PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zhang Wei (ranked 2689 p4p, 2101 weight class) and Li Bai (ranked 343 p4p, 279 weight class). Bai has chosen Kung Fu Fighting as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Wei
vs
Bai

187 cm
29
180
11 - 11 - 1

177 cm
28
169
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 11 - 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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Li Bai!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bai scores with a body shot.
Bai comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Bai closes the distance and clinches.
Bai lands a body shot.
Wei is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bai is defending well.
Wei takes a shot to the head.
Wei goes for a takedown attempt but Bai pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Bai dives in for a single leg takedown but Wei sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Wei fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhang Wei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bai cracks Wei with a good jab.
Wei takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Bai clinches with his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bai is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Bai tries to work over Wei's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Wei tries for a takedown but Bai manages to get underhooks.
Bai makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bai can't find room to land a body shot as Wei controls the action.
Wei drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A right hook to the body lands for Bai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wei is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bai is defending well.
Wei has Bai pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bai manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Wei is breathing heavily.
Wei has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bai is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Wei is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bai gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Still in the clinch, Bai scores with a nice short uppercut.

Bai is fighting off a takedown attempt but Wei is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Bai to the mat. Bai regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Wei trying to control the position from guard on top but Bai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bai is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wei postures up in Bai's guard and throws a big left but Bai blocks it.
Wei is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wei's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Wei slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
We've been hearing that Wei has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wei throws an elbow but Bai slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bai seems a little lost for a moment, as Wei dominates the positioning.
Wei working the head and body with strikes.

Wei wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bai, who protects the arm well.
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 taking a breather here.
Wei working away.
The referee asks Wei politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Wei prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bai wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wei shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bai but Bai pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bai lands a nice shot to the body.
Bai is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Wei rather than just go for the knockout.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bai, as that shot connected.

Bai forces Wei back against the cage and clinches.
Bai lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Li Bai dominated that round.
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 swats away the attempt to clinch by Bai.
Bai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bai stuffs the takedown attempt from Wei. Wei gets slowly back to his feet.
Bai ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bai defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Wei.
Li Bai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bai scores with a shot to the body.

Bai instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bai lands with a light punch inside.
Bai misses with a body punch.
Bai lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Still in the clinch, Bai scores with a nice short uppercut.
Li Bai seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Wei is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhang Wei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bai lands a nice uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Bai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wei is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bai is defending well.
Wei is trying to drag Bai to the mat but Bai just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bai scores with a shoulder strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Bai.
A right handed body shot lands from Bai.
Bai lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Wei backwards.
Bai lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Bai presses Wei against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Bai pushes Wei back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Bai.
Bai cracks Wei with a nice body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bai.
A left hand lands to the body for Bai.
Bai scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bai.

Wei is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bai.
Oh Wei is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bai cracks Wei with a nice body shot.
Bai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bai misses with some punches.
Bai misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bai throws a punch but it's blocked by Wei.
Bai throws a punch but it's blocked by Wei.
Bai has a couple of punches blocked by Wei.
Bai misses with some punches.
Bai misses with some punches.
Wei blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Wei looking for a takedown.
Bai throws a punch but it's blocked by Wei.
Bai misses with some punches.
Bai misses with a punch on the inside.
Bai working aggressively here.
Bai stalling the fight.
Bai misses with some punches.
Wei drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bai pulls his leg out and moves away.
Wei drops his hands momentarily. Bai doesn't need a second invitation, landing a shot to the temple. Wei staggers and falls to the mat and the ref dives in to save him from any more punishment. Wei doesn't seem happy with the stoppage but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Li Bai!
During a confident post fight interview, Li Bai thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.