PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paul Newman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zang Zhai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhai has chosen Sampans as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Newman
vs
Zhai

165 cm
32
148 lbs
27 - 14 - 1

169 cm
27
146 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
MayheM sportswear

Bullet Proof System
Voodoo Nutrition

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 27 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Paul Newman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Zang Zhai!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhai just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Newman. Zhai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Newman throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zhai stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Newman lands a glancing blow to the side of Zhai's head.
Newman throws a looping overhand right but Zhai ducks down to avoid it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Newman.
Newman walks into a stiff left hand from Zhai.
Zhai fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zhai keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zhai misses with a low kick.
Newman avoids a kick to the body.
Zhai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Newman.
Nice straight punches there by Zhai. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zhai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman cracks Zhai with an open hand slap.
Zhai moves out of range of the leg kick from Newman.
Newman scores with a nice strike.
Newman's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zhai connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Newman scrambles back to his feet.
Zhai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Newman throws a head kick that misses
and Zhai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Newman takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zhai darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Zhai scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Zhai misses the shot to the body.
Newman misses with a wild body shot.
Newman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhai takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Newman rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zhai lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
We've been told by Newman's head coaches at LOD London Top Tier that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Zhai moves forwards but Newman connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Zhai misses the jab.
Zhai has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A low kick from Newman misses
letting Zhai counter with a right hand.
Newman misses with a body shot
and Zhai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zhai keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nice takedown defense from Zhai. No joy for Newman on that attempt.
Newman delivers a nice body kick.
Zhai lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Newman decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Zhai wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai moves into full guard.
Zhai is pulling down on Newman's head to control his posture.
Let's hope that Zhai 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.
Newman trying to control the position from guard on top but Zhai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhai seems keen to control Newman's posture.

That's four 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.
Zhai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice defenses there by Zhai.
Newman tries a head kick but it misses.
Zhai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Newman.
Newman looks to score with a jab to the body but Zhai is just out of range.
Newman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A little jabbing left from Zhai on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Newman throws a jab but it's blocked by Zhai.
Zhai throws a fast counter high kick but Newman manages to duck under it in time.
An inside leg kick from Zhai misses.
Newman misses with an uppercut. Zhai saw that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zang Zhai will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zhai missing with a left hand there. Newman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Newman throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Zhai to counter with a crisp jab.
Zhai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Newman moves away.
Newman appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Zhai staying out of range there.
Zhai throws out a counter right but Newman avoids it with no problem.
Zhai throws out a leg kick but Newman moves out of range and Zhai only half commits.
Newman throws a poor cross that misses
and Zhai counters with a nice leg kick.
Zhai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Newman.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Newman.
Newman throws a sloppy body shot
and Zhai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhai lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Zhai connects with a good right hand that stumbles Newman. Newman circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Newman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The fighters circling - Zhai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhai blocks the body kick.
A leg kick checked by Zhai.
Zhai moves away from the strike by Newman.
Newman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Newman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zhai staying out of range there.
Newman blocks a leg kick.
Zhai scores with a nice strike.
Zhai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Newman moves away.
Zhai looks to land a body kick but Newman moved away.
Newman throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Zhai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Newman drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Paul Newman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Newman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A little jabbing left from Zhai on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Newman lands a jab to the nose.
A big left from Zhai misses.
Newman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zhai sprawls and moves away.
Newman throws a predictable looking body shot
and Zhai counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhai throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Newman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zhai won't be happy with that.
Newman working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Zhai is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Newman tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Zhai trying to remain calm as Newman controls from the top position.
Zhai is not content to let Newman control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai is looking to regain half guard here but Newman keeps moving and retains side control.

Newman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

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.
Zhai is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ground and pound from Newman seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Newman tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Newman throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Newman just content to control the position.

Newman thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zang Zhai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Newman misses with a jab to the body
and Zhai counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Newman is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Zhai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zhai moves out of range as Newman strikes.
Zhai appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Zhai connects with a looping right hand.
Newman checks a low kick from Zhai.
Newman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Zhai has taken the fight to the clinch.
Newman blocks a body shot from Zhai.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Newman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Newman breaks the clinch.
Zhai checks a low kick from Newman.
Newman misses with a kick to the body.
Newman misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Zhai counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhai throws a looping overhand right but Newman ducks down to avoid it.
Newman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Newman swings widly with a right hand
and Zhai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zhai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Newman.
Newman misses with a wild body shot.
Zhai scores with a nice strike.
Newman slips under a jab from Zhai.
A swing and a miss from Newman.
Newman lands with a nice body punch.
Zhai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Newman.
Zhai misses the jab.
Zhai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zang Zhai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zhai smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhai moves out of range of the strikes.
And Zhai responds with a good body kick, but Newman manages to step out the way in time.
Zhai throws a body punch but Newman moves out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Zhai, as that shot connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Newman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zhai.
Paul Newman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zhai lands a lovely overhand right.
Newman blocks a head kick by Zhai.
Newman attempts a counter takedown but Zhai avoids it well and moves away.
Zhai throws a nice inside leg kick.
Newman looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Newman works the jab nicely.

It looks like Zang Zhai has been cut.
Nice body punch from Newman.
Zhai pivots, looking for a leg kick but Newman is out of range and Zhai settles back down.
Newman misses with a jab to the body
and Zhai counters with a good low kick that Newman was not able to check.
Zhai tries to move into range but Newman moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newman swats away the attempt to clinch by Zhai.
A decent looking cross lands there for Newman.

Zhai is rocked!
Newman throws a lazy uppercut
and Zhai counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Newman thinking.
Newman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zhai.
Newman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
It seemed like Zhai was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zhai.
Zhai scores with a nice head shot.

Newman is rocked!
Newman looks to score with a jab to the body but Zhai is just out of range.
Newman throws a half hearted mid kick.
Newman backing away here, and Zhai unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Newman drops Zhai with a left right combo! Newman follows him down to the ground into side control.
Zhai is still in real trouble! Can Newman finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Newman working away.
Zhai manages to get back to half guard.
Newman looks to land a strike but Zhai avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Newman drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zhai manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Newman has Zhai in his guard.

Newman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zhai seems to have recovered his senses.
Zhai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zang Zhai.
I've got Zhai winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Zang Zhai!
Zang Zhai seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.