PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zang Zhai (ranked 1209 p4p, 141 weight class) and Monte Cassino (ranked 848 p4p, 100 weight class). Zhai comes to the cage accompanied by Sampans. Cassino is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by For Heavy Metal we will die!. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Zhai
vs
Cassino

169 cm
39
146 lbs
33 - 22 - 1

165 cm
31
150 lbs
15 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Sportivité
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 33 - 22 - 1, fighting out of London, Zang Zhai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Monte Cassino!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cassino jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zhai swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cassino!
Zhai tries a low kick but Cassino avoids it.
Zhai blocks a jab.
Zhai connects with a single shot there.
Zhai lands the left hand.
Cassino throws a sloppy head kick
and Cassino takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zhai walks into a stiff left hand from Cassino.
Cassino slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Zhai dips to his left and cracks Cassino with an uppercut!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cassino bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Cassino misses the target.
Cassino misses with a wild combination.
Cassino looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zhai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zhai slips under a jab from Cassino.

Zhai rushes Cassino and presses him up against the cage.

Cassino breaks from the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Cassino moves away from the strike by Zhai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassino throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cassino cracks Zhai with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Zhai thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zhai lands a slapping body shot.
Cassino takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zhai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cassino throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Cassino.
Cassino lunges at Zhai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Zhai's hand.
Cassino throws a leg kick that misses.
Nice defenses there by Cassino.
Cassino connects with an inside leg kick.
Cassino swings for the body but Zhai moves out of range.
Cassino misses with the combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cassino swings for the body but Zhai moves out of range.
As Cassino looks to move away, Zhai throws a big counter combo but Cassino just gets out of the way.
Cassino throws a jab when Zhai was well out of range.
Cassino throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zhai on the side of the head.
Cassino lands with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cassino throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zhai lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cassino takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cassino throws a hook but Zhai blocks it.
Zhai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cassino pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cassino tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zhai appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cassino scores with a push kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Zhai crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Cassino - the referee stops the clock and Zhai gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Cassino. Zhai manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Cassino misses with a leg kick.
Cassino moves out of range of the strikes.
Cassino throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cassino throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhai misses with an uppercut.
A nice combination there by Cassino.
Cassino has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Zhai finds it's way round the side to connect with Cassino's head.
Zhai works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zhai throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cassino unleashes a big counter combination but Zhai bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Cassino lunges at Zhai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Zhai's hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cassino avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zhai throws a solid leg kick but Cassino takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Zhai.
Cassino appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Zhai wants to clinch.
Cassino throws a series of punches but Zhai moves out of range.
Cassino lands a glancing blow to the side of Zhai's head.
Cassino lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Good exchange - Zhai coming out on top.
Cassino misses with a body shot
and Zhai counters with a straight right hand.
Zhai takes a swing at Cassino's ribcage but misses.
Cassino with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cassino throws a series of strikes that have Zhai backpedaling.
Cassino loads up on a big right hand but Zhai slips the punch.
A quick step to the side and Zhai tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhai is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cassino slips a straight right by Zhai.
Zhai needs to keep his hands up - Cassino had a free shot at his head there.
Cassino sizes up Zhai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cassino avoids the body shot from Zhai.
Zhai throws a shot from downtown. Cassino moves away and avoids it.
Zhai lands a nice looking body shot.
Zhai connects with a leg kick. Cassino looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Cassino lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zhai misses with a looping right.
Cassino takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zhai checks a leg kick.
Cassino looks to score with a jab to the body but Zhai is just out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Zhai misses the target.
Cassino looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cassino throws a series of punches but Zhai avoids them all with ease.
Zhai throws an off balance right hand
and Cassino counters with a nice kick to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Zhai checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Zhai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cassino was well out of range. Poor timing from Zhai.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhai looks to score with a jab to the body but Cassino is just out of range.
Cassino dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cassino swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zhai throwing a counter right hand but Cassino manages to avoid it.
Cassino misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Cassino dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zhai moves into the clinch.
A short right from Cassino.
Cassino makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Cassino manages to break the clinch.
Zhai throws a big shot that misses.
Cassino tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cassino clobbers Zhai with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Cassino misses the shot to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cassino.
Cassino uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Zhai is rocked!
Cassino throws a front kick aimed at Zhai's knee but Zhai avoids it well.
Cassino misses the jab.
Cassino scoring well with a low kick there.
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!
Zhai walks into a stiff left hand from Cassino.
Cassino misses with a looping left.
Zhai on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cassino. Cassino obviously looking to wear him down.
Zhai fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cassino looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cassino staying out of range there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cassino.
Monte Cassino seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Cassino blocks the low kick.
Zhai lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cassino does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Zhai scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cassino tries a head kick but it misses.
Cassino checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Cassino throws a body punch but Zhai moves out of range.
Zhai moves out of range of the body kick from Cassino.
Zhai scoring well with a low kick there.
Cassino tests Zhai's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zhai tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zhai is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cassino throws a nice outside leg kick.
Zhai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cassino.
Zhai thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cassino throws a body punch but Zhai moves out of range.
Cassino throws a leg kick
and Zhai counters with a nice leg kick.
Cassino throws a nice looking combination but Zhai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zhai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cassino was well out of range. Poor timing from Zhai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cassino checks a leg kick.
Zhai throws a lazy uppercut
and Cassino counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cassino displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zhai throws out the jab.
Zhai lands a front kick.
Cassino uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zhai.
Zhai misses with a straight left.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Zhai throws a leg kick
and Cassino connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cassino dips to his left and cracks Zhai with an uppercut!
Cassino blocks the body kick.

