PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Burl Puckett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Zheng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Zheng has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Puckett
vs
Zheng

203 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Burl Puckett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Zheng!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Jeff Smith and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zheng lands a front kick.

Zheng fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Puckett sprawls well initially but Zheng persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Puckett manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Zheng misses with a wild combination.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zheng.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Puckett struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zheng is staying tight to Puckett's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Puckett tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zheng wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puckett wants to control but Zheng postures up.
Zheng taking a breather here.
Puckett tries to improve position but can't.
The referee asks Zheng politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Zheng prefers to stall for the moment though.
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.

That's two 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.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Zheng.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Puckett enables Zheng to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Puckett manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zheng throws a big elbow that misses.
Zheng is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Puckett keeping full guard, as Zheng tries to pass.
Puckett can't keep his opponent in guard - Zheng advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zheng perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zheng is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Puckett has managed to free his arm - good work.
Puckett really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zheng is taking a breather. Puckett says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Puckett is defending against the submission attempts here by Zheng.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Puckett moves into full guard.
Zheng trying to control but Puckett is working from the bottom.
Zheng passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Puckett tries to get to full guard but Zheng has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zheng is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Puckett gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Puckett trying to strike off his back.
Puckett is trying to keep Zheng in close.
Zheng sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zheng is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Puckett controls Zheng momentarily but Zheng frees himself.
Zheng has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zheng is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Puckett is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Puckett has escaped and now he's on top!

Puckett will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zheng pulls Puckett in close to prevent any damage.
Zheng wants to sweep but no luck.

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.
Zheng preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Puckett is fighting to break Zheng's control of his arms but Zheng is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Zheng darts in and clinches Puckett up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zheng pulls guard successfully.
Puckett won't allow Zheng to sweep him here.
Puckett looking to sit in guard and control but Zheng gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zheng is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Puckett manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Puckett working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zheng doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zheng manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zheng slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zheng pushes down on Puckett's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Zheng showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zheng has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zheng has Puckett pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Puckett manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Zheng wants the takedown. Puckett is fighting it off but Zheng persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Puckett's guard against the cage.
Zheng is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Zheng stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Zheng ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Zheng looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zheng prevents Puckett from improving his position.
Puckett trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zheng controlling the pace.
Puckett wants to get back to full guard.
Zheng is controlling the pace.
Yet more stalling tactics from Zheng.

Puckett looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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.
Puckett is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Well, if Zheng is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Zheng drives through and clinches with Puckett against the cage.
Zheng tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Puckett just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puckett gets underhooks to prevent Zheng's takedown attempt.
Burl Puckett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Zheng.

Zheng lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Puckett manages to get to full guard.
Puckett looking for a sweep. Not yet Puckett, not yet.
Puckett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Puckett keeping full guard, as Zheng tries to pass.
Puckett is looking to stand back up but Zheng counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Puckett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zheng stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Zheng shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Puckett is trying to defend but Zheng finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Puckett tries to kick Zheng off in order to stand up. Zheng Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Zheng lands some shots froms side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zheng decides to stand back up.
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!

Zheng gets a clinch.
Burl Puckett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Zheng is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Puckett struggles to land a body shot inside as Zheng controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Zheng comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zheng 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30

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