PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jethro Rusted (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhengtao Wei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rusted
vs
Wei

185 cm
34
191 lbs
26 - 14 - 1

179 cm
35
200 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

FORCEE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jethro Rusted!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zhengtao Wei!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wei blocks a head kick by Rusted.
Rusted scores with a jab to the head.
Rusted moves out of range as Wei throws a body kick.
Wei misses with a body shot.
Rusted appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Wei takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Wei lands a slapping body shot.
Rusted moves out of range as Wei strikes.
Rusted throws a nice inside leg kick.
Wei fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rusted attempts a counter takedown but Wei avoids it well and moves away.
Rusted getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rusted seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Rusted looks to land a combination. Wei sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
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!
Wei on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rusted smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Wei throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rusted sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rusted throws a shot from downtown. Wei moves away and avoids it.
Rusted swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Rusted throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusted digs a good body shot into Wei's ribs.
Wei rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rusted moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rusted throws a body kick that misses
and Wei counters with a nice uppercut.
Rusted lands a front kick.
Wei fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rusted keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rusted misses with a combination
and Wei counters with a left to the body.
Rusted blocks a jab.
Rusted tries to counter with a takedown but Wei is quick to defend against it.
Jethro Rusted seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wei takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Wei tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rusted throws a lazy right hand but Wei sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rusted throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
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!
Wei throws a wild body kick that Rusted sees coming a mile off.
Rusted appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Wei with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rusted cracks the inside of Wei's front leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusted throws a quick inside leg kick.
Wei is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rusted rather than just go for the knockout.
The fighters circling - Wei throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rusted connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Wei swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rusted counters with a thumping low kick.
A jab lands there for Wei.
Rusted moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wei misses with a two punch combination.
Rusted walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Wei checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rusted uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Wei.
Rusted throws a combination that misses

so Wei counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wei trying to control but Rusted is working from the bottom.
Wei scoring with some ground and pound.
Rusted wants to sweep here but Wei controlling him for the moment.
Wei stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rusted swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wei passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Wei is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rusted knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rusted sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Wei passes into side control, despite Rusted's attempt to control the position.

Wei tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Wei has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Wei wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rusted, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wei wants to control but Rusted is keeping him busy.
Rusted regains half guard.
Wei sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rusted tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rusted wants to improve his position but Wei is controlling well.
Rusted has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Wei is working away from the top position though.
Wei prevents Rusted from improving his position.
Rusted regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jethro Rusted will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rusted uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Wei.
Rusted fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Wei checks it well.
Rusted wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rusted jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Wei dodges the punch combination from Rusted.
Wei throws a counter combo.
Wei scores with a nice head shot.
Wei blocks a leg kick.
Rusted throws a lazy right hand but Wei sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Wei.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusted thuds his right hand into Wei's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Wei cracks Rusted with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rusted swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wei keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rusted thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusted fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Wei.
Jethro Rusted is winning the standup battle so far.
Rusted cracks a nice hook into Wei's ribs.
Wei misses with a takedown attempt - Rusted sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rusted drops down looking for a counter takedown but Wei sprawls and moves away.

Rusted gets caught napping as Wei dives in and scores a takedown. Rusted manages to retain guard.
Rusted is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Wei tries to free his leg and advance position but Rusted is retaining full guard.
Rusted looking for a sweep. Not yet Rusted, not yet.
Wei controls from within his opponent's guard.

Rusted had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wei defends it easily.

Rusted looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusted keeping full guard, as Wei tries to pass.
Wei postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Wei's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rusted looking for a sweep. Not yet Rusted, not yet.
Rusted keeping full guard, as Wei tries to pass.
Wei content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Rusted is looking for a triangle here but Wei uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wei is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rusted is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rusted gets back to half guard.
Rusted moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rusted is trying to control the position but Wei postures up.
Rusted keeping moving, preventing Wei from controlling successfully.
Rusted is pulling down on Wei's head to control his posture.
Wei missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rusted can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wei controls the pace.
Wei trying to control the position from guard on top but Rusted is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rusted is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wei preventing the sweep.
Wei working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rusted not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rusted preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wei works over Rusted with some ground and pound from guard.
Rusted is trying to control the position but Wei postures up.

Rusted has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wei can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zhengtao Wei will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Rusted's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Wei cracks Rusted with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Wei is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rusted.
Rusted swings for the body but Wei moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Wei. Those never looked like landing.
Wei throws a body punch but Rusted moves out of range.
Wei moves out of range as Rusted throws a body kick.
Wei throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rusted's head.
Rusted lands a nice leg kick that just misses Wei's sensitive parts.
Wei lands a lovely overhand right.

Rusted is rocked!
Wei tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusted uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rusted throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Wei misses with a kick to the body.
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!
Rusted tries to bum rush Wei with a series of wild strikes but Wei uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wei throws a head kick that misses
and Rusted counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rusted lands a nice looking body shot.
Rusted tries to land a body kick
and Wei counters with a slapping leg kick.
Wei's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Wei throws a hook but Rusted blocks it.
Wei fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rusted manages to avoid it.
Wei misses with an uppercut. Rusted saw that one coming.
Rusted defending well as Wei loads up on a big left hand.

Rusted darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wei gets full guard.

Wei escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rusted gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wei keeping moving, preventing Rusted from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusted works over Wei with some ground and pound from guard.
Rusted stopping the sweep attempt from Wei.
Rusted lands a couple of elbows.
Rusted wants to control from the top but Wei keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wei manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rusted manages to get himself to full guard.

Rusted working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wei.

Rusted throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Wei is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusted looking for a sweep. Not yet Rusted, not yet.
Wei passes Rusted's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rusted trying to control here.
Rusted is pressing down on Wei's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Wei working some strikes from top position.
Rusted wants to control but Wei passes easily into half guard.
Rusted is trying to get back to full guard.
Rusted is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Wei scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rusted looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rusted is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Wei jumps into side control!
Wei working the ground and pound.
Rusted is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rusted takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Rusted is looking for a sweep.
Wei creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Oh Rusted is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wei wants to control but Rusted is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhengtao Wei comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wei 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Zhengtao Wei!
Zhengtao Wei very nearly forgot to thank FORCEE amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
Jethro Rusted spoke after the fight, saying 'Fuck this shit, I might be retiring soon.'.