PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Wufie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber comes to the cage accompanied by Motörhead - King of Kings. The crowd seem to be enjoying Wufie's choice of entrance music: Beg Waves. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Faber
vs
Wufie

168 cm
23
155 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

166 cm
24
148 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Urijah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zhang Wufie!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, John Mangel and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faber misses with a looping left.

Faber rushes Wufie and presses him up against the cage.
Wufie working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Wufie stalls.
Wufie missing with knees to the body.
Wufie tries to land a knee to the head but Faber blocks with his arms.
Wufie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wufie swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Wufie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Faber throws a series of punches but Wufie avoids them all with ease.
Faber throws a series of punches but Wufie moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Faber looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Urijah Faber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Faber fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber throws a nice looking combination but Wufie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Wufie gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faber is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Faber manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Faber is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Wufie is just riding it out for now. Faber eventually gives up the hold.

Wufie has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Faber escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Faber!
Wufie is looking to regain half guard here but Faber keeps moving and retains side control.

Faber thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wufie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Wufie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Wufie wants to control but Faber is keeping busy.
Wufie is pressing down on Faber's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Wufie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Faber defends it easily.

Faber drops back looking for a leg! Wufie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Wufie manages to kick Faber off! Faber jumps back into Wufie's guard.

Wufie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wufie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Faber is aware though and is defending well.

Wufie looking for a guillotine here but Faber defends easily.
Faber trying to control the position from guard on top but Wufie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wufie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Faber trying to control but Wufie is working from the bottom.
Faber throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Wufie has his foot on Faber's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Faber works his way back into a safe position though.
Faber wants to control from the top but Wufie keeps moving.
Wufie looking for a sweep. Not yet Wufie, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wufie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Faber defends it easily.
Faber trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wufie looking for a sweep. Not yet Wufie, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Faber accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Faber 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.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wufie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Faber trying to control the position from guard on top but Wufie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Faber works a leg free and moves into 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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Wufie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Faber is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Wufie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Wufie seems to be looking for submissions.

Wufie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Faber sees it coming and defends easily.
Faber regains full guard. Nicely done.

Wufie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Wufie trying to control but Faber is working from the bottom.
Zhang Wufie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wufie wants to pass the guard but Faber is keeping the position.
Faber wants to stand and escape but Wufie is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wufie lands a couple of elbows.
Wufie wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.

Faber had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wufie defends it easily.
Faber keeping moving, preventing Wufie from controlling successfully.
Wufie looking to pass the guard.

Faber is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wufie is aware though and is defending well.
Wufie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wufie lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Wufie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Wufie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber is looking to stand up but Wufie isn't so interested in that idea.
Wufie forces his way into half guard.

Faber is defending against the submission attempts here by Wufie.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Faber actively working from the bottom here.

Wufie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Faber doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Wufie.

Faber looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber is looking for a sweep. Wufie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Wufie is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Faber as he works his way to full guard.
Wufie lands a couple of elbows.

Faber is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wufie passes Faber's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wufie is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Wufie lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wufie thows a huge punch but Faber dodges it nicely.
Faber trying to control here.
Faber wants to get back to full guard.

Faber looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Wufie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Wufie looking for a submission but Faber manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
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!
Faber keeping moving, preventing Wufie from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Faber has his foot on Wufie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Wufie works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Wufie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Wufie swats away the attempt to clinch by Faber.
Faber takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
No joy there for Wufie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Faber throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Wufie lands a head kick. Faber smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Faber tests Wufie's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Faber misses with a two punch combination.
Wufie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Faber throws a nice looking combination but Wufie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No joy there for Faber, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Faber is defended easily by Wufie.
Faber throws a combination. Wufie tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Wufie, right into the meat.
Wufie lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Wufie feints and then cracks Faber's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Faber down.
Faber fails to land with a series of punches.

Wufie clinches with his opponent.
Faber jumps guard but Wufie turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Faber blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
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.
Faber tries to pull guard but Wufie holds him up against the cage and eventually Faber drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wufie crunches a lovely knee into Faber's ribcage.
Faber wants to break the clinch but can't.
Faber is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Faber is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wufie pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Faber is trying to pull guard but Wufie turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Faber wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Wufie has him pressed against the cage.
Faber blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wufie throws a knee to the head but misses.
Wufie missing with knees to the body.

Wufie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A combination from Faber does no damage.
Wufie scores with a push kick.
Faber with a lazy takedown attempt
and Wufie counters with a good, hard body kick but Faber shrugs it off.
Faber swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Wufie counters with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Wufie pushes Faber up against the cage in a clinch.
Wufie throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Faber blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wufie lands an elbow that stopped Faber in his tracks for a moment.
Wufie connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Urijah Faber has been cut.
Faber is trying to break free.
Urijah Faber has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Faber tries to pull guard but Wufie forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Faber changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Wufie fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Wufie fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wufie scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Faber throws a series of punches but Wufie avoids them all with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhang Wufie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wufie has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhang Wufie!
Zhang Wufie spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.