PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Elias Zheng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marko Torque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elias Zheng has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zheng
vs
Torque

178 cm
26
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

177 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Elias Zheng!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marko Torque!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Josh West and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Torque jabs Zheng right on the nose. Zheng blinks but takes it well.
Elias Zheng seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zheng circles away from the clinch attempt.
Torque fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zheng has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zheng keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Torque.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Torque lands a knee to the body.
Zheng is breathing heavily.
Torque with a knee to the head.
Torque misses with a body punch.
Torque misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Torque.
Torque fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Torque throws a head punch that misses.
Torque swings wildly with an uppercut but Zheng uses good head movement to avoid it.
Torque throws an elbow but it misses.
Zheng is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Torque pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Torque scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zheng.
Torque misses with a knee to the head.
Torque tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Torque lands a right hand.
A nice left hand lands by Torque.
Torque scores a nice knee to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Torque fails to land.
Zheng definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Torque throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Torque looking to throw knees to the head but Zheng is blocking nicely.
Zheng has Torque pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Torque manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Torque with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters up against the cage, Torque throws an elbow but misses.
Zheng blocking some punches.
Torque misses with some punches.
Torque throws a knee to the head but misses.
Torque with a knee to the head.
Torque tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torque tries to land a knee to the head but Zheng blocks with his arms.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Torque lands a nice shot to the body.
Torque tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zheng's elbow.
Zheng blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zheng jumps guard but Torque stands there with Zheng around his waist. Zheng gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elias Zheng. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Torque trying to control the position but instead, Zheng has worked for underhooks and has pushed Torque into the cage.
Torque lands a knee to the body.
Torque tries a body shot but Zheng blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Torque fails to land.
Torque throws an elbow but it misses.
Zheng is looking for a takedown.
Torque lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zheng backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zheng blocks the elbow strike.
Torque working aggressively here.
Torque connects with a knee to the head.
Torque unloads a knee to the mid-section. Zheng lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Torque connects with a knee to the head.
Torque misses with the head strike.
Torque lands a hook to the side of the head.

Torque pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zheng uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Torque.
Zheng moves out of range as Torque throws a body kick.
Torque tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Torque has managed to clinch.
Torque slowing the pace effectively.
Zheng blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zheng jumps guard but Torque turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torque struggles to land a body shot inside as Zheng controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Torque fails to land.
Torque misses with a knee strike.
Zheng avoiding damage as Torque throws knees 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!
Torque can't find room to land a body shot as Zheng controls the action.
Torque tries a body shot but Zheng blocks it.
Zheng letting Torque take a breather here.

Zheng has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Torque regains guard immediately.

Torque has his foot on Zheng's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zheng works his way back into a safe position though.
Zheng with a flurry of punches that miss.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Torque can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zheng stopping the sweep attempt from Torque.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Torque dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Torque is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Torque has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Torque lands a jab to Zheng's midsection.
Torque throws a leg kick that is checked

and Zheng counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Torque wants to control but Zheng is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zheng prevents Torque from improving his position.
Zheng drops an elbow to the side of Torque's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zheng controlling the action here.
Torque really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zheng. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Torque trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torque moves into full guard.
Torque wants to sweep here but Zheng controlling him for the moment.
Torque is still trying to improve position.
Torque looking to control but Zheng passes into half guard.
Torque pushes Zheng off but Zheng dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
You can see the frustration on Torque's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zheng wants to control but Torque is keeping him busy.
Torque tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zheng wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Torque looking for a sweep but Zheng has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Torque really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Zheng wants to finish this one by submission but Torque is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Zheng.

Zheng gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zheng swats away the attempt to clinch by Torque.
Torque goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Torque leaves Zheng with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Torque throws a head kick but Zheng moves out of range.
Torque connects with a body shot.
Zheng slips under a jab.
Torque goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torque lets loose with a powerful body kick. Zheng will feel that in the morning.
Torque tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zheng paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zheng drops down looking for a counter takedown but Torque sprawls and moves away.
Zheng bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Zheng was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Elias Zheng is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Torque is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Torque throws a sloppy head kick and Zheng moves out of range easily.
It looked like Zheng was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Torque looks to land a left hand but Zheng moved out of range nicely.
Zheng is looking to clinch.
Torque pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Torque's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zheng under the eye.
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!
Torque throws a solid leg kick but Zheng takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Torque.
Torque misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Torque showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Torque scores with a leg kick.
Torque rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zheng moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Torque scores with a head kick.

Zheng is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Torque's half guard.
Zheng is thwarting Torque's attempts to control the position.
Torque tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Zheng has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zheng controlling the position easily from mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torque is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Torque reaches up to try and control the position but Zheng seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Torque rolls and tries to escape and now Zheng has his back!
Elias Zheng overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Torque tries to break free.
Torque covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

Torque is trying to roll into a better position but Zheng has get a rear naked choke and Torque is forced to tap out! This one is allllll over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Elias Zheng!