PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alan Langer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Wufie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wufie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Beg Waves kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Langer
vs
Wufie

178 cm
27
151 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

166 cm
25
148 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alan Langer!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zhang Wufie!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jorge Garcia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Langer misses with a wild combination.
Langer throws a looping overhand right but Wufie ducks down to avoid it.
Langer shoots for a double leg takedown but Wufie sprawls well. He's pushed Langer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Langer misses with a right hand

and Wufie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Langer's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Wufie preventing the sweep.
Wufie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Wufie wants to control from the top but Langer keeps moving.
Langer keeping full guard, as Wufie tries to pass.
Wufie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wufie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Langer is keeping the position for now.
Wufie preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wufie tries to free his leg and advance position but Langer is retaining full guard.
Wufie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wufie looking to sit in guard and control but Langer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Langer drops back, looking for a kneebar! Wufie looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Wufie looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Wufie!

Wufie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Wufie misses with the ground and pound.
Langer is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wufie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Langer keeps working.
Langer is looking for a sweep.

Wufie goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Langer has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Wufie but great work by Langer.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Langer wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Wufie, who protects the arm well.
Wufie tries to improve position but can't.

Langer tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Langer has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wufie wants to control but Langer postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Langer tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Langer has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Langer moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Langer is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wufie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wufie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Langer wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Langer looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Wufie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Langer wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wufie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Langer stalling away here and it's allowed Wufie to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Langer got a little sloppy there for a moment and Wufie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Langer has managed to get both his arms back between Wufie's legs - danger averted.

Langer thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Wufie has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Langer is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Wufie.
Langer wants to control but Wufie is keeping him busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wufie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Langer wants to control for a moment but Wufie uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zhang Wufie will probably get the nod.
That's time! Langer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Langer throws a right hand that Wufie ducks under and follows up with a left that Wufie also avoids with ease.
Langer throws a hook but Wufie blocks it.

Wufie gets a clinch.
Wufie lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Alan Langer has been cut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Wufie obliges.
Langer has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wufie is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Langer tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Wufie has picked Langer up - he's going for a ride! Wufie dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Langer regains full guard. Nicely done.
Wufie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wufie trying to control but Langer is working from the bottom.
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!
Wufie looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wufie is looking to pass into half guard but Langer pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Langer is in guard.
Wufie working a defensive guard here.

Wufie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Langer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wufie looking for a sweep. Not yet Wufie, not yet.
Langer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wufie is keeping the position for now.

Wufie looking for a guillotine here but Langer defends easily.
Langer trying to control but Wufie is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Langer passes into half guard.
Wufie is pressing down on Langer's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Langer advances position into side control!
Wufie is not content to let Langer control the position.
Zhang Wufie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Langer goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Wufie has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Langer but great work by Wufie.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Langer is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Wufie off and has taken his back!
Langer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Langer working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Wufie tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Langer is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Wufie defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Wufie breaks Langer's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Wufie's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Wufie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Langer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wufie is one step ahead there.
Wufie postures up.
Langer has Wufie pulled in close to control his posture.
Wufie wants to control from the top but Langer keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Langer throws a combination that misses
and Wufie counters with a solid body kick.
Langer has his takedown stuffed
and Wufie counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alan Langer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Langer misses with a series of wild punches.
Langer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Langer misses with a wild combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick misses from Wufie.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Langer throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Wufie counters with a big head kick but Langer shrugs it off.
Langer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Langer chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Wufie can pounce on him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zhang Wufie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alan Langer's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Langer looks to land a combination but Wufie avoids it well.
Langer falls off balance throwing a combination
and Wufie counters with a body kick.
Langer fails to land with a series of punches.
Langer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Langer loads up on a big right hand but Wufie slips the punch.
Langer misses with a combination

so Wufie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wufie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wufie trying to control but Langer is working from the bottom.
Wufie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Langer swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Langer is on top in guard.
Wufie keeping moving, preventing Langer from controlling successfully.
Langer pushing down on Wufie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Wufie actively working from the bottom here.
Wufie trying to control here.

Langer is looking for a kimura but Wufie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Langer to get the leverage.

Langer is working for a submission of some sort.
Wufie works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Langer pushing down on Wufie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Wufie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Langer wants to control but Wufie is keeping him busy.
Wufie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Langer is working away from the top position though.

