PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zhang Wei (ranked 3613 p4p, 3603 weight class) and Mason Marmot (ranked 451 p4p, 448 weight class). Mason Marmot is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Wei
vs
Marmot

187 cm
28
180
10 - 11 - 1

175 cm
28
180
6 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Zhang Wei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mason Marmot !
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wei goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marmot prevents it.
Wei tries to score a body lock takedown but Marmot shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Marmot has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Wei clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Wei fending off the submission attempt from Marmot .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marmot biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marmot loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Wei hold on?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marmot is trying to stick to Wei's back but Wei is turning into Marmot . He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Marmot 's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Wei.
Wei in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Marmot working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wei.
Wei controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Wei throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marmot keeping full guard, as Wei tries to pass.
Wei is working hard here to advance position.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA Montreal inform us that Marmot has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Wei lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wei throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marmot works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wei has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wei seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Marmot keeping moving, preventing Wei from controlling successfully.
Wei lands a couple of digs.
Marmot looking for a sweep. Not yet Marmot , not yet.
Wei wants to control from the top but Marmot keeps moving.
Wei is in close to Marmot 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Wei tries to free his leg and advance position but Marmot is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marmot controlling the position.
Wei content to stall in guard here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Marmot tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Wei scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wei staying calm.
Marmot tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marmot taking punishment in the form of punches.
Marmot is trying to control Wei's posture but Wei avoids it.
Wei wants to control but Marmot is keeping him busy.
Marmot is letting Wei control him for a moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Marmot can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marmot tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Wei wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zhang Wei will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Wei closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marmot circles away.
Wei misses with a takedown

and Marmot moves into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Marmot takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Marmot pulls Wei into guard.
Wei wants to control from the top but Marmot keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wei is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wei working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wei looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wei stands up over Marmot , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Wei trying to control but Marmot is working from the bottom.
Marmot is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Wei dives into side control.

Wei swings around for an armbar but Marmot sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Wei's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wei is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Marmot wants to control from the top but Wei keeps moving.

Wei looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Marmot passes into side control.
Wei is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Advanced Fitness Inc., so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Marmot tries to get to his feet but Wei is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Marmot in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wei keeping full guard, as Marmot tries to pass.

Wei looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Marmot landing some decent shots from guard.
Wei will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Marmot trying to control but Wei is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Marmot throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wei works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marmot preventing the sweep.
Marmot trying to control but Wei is working from the bottom.
Wei lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wei trying to control the position from guard on top but Marmot is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mason Marmot will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Wei shoots in but Marmot avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wei darts in looking for a takedown but Marmot gets double underhooks and turns Wei into the cage.

Marmot manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Marmot wants to sweep here but Wei controlling him for the moment.
Marmot not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Marmot had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wei defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wei is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Wei postures up in Marmot 's guard and throws a big left but Marmot blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marmot keeping moving, preventing Wei from controlling successfully.
Wei slips nicely into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Wei in particular looking to stall.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Wei connects with a nice short shot to Marmot 's temple.
Wei is trying to control. Marmot wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Wei is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Wei lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wei slips a nice elbow through Marmot 's hands, connecting with Marmot 's forehead.
Still in half guard, Wei seems content to control.
Wei is keen to just control but Marmot is a slippery customer.
Marmot is trying to control but can't.
Wei throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wei performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zhang Wei overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Wei tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marmot manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wei shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marmot as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhang Wei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wei shoots in for a double leg but Marmot sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Marmot changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wei fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wei shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Marmot shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Wei is looking to get back to full guard here but Marmot has managed to pass to side control instead.
Wei takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Wei can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wei tries to improve position but can't.
Marmot wants to stand but Wei has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Wei is trying to keep Marmot in close.
Marmot trying to control but Wei is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Wei has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Marmot doesn't defend quickly enough and Wei has managed to lock this one up! Can Marmot escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Wei on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Zhang Wei!
Zhang Wei was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.