PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Behnder (ranked 1173 p4p, 1970 weight class) and Zhang Wei (ranked 172 p4p, 274 weight class). Marcus Behnder had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Behnder
vs
Wei

170 cm
26
175
9 - 4 - 0

187 cm
26
180
8 - 4 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Beachside Supplements

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marcus Behnder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Zhang Wei!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Behnder takes the fight into the clinch.
Behnder definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Wei wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Behnder has him pressed against the cage.

Behnder pulls guard effortlessly.
Wei postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wei working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Behnder's head.
Wei scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Wei trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wei trying to control the position from guard on top but Behnder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Wei got a little sloppy there for a moment and Behnder has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Wei has managed to get both his arms back between Behnder's legs - danger averted.
Wei lands a couple of elbows.
Wei must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wei trying to control the position from guard on top but Behnder 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wei chips away with some ground and pound.

Behnder is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wei defends well.
Behnder is trying to keep Wei in close.
Wei forces his way into half guard.
Wei really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Behnder. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wei slips a nice elbow through Behnder's hands, connecting with Behnder's forehead.
Wei misses with a head shot. Behnder uses the momentum to regain guard.

Behnder had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wei defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Behnder keeping moving, preventing Wei from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Behnder preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wei is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Behnder might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Behnder throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wei missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wei is in close to Behnder's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Behnder looking for a guillotine here but Wei defends easily.
Wei postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wei works over Behnder with some ground and pound from guard.

Behnder escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wei gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Behnder looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Wei avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Wei scoring with punches to the head and body.
Behnder has momentary wrist control but Wei slips an elbow through the middle.
Wei working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Behnder's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wei accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Behnder working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wei doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wei manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wei postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wei throwing strikes but missing.
Wei postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Wei's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Wei throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wei working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Behnder's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wei is in close to Behnder's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Behnder preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Behnder throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marcus Behnder will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice combo by Wei! Oh, that's hurt him - Behnder falls to the canvas and Wei follows him into side control.

Behnder is rocked!

It looks like Marcus Behnder has been cut.
A big shot lands for Wei! That's hurt Behnder! Will he recover? Wei fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zhang Wei!
A less than humble Zhang Wei misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.