WEC 53 Live Blog: Zhang Tie Quan vs. Danny Downes Updates

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- This is the WEC 53 live blog for Zhang Tie Quan vs. Danny Downes, a lightweight bout on tonight's WEC on Versus event from the Jobing.com Arena.

Zhang (12-0) made his WEC debut in September and defeated Pablo Garza with a guillotine choke submission. Downes (6-1) makes his WEC return following a loss in his promotional debut to Chris Horodecki in June.

The live blog is below.

---

---

Round 1: Zhang wastes no time pinning Downes against the fence and then getting him to the mat. Downes gets back to his feet quickly, only to be hip-tossed right back down by Zhang, who takes his back soon after. Zhang looks for the rear naked choke, but Downes defends well. Zhang keeps after it, but Downes finally manages to turn into him and sit up into his guard, posturing up and raining some punches down. Downes backs off and lets Zhang back up. Zhang lands a hard right hand and presses forward with an uppercut. Downes slips around behind him and tries to apply a rear naked choke, but gets taken down in the attempt. Zhang tries for an armbar and it looks close, but Downes holds on and ends the round with some effective ground-and-pound from the top. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Zhang.

Round 2: Zhang goes for the takedown right away and eventually secures a single-leg, but Downes is up in a hurry. Zhang goes to his back, looking increasingly exhausted after all his submission attempts, and Downes works his body and head with punches from the top. Zhang rolls to his stomach, looking winded, and Downes peppers him with punches before taking his back. It's Downes' turn to look for the rear naked choke, and the crowd is firmly behind him now. Zhang rolls and locks up half-guard, but Downes stands up out of it and then is forced to stuff another Zhang takedown and ends up back in half-guard. Downes ends the round landing elbows and punches from the top. An exhausted, bloodied Zhang stumbles to his corner after the horn sounds. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Downes.

Round 3: Zhang tries to get Downes again right away, but fails and falls lazily to his back. He gets up and is more successful with a single-leg, but Downes ends up on top again, grinding Zhang's head into the fence with elbows from the guard. Downes stacks Zhang up in the guard, looking to punch from the top. A resounding right hand lands for Downes and Zhang rolls to his knees again. Downes takes his back and locks on a body triangle. Zhang seems to be interested purely in survival at this point. Downes looks to secure an arm triangle choke, but gets stuck in half-guard and can't finish it. Zhang gives up his back again, trying only to lock up Downes' hands in the final minute. Downes ends the fight on top, throwing more elbows as the horn sounds. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Downes.

Danny Downes def. Zhang Tie Quan via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
.fanhouseButton {margin:2em 0;} .fanhouseButton a:link, .fanhouseButton a:visited, .fanhouseButton a:hover, .fanhouseButton a:active {background-color:#dd2829;color:#FFFFFF;font-size:18px;padding:0.3em 0.6em;text-decoration:none;} .fanhouseButton a:hover {background-color:#000000;}