Gadelha vs. Zhang

[The Sandmen]

Claudia Gadelha doesn't look concerned about anything her opponent brings to the table.
Weili Zhang is calm in her corner. She looks convinced of her abilities.
This is the first time they meet inside the cage
Claudia Gadelha is the favourite by the betting sites on internet.
The referee of the bout is Herb Dean.

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Round 1
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Claudia Gadelha and Weili Zhang touch gloves in the center to get this fight started!
The clock says 0:10 in the 1 round
Claudia Gadelha tries to bring the fight to the ground
Zhang goes down.
Claudia Gadelha is in open guard over Zhang
Gadelha has a high cardio that helps her make great performances.
Gadelha tries to jump to side mount.
Weili Zhang closed her guard around Claudia Gadelha.
Claudia Gadelha is in side mount over Weili Zhang
Claudia Gadelha throws down elbows...
She's tearing up Zhang's face with those brutal elbows! Zhang needs to do something! The referee is threatening to stop it!
Zhang has a small cut in her Right cheek
The clock says 0:40 in the 1 round
Claudia Gadelha is in side mount over Weili Zhang
Claudia Gadelha looks to pass to mount...
Gadelha slides her knee across and achieves the mount position! Tough spot for Weili Zhang.
Claudia Gadelha is in full mount over Weili Zhang
Weili Zhang tries to roll to her side and trap Claudia Gadelha in her guard...
Weili Zhang gets her hips out and gets to full guard.
Claudia Gadelha is in closed guard over Zhang
Zhang shows no signs of slowing down. She's in great shape.
Gadelha is in closed guard... Zhang tries to roll on the ground!
Claudia Gadelha uses her leg to keep her position on the ground
Gadelha tries to get some advantage after her opponent miss move...
Gadelha tries to escape from the closed guard
Claudia Gadelha any adventage in the ground.
Claudia Gadelha is in closed guard over Zhang
Zhang tries to stand up!
Gadelha doesn't allow her!
Claudia Gadelha is in closed guard over Zhang
Gadelha tries to escape from closed guard...
Gadelha struggles to liberate her leg and jumps to half guard!
Claudia Gadelha is in half guard over Zhang
Weili Zhang tries to turn away and scramble out. Claudia Gadelha takes her back and locks up a rear naked choke!
You can see the pain reflected in Zhang's eyes...
That rear naked choke looks tight...
Zhang's Left eye is bruised after the punishement she's received!
That rear naked choke from Claudia Gadelha appears to be unbreakable
She can't lock it up. Weili Zhang spins out and gets back to her feet.
Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The people who are watching this in Jose Miguel Arelot Coliseum (San Juan, Puerto Rico) are cheering for the fighters.
Gadelha grabs her opponent by the waist and tries to take the fight to the ground
Great takedown by Claudia Gadelha
The clock says 1:55 in the 1 round
Claudia Gadelha is in open guard over Zhang
Claudia Gadelha tries to finish with a leg lock!
Zhang is able to break the lock.
Zhang tries to get some advantage after her opponent miss move...
Zhang tries to close her guard around Gadelha
She is not able to do it
Claudia Gadelha is in open guard over Zhang
Zhang tries to close her guard around Gadelha
She is not able to do it
Claudia Gadelha is in open guard over Zhang
Weili Zhang launches a few punches to Gadelha's cheek from the guard.
Claudia Gadelha uses her head to cover the punches and presses her skull forward.
Claudia Gadelha is in open guard over Zhang
Gadelha breaths deeply while on the ground
Herb Dean stands the fighters up due to a lack of activity.
Both fighters continue the fight on their feet. You can hear how the people agree with that decision.
Zhang fakes a punch and shoots a takedown!
Gadelha sprawls and remains on her feet.
Poorly executed technique. Claudia Gadelha looks to counter!
Claudia Gadelha fakes a punch and launches herself over Weili Zhang
Great move by Gadelha who pushes her opponent under a troublesome thai clinch
Gadelha doesn't want to clinch as she ducks under Weili Zhang embrace and tries to move away...
Nice move from Gadelha who put distance between them
The clock says 2:45 in the 1 round
Gadelha fakes a punch and shoots a takedown!
Weili Zhang didn't see it coming and has been put on the ground!
Claudia Gadelha is in open guard over Zhang
Gadelha tries to improve position.
Zhang adjusts and closes her guard.
Claudia Gadelha is in closed guard over Zhang
Claudia Gadelha tries to pass Weili Zhang's guard...
Claudia Gadelha manages to get her leg free and moves to half guard.
Claudia Gadelha is in half guard over Zhang
Gadelha launches a barrage of elbows over Zhang's face!
Those elbows may finish the fight soon if Zhang doesn't fight back!
Claudia Gadelha is in half guard over Zhang
3:28 Round 1 and Gadelha is still in good shape. She sure has trained hard for this fight.
Claudia Gadelha hooks Zhang's left leg and sits back for a kneebar!
Zhang hyper-extended her left leg
Punishing hold!
That Kneebar looks tight...
Crippling lock!
Gadelha extends her hips and it's deep. Weili Zhang taps! Smart move, Weili Zhang could have been seriously injured by that punishing lock.

Winner is Claudia Gadelha by Submission (Kneebar) at 3:37 Round 1

Statistics: Claudia Gadelha
Punches 0/0 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 3/3 (100%)
GnP strikes 8/10 (80%)
Submissions 3/3 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 165 s

Statistics: Weili Zhang
Punches 0/0 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/1 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/3 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 165 s

Zhang off to a great start in her ManMMA career, but Claudia set out to prove she is not at “that” level quite yet, and did just that.

[xx - Former Phoenix Fight Club]