PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gael Grappler (ranked 1597 p4p, 689 weight class) and Zhang Wei (ranked 234 p4p, 101 weight class). Gael Grappler could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Zhang Wei's chin.

Grappler
vs
Wei

185 cm
27
188
6 - 4 - 0

187 cm
26
180
10 - 7 - 1

Decent wrestler
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gael Grappler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Zhang Wei!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grappler pushes Wei up against the cage in a clinch.
Grappler lands an elbow just above Wei 's eye.
Wei tries for a takedown. No joy.
Our sources have told us that Grappler has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Wei blocks an elbow strike.
Grappler throws an elbow but it misses.
Wei has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Grappler after a bit of a struggle.
Grappler lands an elbow that stopped Wei in his tracks for a moment.
Wei avoids the elbow strike from Grappler, against the cage.
Wei wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Grappler obliges.
Grappler lands a nice elbow.
Wei's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Wei's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grappler tries to throw a body punch but Wei avoids it by throwing Grappler back against the cage.
Grappler throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Grappler throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Grappler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Wei's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grappler pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Grappler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Grappler throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Grappler lands a damaging elbow.
Grappler lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Grappler doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Grappler fails to land.
Wei takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Zhang Wei has been cut.
Grappler working aggressively here.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Grappler just misses with a elbow thrown towards Wei's brow.
Grappler throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Grappler throws an elbow that misses.
Grappler lands a nice elbow.
Grappler gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grappler looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grappler drops down looking for an ankle pick but Wei pulls his leg out and moves away.

Grappler closes the distance and clinches.
Wei takes an elbow to the forehead.

Wei is rocked!
Grappler unloads a knee to the mid-section. Wei lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Wei is still on wobbly legs! Can Grappler finish him?
A short right from Grappler on the inside.
Grappler throws an elbow but it misses.
Clinched against the cage, Grappler lands a big elbow that drops Wei! The ref dives in to save him from more shots - Wei is complaining that he's OK but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gael Grappler!
After winning the bout, Gael Grappler thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.