PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Victor Zangief (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Granville Fortier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Zangief
vs
Fortier

187 cm
24
247 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
21
255 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Victor Zangief!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Granville Fortier!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fortier misses with a takedown
and Zangief counters with a three punch combo that has Fortier backing up. Fortier nods at Zangief to acknowledge the strikes.
Fortier wants to clinch.
Fortier walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zangief checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
It looked like Zangief wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Fortier looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Zangief swats away the attempt to clinch by Fortier.
Zangief goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Fortier dives in and grabs Zangief's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zangief pushes down on Fortier's head and hops out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zangief enables Fortier to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zangief manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zangief holds on and takes a little breather.
Zangief tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fortier really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zangief. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fortier trying to control but Zangief is working from the bottom.
Zangief pulls Fortier in close to prevent any damage.
Fortier must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fortier throws an elbow that misses. Zangief uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fortier's guard. Nice move by Zangief!

Fortier tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zangief passes Fortier's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Fortier tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Fortier trying to hold on to Zangief's head to control him but Zangief postures up.
Zangief is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fortier avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zangief.

Zangief is looking for a kimura here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fortier can do anything to dispel that myth.
Fortier is looking to improve his position.
Fortier is pressing down on Zangief's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fortier wants to stand but Zangief is controlling the position.

Fortier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zangief gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zangief controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Fortier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zangief swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zangief has a takedown stuffed.
Fortier unleashes a big counter combination but Zangief bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Zangief shoots for a takedown but Fortier saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zangief avoids the head kick by Fortier.

Zangief rushes Fortier and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Fortier looking for a takedown.
Victor Zangief has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Granville Fortier.
Fortier is trying to push Zangief away but Zangief has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Zangief's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Zangief closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fortier is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Zangief is defending well.
A nice left hand lands by Fortier.

Zangief manages to pull guard.
Zangief is controlling Fortier's posture.
Fortier wants to pass the guard but Zangief is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fortier trying to control but Zangief is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Zangief dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zangief tries for a takedown but Fortier sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Zangief closes the distance and clinches.

Zangief manages to pull guard.

Zangief has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fortier can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zangief trying to control the position here.

Fortier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zangief is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fortier's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Zangief keeping moving, preventing Fortier from controlling successfully.
Zangief looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fortier trying to control but Zangief is working from the bottom.
Fortier won't allow Zangief to get back to his feet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Zangief changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fortier tries to avoid it but Zangief manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fortier to the ground. Fortier escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Victor Zangief is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fortier leaves Zangief with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Zangief. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fortier throws the kick towards the body but Zangief avoids it.
Zangief is looking to counter the offense by Fortier and move into the clinch.
Zangief tries to clinch up but Fortier circles away and keeps his distance.
Zangief dives in for a single leg takedown but Fortier sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Zangief has Fortier up against the cage in a clinch.
Zangief with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Granville Fortier has been cut.
Fortier goes for a takedown attempt but Zangief pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Fortier shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zangief pinned against the cage. Zangief gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Zangief is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zangief clinches up with Fortier and pushes him back against the cage.

Zangief has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fortier uses from the top position.
Zangief is controlling Fortier's posture.
Fortier is in close to Zangief's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zangief wants to stand and escape but Fortier is having none of it.
Zangief throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Zangief is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fortier can do to turn this around?
Fortier wants to stand and escape but instead Zangief has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Zangief sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zangief stopping the sweep attempt from Fortier.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zangief's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Zangief dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Granville Fortier'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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Fortier or perhaps it was just good defense by Zangief, which made it look bad.
As Fortier tries to get set, Zangief tries to push him back and clinch up but Fortier manages to avoid the attempt.

Fortier drives through with a takedown into Zangief's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Fortier in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fortier throws a big right hand that misses.
Zangief controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fortier throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zangief works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zangief has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fortier got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zangief has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fortier has managed to get both his arms back between Zangief's legs - danger averted.
Fortier trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Zangief uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fortier.
Fortier will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zangief went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Zangief gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fortier avoids a wild elbow strike from Zangief.

Fortier pulls guard effortlessly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zangief wanted to stand there but Fortier had control of the position.

Fortier throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zangief is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Zangief passes Fortier's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Fortier trying to control but Zangief postures up.

Fortier looking for subs from the bottom but Zangief mounts him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zangief throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Zangief throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Fortier tries to lock up and control but Zangief gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Zangief has control of Fortier's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Fortier regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Zangief thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Fortier tries to buck Zangief off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zangief trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Fortier manages to control the position for a moment.
Zangief controlling from the full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zangief thowing shots but they're missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Zangief showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zangief has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Zangief!
A victorious Victor Zangief thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.