PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Withrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruan Cezzar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruan Cezzar has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Withrow
vs
Cezzar

185 cm
18
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jack Withrow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ruan Cezzar !
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Cezzar as Withrow shoots in.
Cezzar will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Withrow looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Withrow misses with the combination.
Cezzar shoots in but Withrow avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cezzar fails with an attempt to clinch.

Withrow shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cezzar keeping moving, preventing Withrow from controlling successfully.

Withrow avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cezzar pulls Withrow in close to his closed guard and prevents Withrow from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cezzar keeping full guard, as Withrow tries to pass.

Cezzar working for a triangle but Withrow defends it easily.
Cezzar looking to control.
Withrow works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Withrow perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Withrow is looking for a kimura but Cezzar is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Withrow to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Withrow is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Cezzar has managed to free his arm - good work.
Withrow working the head and body with strikes.
Withrow works his way into side control.

Withrow looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Withrow tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Withrow has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Withrow is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cezzar knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Withrow is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cezzar is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cezzar manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cezzar trying to hold on to Withrow's head to control him but Withrow postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Withrow is trying to control the action in half guard but Cezzar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cezzar is trying to maintain the position but Withrow is very close to passing his half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Withrow tries to clinch but Cezzar is having none of it.
Withrow tries to clinch up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Withrow instigates a clinch.

Withrow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cezzar tries for a takedown but Withrow circles away easily

and Withrow decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cezzar 's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Withrow dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Withrow fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cezzar misses with a takedown attempt

and Withrow counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Withrow pushes down on Cezzar 's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cezzar wants to control but Withrow is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Withrow slows the pace down in half guard.
Withrow throwing shots but Cezzar is blocking nicely.

Withrow is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Withrow not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cezzar is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Withrow is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Withrow is looking for a kimura here.
Withrow throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Withrow tries for a takedown but Cezzar circles away easily

and Cezzar counters with a nice double leg into side control. Withrow won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cezzar working away.
Withrow is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Cezzar is controlling him well.
What's Withrow going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cezzar stands up and beckons Withrow to his feet.

Cezzar fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Withrow sprawls well initially but Cezzar persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Withrow is trying to get back to full guard.
Withrow manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cezzar postures up.

Withrow is looking for a triangle but Cezzar pushes his legs off easily.
Withrow looking to control.
Withrow tries to strike from the bottom.
Withrow 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.

Cezzar avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Withrow had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Cezzar is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Withrow Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Cezzar 's back instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cezzar trying to control the hands but Withrow won't let him.

Withrow working for the choke.

Withrow working for a choke but Cezzar is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ruan Cezzar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Withrow shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Withrow wants to control the pace but Cezzar is squirming around nicely.
Cezzar working to try and regain half guard.
Cezzar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cezzar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cezzar is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Withrow takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Withrow with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Withrow wants to control the pace but Cezzar is squirming around nicely.
Withrow controlling his opponent.

Withrow is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Cezzar has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Cezzar !
Withrow wants to get back to his feet but Cezzar is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Withrow wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Withrow has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cezzar can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cezzar trying to control the position from guard on top but Withrow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Withrow is trying to keep Cezzar in close.

Cezzar has gone for a leg lock! Withrow slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cezzar 's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Withrow drops back looking for a leg! Cezzar is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cezzar manages to kick Withrow off! Withrow jumps back into Cezzar 's guard.
Withrow wanted to stand there but Cezzar had control of the position.
Withrow trying to control but Cezzar is working from the bottom.
Jack Withrow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Cezzar had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Withrow is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Cezzar Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Withrow's back instead.

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.
Withrow turns into Cezzar and is now in his guard.
Withrow controls from within his opponent's guard.
Withrow trying to control but Cezzar is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cezzar can't keep his opponent in guard - Withrow advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Withrow showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Withrow 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Withrow!