PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nicholas Waterfall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Baresi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Waterfall's entrance music is Sniper - Gravé Dans La Roche . A fine choice. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Waterfall
vs
Baresi

185 cm
20
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nicholas Waterfall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Franco Baresi!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waterfall throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Baresi's waist but Baresi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Waterfall off to one side.
Waterfall shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Baresi as he avoids it easily.
Baresi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicholas Waterfall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baresi stuffs the takedown.
Waterfall fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Baresi drives through with a takedown into guard.
Waterfall tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Waterfall looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Baresi passes into side control.
Waterfall is breathing heavily.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Waterfall stops Baresi from passing to mount.
Baresi has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Baresi controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baresi lands a big shot there that rocks Waterfall but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Baresi controlling the pace for now.
Baresi is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Baresi controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baresi connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Baresi controlling from mount.
Baresi working the ground and pound effectively.
Baresi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Waterfall tries to hold on but Baresi pushes him away.
Baresi landing strikes from the mount.
A nice elbow there by Baresi.
Waterfall is looking to improve his position but Baresi isn't that keen on the idea.

Baresi looking to secure an arm triangle but Waterfall defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Waterfall that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Baresi content just to control the position here.
Baresi unloading with bombs!
Waterfall looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Baresi really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Waterfall.
Baresi trying to control momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baresi is hanging on to Waterfall's back as he tries to escape.
Baresi trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
I would not like to be Waterfall right now.

Despite being in the dominant position, Franco Baresi just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Waterfall shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Waterfall showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baresi controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Baresi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Waterfall is looking to take a break and control but Baresi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franco Baresi 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.

Waterfall gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Baresi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Baresi stopping the sweep attempt from Waterfall.
Waterfall wants to stand up but Baresi is controlling him.
Waterfall looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baresi is one step ahead there.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Waterfall holds on and takes a little breather.

Baresi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Waterfall wants to sweep here but Baresi controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baresi chips away with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Waterfall looking for a sweep. Not yet Waterfall, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Waterfall scores a takedown into full mount!
Baresi wants to control but Waterfall is having none of it.
Baresi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Waterfall kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Baresi manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Baresi, under a barage of strikes from Waterfall.
Baresi is staying active underneath Waterfall, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Baresi looks like he's trying to stand up.

Baresi manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waterfall throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Baresi's waist but Baresi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Waterfall off to one side.
Waterfall closes the distance and clinches up with Baresi, looking for a takedown. Waterfall pushes Baresi against the cage but Baresi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicholas Waterfall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Waterfall looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Waterfall fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Baresi, pushing him back against the cage.

Waterfall manages to break the clinch.
Waterfall shoots and misses

and Baresi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Franco Baresi has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Waterfall is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Baresi is trying to control the action in half guard but Waterfall is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Waterfall is trying to get back to full guard.

Baresi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Waterfall is just riding it out for now. Baresi eventually gives up the hold.
Waterfall moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baresi trying to control but Waterfall is working from the bottom.
Baresi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Baresi decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Waterfall, up you get!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Baresi.
Baresi wants to control but Waterfall is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baresi controlling from side mount.
Waterfall manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Baresi is controlling Waterfall's trapped leg to prevent Waterfall from advancing to side control.

Baresi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Waterfall is tying to control. Baresi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Waterfall thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Baresi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Waterfall.
Waterfall is looking to stall here but Baresi recovers full guard.
Waterfall trying to move into half guard but instead Baresi has managed to sweep!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franco Baresi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Waterfall closes the distance but Baresi moves to the side

and Baresi counters with a shoot takedown. Waterfall fights it but they end up in guard.

Waterfall has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Baresi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Waterfall looking for a sweep. Not yet Waterfall, not yet.
Baresi prevents Waterfall from getting back to his feet.
Waterfall is looking to sweep but instead, Baresi has passed into half guard.
Waterfall tries to get to full guard but Baresi has control of the leg.
Baresi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waterfall is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Baresi scores with a couple of nice shots.
Baresi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Waterfall does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Waterfall works his way to full guard. Good work.
Waterfall wants to improve his position but instead Baresi has moved into half guard.

Baresi decides to stand up.

Baresi feints and as Waterfall raises his hands in defense, Baresi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Waterfall looking to control.
Baresi pushes down on Waterfall's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Still in half guard, Baresi seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Waterfall looking for submissions off his back.
Baresi working Waterfall over with strikes.
Waterfall is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Baresi working the head and body with strikes.
Waterfall wants to get back to full guard.
Well, if Baresi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Baresi is just content to waste time from the top position. Waterfall takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Baresi stands up over Waterfall, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Baresi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waterfall looking to control but Baresi passes into half guard.
Baresi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Waterfall is not content to let Baresi control the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Baresi in particular looking to stall.
Baresi is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Waterfall is squirming around, avoiding Baresi's attempts to control the action.

Baresi get's back to his feet.

Waterfall shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waterfall wants to stand and escape but instead Baresi has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Baresi trying to control the position from guard on top but Waterfall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baresi won't allow Waterfall to sweep him here.
Waterfall being controlled here, momentarily.
Nicholas Waterfall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Despite being in the dominant position, Franco Baresi just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Waterfall fails with an attempt to clinch.
Waterfall throws and low kick but Baresi moves out of range easily.
Waterfall checks a low kick from Baresi.

Baresi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Baresi decides to stand back up.
Waterfall with a poor takedown

and Baresi counters with a shoot takedown. Waterfall fights it but they end up in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Baresi controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Franco Baresi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Baresi 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Franco Baresi!