Zhai closes the distance and clinches.
Cassino blocks an uppercut.
Cassino is looking to break free of the clinch but Zhai has double underhooks.
A right hook to the body lands for Zhai.
Zhai has a couple of punches blocked by Cassino.
Zhai looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Zhai keeps control of Cassino as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zhai has a couple of punches blocked by Cassino.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cassino.
Zhai misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zhai misses with a body punch.
Cassino lands a hook that snaps the head of Zhai backwards.
Zhai lands with a left to the head.
Zhai cracks Cassino with a nice body shot.

Cassino pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cassino walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Zhai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cassino.
Cassino appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cassino takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zhai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cassino throws out the jab.
Cassino misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zhai.
A cross from Cassino lands.
Zhai takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zhai dodges the punch combination from Cassino.
Zhai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cassino moves away.
Cassino misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zhai throws a hook to the side of Cassino's head but Cassino sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice shot by Zhai.
Cassino throws a hook but Zhai avoids it easily.
A good leg kick by Cassino.
Zhai takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Zhai takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Zhai lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cassino misses with a looping right.
Zhai lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zhai scores with a jab to the body.
Zhai ducks under a wild hook from Cassino.
Cassino throws out a powerful jab.
Cassino takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Zhai with a nice cross.
Cassino lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zhai tried to score with a low kick but Cassino checks it.
Cassino throws a hook but Zhai blocks it.
Zhai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cassino steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zhai.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Monte Cassino will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cassino stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zhai.
Zhai lands a nice shot to the body.
An inside leg kick from Zhai misses.
Cassino turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cassino bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zhai misses with a low kick.
Cassino scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zhai doesn't seem bothered though.
Zhai moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Zhai misses with a body shot.
Cassino appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Zhai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cassino moves out of range of the strikes.
Cassino tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zhai was well out of range. Poor timing from Cassino.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cassino on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Zhai throws a jab when Cassino was well out of range.
Zhai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cassino paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cassino misses with a hook
and Zhai counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cassino's knee momentarily.
Zhai moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cassino connects with a leg kick. Zhai looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassino throws a sloppy head kick and Zhai moves out of range easily.
Cassino has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cassino there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cassino feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zhai's calf.
Zhai lands a right hook to the body.
Cassino takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zhai connects with a nice looking jab.
Zhai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cassino.
Cassino misses with a hook. Zhai ducked under it nicely.
Cassino lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zhai lands with a shot to the body.
Zhai wants to clinch.
Zhai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zhai defending well as Cassino loads up on a big left hand.
Zhai looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zhai connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhai looks to land a body kick but Cassino moved away.
Cassino is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Cassino swings for the body but Zhai moves out of range.
Zhai digs a good body shot into Cassino's ribs.
Zhai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhai misses the shot to the body.
Crunch! Cassino slams his shin into Zhai's torso.
Cassino looks to land a right hand but Zhai moved out of range.
Cassino throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cassino loads up on a big right hand but Zhai slips the punch.
Zhai scores with a nice right hand.
Zhai throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cassino stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Zhai scores with a leg kick.
Zhai scores with a nice right hand.
A swing and a miss from Cassino.
Zhai swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zhai lands the left hand.
Cassino throws a nice looking combination but Zhai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cassino throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhai throws a shot from downtown. Cassino moves away and avoids it.
Zhai scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cassino doesn't seem bothered though.
Cassino lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zhai misses with a hook.
Cassino gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Zhai comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cassino scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Zang Zhai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zhai throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cassino stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Zhai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cassino.
Zhai throws a leg kick but Cassino sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cassino throws a combination that misses
and Zhai counters with a good low kick that Cassino was not able to check.
Zhai throws a leg kick but Cassino sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cassino throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cassino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cassino uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zhai.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cassino! But no joy.
A lazy body kick from Zhai
and Cassino counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zhai gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zhai.
Cassino scores with a nice hook to the head.
Zhai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zhai lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Cassino blocks a body shot from Zhai.

Cassino breaks from the clinch.
Cassino ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cassino chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zhai can pounce on him.
Zhai scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cassino digs a good body shot into Zhai's ribs.
Cassino wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zhai misses with a straight left.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cassino will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Zhai tests Cassino's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cassino scores with a nice head shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zang Zhai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cassino has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Monte Cassino!
In his post fight interview, Monte Cassino started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.