PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zhang Wei (ranked 2648 p4p, 3162 weight class) and Eddie Bravo (ranked 347 p4p, 407 weight class). Zhang Wei had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Wei
vs
Bravo

187 cm
25
180
5 - 1 - 0

168 cm
25
175
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Prefers standup

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Island Xtreme Clothing

Island Xtreme Superb Supps
Island Xtreme Clothing

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zhang Wei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eddie Bravo!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Daniel Franklin and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wei looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bravo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wei but Wei pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Bravo gets a double leg takedown into Wei's guard.
Bravo is pushing down on Wei's leg trying to pass to half guard. Wei is fighting to maintain full guard but Bravo has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Wei is defending against the submission attempts here by Bravo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bravo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wei wants to get back to full guard.
Wei is controlling Bravo's trapped leg to prevent Bravo from advancing to side control.
Wei tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Bravo has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Bravo goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Wei is on top in guard.

Bravo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bravo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wei is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bravo looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Wei puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bravo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Wei scoring with some ground and pound.
Wei not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Wei scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wei is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Wei looking to sit in guard and control but Bravo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wei wants to sweep here but Bravo controlling him for the moment.
Bravo tries to free his leg and advance position but Wei is retaining full guard.
Bravo wants to control from the top but Wei keeps moving.

Wei looking for a guillotine here but Bravo defends easily.
Wei keeping moving, preventing Bravo from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wei trying to keep a closed guard but Bravo is proving a slippery customer.
Bravo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bravo wants to pass the guard but Wei is keeping the position.
Bravo should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wei looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Bravo 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.

Bravo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wei lands a jab-cross combination.
Wei misses with an uppercut

and Bravo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bravo.
Wei is pulling down on Bravo's head to control his posture.
Bravo trying to control but Wei is working from the bottom.
Wei is trying to hold Bravo in close to prevent damage but Bravo has managed to pass into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bravo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Wei is trying to stand up here but Bravo is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wei wants to get back to full guard.
Wei moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bravo trying to control the position from guard on top but Wei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wei working a defensive guard here.
Wei keeping moving, preventing Bravo from controlling successfully.
Bravo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wei swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bravo trying to control but Wei is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Sloppy strikes from Wei. Those never looked like landing.
Wei's jab looks to have found its range, popping Bravo under the eye.
Wei looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bravo moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice defenses there by Bravo.
Some wild striking there from Wei.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bravo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A combination from Wei does no damage.
Wei misses with a looping right.
Bravo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Wei defends it well.
Wei tries to bum rush Bravo with a series of wild strikes but Bravo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bravo tries to counter with a clinch but Wei shakes him off and moves away.
Wei throws an off balance right hand

and Bravo counters with a single leg into guard. Wei didn't expect that.
Wei will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bravo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bravo trying to control the position but Wei is working away.
Eddie Bravo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wei can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bravo is trying to get an arm triangle but Wei is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bravo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Wei tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bravo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zhang Wei will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bravo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wei.
Bravo tries for a takedown but Wei sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bravo takes one to the side of the head.
Bravo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
No luck for Bravo with that takedown attempt.
Zhang Wei seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bravo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wei circles away.
Zhang Wei has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eddie Bravo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Wei.
Bravo slips a jab and a cross from Wei.
Bravo tries to counter by closing the distance.
Bravo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wei paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wei throws a jab when Bravo was well out of range.
Bravo feints the counter takedown.
Wei throws a right hand that misses

and Bravo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wei won't be happy with that.
Wei tries to buck Bravo off but Bravo is having none of it.
Wei knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bravo on the ground.
Bravo blocks the strikes from Wei.
Bravo working away.
Wei is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Bravo is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Bravo wants to take Wei's back here but Wei is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Wei can't escape the position.
Bravo seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Wei is holding on tight.
Wei on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Wei tries to get out of the position.
Wei can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wei sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Bravo is working for a kimura but Wei is defending it quite comfortably.

Bravo seems to be looking for submissions.
Bravo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bravo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wei has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Wei manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wei keeping moving, preventing Bravo from controlling successfully.
Wei looking to control.

Wei is looking for a triangle but Bravo pushes his legs off easily.

Wei throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bravo passes Wei's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wei keeping hold of Bravo's head, controlling as best he can.
Wei moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

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.
Bravo wants to control from the top but Wei keeps moving.

Bravo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Wei has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bravo has managed to get both his arms back between Wei's legs - danger averted.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Wei can't keep his opponent in guard - Bravo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wei is controlling Bravo's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Wei gets back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhang Wei showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wei 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!