Wufie looking for submissions off his back.

Langer is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wufie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Langer stopping the sweep attempt from Wufie.
Langer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Wufie has his foot on Langer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Langer works his way back into a safe position though.

Wufie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wufie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Langer passes Wufie's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Langer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Langer looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Langer is keen to just control but Wufie is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wufie wants to control but Langer is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Wufie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Langer sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Wufie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Langer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wufie is keeping the position for now.
Langer stopping the sweep attempt from Wufie.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Wufie looking for a guillotine here but Langer defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Zhang Wufie just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Alan Langer's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Langer pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Wufie back to the cage. Langer follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Wufie lands a nice looking body shot.
Alan Langer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wufie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Langer.
Langer closes the distance and clinches up with Wufie, looking for a takedown. Langer pushes Wufie against the cage but Wufie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Langer closes the distance and clinches up with Wufie, looking for a takedown. Langer pushes Wufie against the cage but Wufie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Langer swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Langer swats away the attempt to clinch by Wufie.
Langer throws a combination that misses
and Wufie counters with a stiff right hand.
Langer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Wufie counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wufie manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Langer on his heels. He'll look to pass Langer's guard now, I'm sure.
Langer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Langer wants to sweep here but Wufie controlling him for the moment.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Langer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Langer lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Wufie!
Langer prevents Wufie from getting the reversal.

Langer working for a submission but Wufie is keeping him at bay.
Wufie is controlling an arm, preventing Langer from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Langer wants to finish this one by submission but Wufie is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Langer.
Langer controlling his opponent.
Wufie tries to reverse the position but Langer maintains control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Langer scoring with strikes but Wufie is staying in there.
Wufie stops Langer from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Wufie working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Langer trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Langer takes Wufie's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Wufie is in trouble.

Langer is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Langer has the hooks in. Wufie is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Wufie is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Langer working for the choke.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wufie rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wufie keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wufie is looking for a sweep. Langer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Wufie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Langer prevents Wufie from improving his position.
Wufie is not content to let Langer control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wufie is looking for a sweep. Langer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Langer passes to full mount!

Langer jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Wufie is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Wufie and Langer has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Langer had his way with Zhang Wufie in that round.
The cut man is working on Alan Langer's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Wufie clinches with his opponent.

Wufie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Langer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Wufie slips under a jab.
Wufie throws a head kick but Langer moves out of range.
Langer bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Some bone on bone action there as Wufie checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Wufie drives through and clinches with Langer against the cage.
Langer has Wufie pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wufie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Wufie tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Langer tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wufie smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Langer rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Wufie counters with a body kick that stops Langer in his tracks momentarily.
Wufie avoids the body shot from Langer.
Langer throws a poor cross that misses
and Wufie counters with an inside leg kick.
Wufie slips a jab and a cross from Langer.
Wufie throws a nice outside leg kick.
Langer tries to bum rush Wufie with a series of wild strikes but Wufie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Wufie throws a body kick that misses.
Langer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Langer misses with a double jab.
Langer throws a leg kick that misses.
Wufie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Langer misses with a double jab.
Alan Langer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zhang Wufie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wufie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wufie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Wufie trying to control from half guard but Langer is working away.
Wufie with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Langer tries to get to full guard but Wufie has control of the leg.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zhang Wufie.
Langer misses with a right hand
and Wufie counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Wufie looks to land a body kick but Langer moved away.
Langer throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Wufie counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Some wild striking there from Langer.
Langer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alan Langer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Langer tries for a takedown but Wufie circles away easily
and Wufie counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Langer swings widly with a right hand
and Wufie counters with a nice low kick that buckles Langer's knee momentarily.
A right-left combo lands from Wufie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Wufie.
Langer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Langer is looking to chop away at Wufie's legs.
Langer throws a combination that misses
and Wufie counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Wufie lands a front kick.
Langer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wufie as he avoids it easily.
Good leg kick by Wufie there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Wufie has Langer up against the cage in a clinch.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wufie avoids a wild elbow strike from Langer.

Wufie has picked Langer up - he's going for a ride! Wufie dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhang Wufie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wufie 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 46:49
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 46:49
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhang Wufie!
Zhang Wufie is the new featherweight champion!
After the fight, Zhang Wufie was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.