PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Booker (ranked 1593 p4p, 1132 weight class) and Bofur Widenose (ranked 239 p4p, 169 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Booker
vs
Widenose

190 cm
19
185
5 - 2 - 0

150 cm
19
185
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Conviction

Vegan Gains

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reggie Booker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bofur Widenose!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Widenose wants to clinch up but Booker keeps it at a distance.

Widenose shoots in and gets a takedown into Booker's guard.
Widenose wants to control from the top but Booker keeps moving.
Widenose throws a big elbow that misses.
Booker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Widenose.
Booker is controlling Widenose's posture.
Widenose scoring with punches to the head and body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Booker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Booker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Widenose manages to get himself to full guard.

Widenose trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Widenose manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Booker manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Widenose in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Booker will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Widenose connects with a couple of short punches.
Widenose landing with the ground and pound.
Widenose throwing strikes from guard but Booker blocks nicely.
Widenose is looking to work some ground and pound but Booker has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Widenose trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Booker definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Widenose sitting in guard here, content to control.
Widenose looking to sit in guard and control but Booker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Booker preventing the sweep.
Widenose has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Booker stopping the sweep attempt from Widenose.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Widenose had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Booker defends it easily.
Booker preventing the sweep.
Widenose has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Widenose being controlled here, momentarily.
Widenose working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Widenose is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's four 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.
Booker throws the left hand but Widenose avoids the punch easily.
Widenose with the counter takedown but Booker avoids it easily.
Widenose blocks a jab.
Booker tries to bum rush Widenose with a series of wild strikes but Widenose uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Widenose shoots for a double leg takedown but Booker sprawls well. He's pushed Widenose's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Widenose slips a straight right by Booker.
The fighters circling - Booker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Widenose slips under a jab from Booker.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Booker enables Widenose to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Booker manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Widenose pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Booker is keeping the position for now.
Booker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Widenose is looking to work some ground and pound but Booker has wrist control.
Widenose wants to pass the guard but Booker is keeping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bofur Widenose dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Widenose drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Widenose wants to control from the top but Booker keeps moving.
Widenose trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Widenose is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Booker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Widenose missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Widenose missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Booker on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Booker tries to get out of the position.
Booker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Widenose trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Widenose throwing strikes from guard but Booker blocks nicely.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Booker keeps the fight on the outside.
Booker misses the jab.
Booker listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Widenose looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Booker keeping full guard, as Widenose tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Widenose.
Widenose trying to control but Booker is working from the bottom.
Widenose tries to free his leg and advance position but Booker is retaining full guard.
Widenose working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Widenose wants to control from the top but Booker keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Widenose shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Widenose showed some decent athleticism there.
Booker pushes Widenose off but Widenose dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Widenose cracks Booker with a big elbow.
Widenose moves into full mount!
Widenose scoring with strikes but Booker is staying in there.

It looks like Reggie Booker has been cut.
Widenose putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Booker holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Widenose tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Widenose looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker avoids a series of strikes thrown by Widenose.
Bofur Widenose has got the better of the ground game so far.
Widenose wants to control the action but instead Booker gets a body lock and reverses into Widenose's guard! Nice work!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Widenose is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Widenose not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Widenose not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Widenose working the head and body with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bofur Widenose showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Reggie Booker's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Widenose gets the takedown into side control.

Widenose working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Booker avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Widenose.
The strikes coming from Widenose are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Widenose misses with the ground and pound.
Widenose working the ground and pound but Booker is defending the strikes.
Widenose has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Widenose wants to control but Booker is keeping him busy.
Widenose working the ground and pound.

Widenose wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Booker, who protects the arm well.
Booker avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Widenose.
Sloppy strikes there by Widenose.
Widenose postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Reggie Booker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bofur Widenose is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Widenose working the head and body with strikes.
Booker parries the strikes from Widenose easily there. Widenose is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Booker to escape.
Booker defending against the ground and pound.
Widenose content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The strikes coming from Widenose are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Widenose taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Widenose shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Booker's guard.
Booker wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Widenose manages to pass to side control.

Booker is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Widenose tries to pass to full mount but Booker defends it.
Widenose controlling the pace.
Widenose thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Widenose thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Booker's head.
Widenose looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bofur Widenose comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Widenose winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bofur Widenose!
Our winner, Bofur Widenose, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.