PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zhang Wufie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Ashton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wufie comes into the arena with Beg Waves blaring out of the sound system. Ashton comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Wufie
vs
Ashton

166 cm
26
148 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

170 cm
29
155 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zhang Wufie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Ashton!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ashton checks a low kick from Wufie.
Ashton checks a leg kick nicely.
Ashton looks to land a left hand but Wufie moved out of range nicely.
Ashton works over Wufie's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Zhang Wufie has been cut.
Ashton tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Wufie swivels and escapes.
Wufie fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Wufie tries to close the distance and clinch but Ashton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ashton loads up on a big right hand but Wufie slips the punch.
Wufie thows a leg kick but Ashton checks it
and Ashton counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wufie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ashton circles away from the clinch attempt.

Wufie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wufie landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wufie missing with knees to the body.
Wufie gets underhooks to prevent Ashton's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wufie missing with knees to the body.
Ashton is looking to take this one to the mat.
Zhang Wufie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Ashton.
Wufie throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ashton blocks it with crossed arms.
Ashton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wufie misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ashton.
Wufie utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ashton is working for takedown but Wufie is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ashton goes for a takedown in the clinch but Wufie prevents it.
Wufie using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Wufie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wufie missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ashton works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ashton wants to pass the guard but Wufie is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wufie working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ashton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Wufie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ashton has managed to get both his arms back between Wufie's legs - danger averted.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wufie can't keep his opponent in guard - Ashton advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ashton stalling.
Ashton is trying to control the action in half guard but Wufie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ashton passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Wufie!
Ashton wants to control the pace but Wufie is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashton with the ground and pound from mount.
Wufie wants to control but Ashton is having none of it.
Ashton working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Wufie working to try and regain half guard.
Ashton moves to the back.
Wufie is covering up but some of the strikes from Ashton are getting through and doing damage.
Ashton is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Ashton gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Ashton gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Ashton apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Zhang Wufie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ashton fails with a takedown attempt.
Ashton shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wufie defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wufie connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ashton has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Wufie fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ashton is out of range.
Wufie throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ashton's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Wufie swings for the body but Ashton moves out of range.
Wufie throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ashton's head.
A solid body kick from Wufie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rick Ashton will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Zhang Wufie'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.

Wufie throws a quick inside leg kick.
Wufie connects with a leg kick. Ashton looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Wufie staying out of range there.
Ashton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wufie pinned against the cage. Wufie gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Wufie.
A big right from Ashton misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Ashton misses the target.
A thudding body kick lands there by Wufie!
Wufie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ashton looks to land a left hand but Wufie moved out of range nicely.
Wufie misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wufie tries to avoid it but Ashton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wufie to the ground. Wufie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wufie tries to close the distance and clinch but Ashton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wufie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ashton.
Zhang Wufie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Ashton.
Wufie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ashton throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ashton shoots in for a takedown but Wufie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ashton steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Wufie. That one must have hurt.

Wufie closes the distance and pushes Ashton back into the cage.

Wufie pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ashton fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wufie avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wufie bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ashton's head.
Wufie fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ashton has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ashton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ashton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wufie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wufie throws a head kick that misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Wufie.
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!
Ashton looks to land a combination but Wufie avoids it well.
Ashton's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wufie fails to land with a series of punches.
Wufie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ashton dodges the punch combination from Wufie.
Ashton keeps the fight on the outside.
Wufie lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ashton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Wufie pushes Ashton up against the cage in a clinch.
Wufie missing with knees to the body.
Ashton drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wufie utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wufie landing knees to the head.

Ashton turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
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!
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Ashton working away.
Wufie is trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ashton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wufie keeps working.
Ashton advances nicely into full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Wufie dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Zhang Wufie's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Wufie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Wufie.
Ashton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wufie sprawls well. Wufie wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ashton gets slowly back to his feet.
Wufie scores with a head kick.
Ashton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Wufie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zhang Wufie is winning the standup battle so far.
Ashton stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Wufie.

Ashton tries to keep at a distance but Wufie has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ashton is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zhang Wufie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Ashton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashton wants a takedown but no success here.
Wufie is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Wufie lands a knee to the body.
Ashton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wufie tries a knee to the head but Ashton blocks it.
Wufie missing with knees to the body.

Ashton lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wufie wants to improve his position but Ashton is controlling well.

Ashton is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ashton perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ashton wants to pass to mount but Wufie is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashton seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wufie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Ashton is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wufie has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Wufie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Wufie is looking for a triangle but Ashton pushes his legs off easily.
Wufie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ashton wants to control from the top but Wufie keeps moving.

Wufie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ashton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wufie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ashton is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wufie is trying to control the position but Ashton postures up.
Ashton is stalling in the full guard.
Ashton stands up over Wufie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Wufie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ashton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ashton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ashton trying to control but Wufie is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashton advances position into side control!
Wufie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ashton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Wufie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ashton's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Wufie wants to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wufie gets full guard.
Wufie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ashton is one step ahead there.
Wufie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ashton controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhang Wufie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wufie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhang Wufie!
During a confident post fight interview, Zhang Wufie thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.