl out of it but Zala keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Trang manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zala shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Trang sprawls well. Trang wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zala gets slowly back to his feet.

Trang lands a big head kick that sends Zala tumbling to the mat! Trang takes a step backwards and waves Zala back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Athrun Zala has been cut.
Herman Trang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Zala bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
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!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Zala throws a strike aimed at the side of Trang's head but Trang avoids it well.
You can see the frustration on Trang's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Trang is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zala connects with a decent elbow.
Zala looking to control but instead Trang has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zala is trying to control the action in half guard but Trang is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Trang manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zala postures up.
Zala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Trang keeping moving, preventing Zala from controlling successfully.
Zala looking to pass the guard.
Zala working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Trang managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zala throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Trang works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Trang is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Trang can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zala controls the pace.
Zala missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Herman Trang was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Trang dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zala will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A jab from Trang does it's job there.
Zala fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trang lands the left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Trang lands a nice looking body shot.
Zala is breathing heavily.
Zala takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Zala will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Trang misses with an uppercut.
Trang lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Trang lands a nice shot to the body.
Zala with a poor takedown
and Trang cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zala slips a jab from Trang.
Trang slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Trang rushes Zala and presses him up against the cage.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Trang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Trang closes the distance and pushes Zala back into the cage.

Trang manages to break the clinch.
Trang is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Trang throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Trang bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zala's head backwards.

Zala is rocked!
Trang throws out a loose jab but Zala uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zala shoots in and drives through. Trang sprawls well.
Zala avoids the body shot from Trang.
Trang throws a looping overhand right but Zala ducks down to avoid it.
Zala walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big right from Zala misses.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Zala throws a body punch but Trang moves out of range.
A combination from Trang does no damage.
Trang connects with a single shot there.
Trang tries to clinch there but Zala circles away.
Trang throws a body punch but Zala moves out of range.
Zala lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Herman Trang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zala closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Trang quickly recovers to half guard.
Zala is trying to control the action in half guard but Trang is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zala trying to mount his opponent but Trang defends it.
Trang slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Trang pulls Zala in close to prevent any damage.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Trang has momentary wrist control but Zala slips an elbow through the middle.
Zala is looking to work some ground and pound but Trang has wrist control.
Trang keeping moving, preventing Zala from controlling successfully.
Trang 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.
Zala landing with the ground and pound.
Zala throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Trang works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Zalais looking to pass into half guard but Trang pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Trang is in guard.
Zala might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zala is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zala is trying to hold Trang in close to prevent damage but Trang has managed to pass into half guard.
Zala tries to kick Trang off but Trang keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Trang tries to stand but can't do so whilst Zala controls his leg.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Zala makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Trang connects with a high kick.
Trang uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zala has time to react.
Trang throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zala on the side of the head.
Trang stuffs the takedown.

Zala shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Trang tries to get to full guard but Zala has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herman Trang dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Athrun Zala's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Zala.
Trang comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Trang throws a nice looking combination but Zala bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zala throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zala steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Trang.
Trang is looking to clinch but Zala is avoiding it.
Trang tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zala paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Trang throws a jab when Zala was well out of range.
Trang looks to throw the jab but Zala is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trang misses the jab.
Zala throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Trang's waist but Trang gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zala off to one side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Trang tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick from Trang lands but Zala takes it in his stride.
Sloppy strikes from Trang. Those never looked like landing.
Trang fails with an attempt to clinch.
Trang throws a shot to the body.
Zala has his takedown stuffed
and Trang counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Athrun Zala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zala shoots for a double leg takedown but Trang sprawls well. He's pushed Zala's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Trang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Trang loads up on a big right hand but Zala slips the punch.
Trang tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zala paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Trang getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Zala takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Good exchange - Trang coming out on top.
Herman Trang seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zala shoots in and drives through. Trang sprawls well.
Zala on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Trang tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zala swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Trang lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Trang lands a big head kick that sends Zala tumbling to the mat! Trang takes a step backwards and waves Zala back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Oh Zala is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Trang connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Trang there.
Trang has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Trang connects with a high kick.
Zala circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zala moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Trang lands a nice shot to the body.
Trang lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Trang lands a big right hand that sends Zala crashing to the mat! Trang stays standing though and waves Zala back to his feet!
Trang tries a head kick but it misses.
Trang keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Zala misses.
Zala throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Trang's waist but Trang gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zala off to one side.
Zala seems to have got his legs back now.
Trang scores with a punch to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Trang misses with a hook. Zala ducked under it nicely.
Zala wants to stay close but Trang steps back to make room for something. Zala seems frozen to the spot and bam! huge swing of the leg from Trang and Zala drops like he has been shot! A huge head kick and it's all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Herman Trang!