PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Locke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Witherspoon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Witherspoon will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Locke
vs
Witherspoon

178 cm
22
232 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
22
265 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Locke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Witherspoon!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Eliza Hachem and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Locke blocks a head kick by Witherspoon.
A head kick misses from Witherspoon.
Locke checks the leg kick nicely there.
Locke could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A combination from Witherspoon does no damage.
Witherspoon swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Locke scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Locke is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Witherspoon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Locke has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Locke looking for a guillotine from mount but Witherspoon is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Locke wants to finish this one by submission but Witherspoon is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Locke.
Locke won't let Witherspoon get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Witherspoon really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Locke. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Locke looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Locke is working for a guillotine from mount but Witherspoon frees his head quite easily.

Locke is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Witherspoon has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Locke is breathing heavily.

That's two 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.
Witherspoon is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Witherspoon is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Locke is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Witherspoon is surviving well by controlling Locke's body position as best he can.
Witherspoon is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Locke won't let Witherspoon get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Locke is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Witherspoon can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Locke wants to finish this one by submission but Witherspoon is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Locke.
Witherspoon is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Locke has control of Witherspoon's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Witherspoon regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Witherspoon tries to buck Locke off but he can't manage it.

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.

Locke looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Witherspoon wants to try and get back to his feet.

Locke has hold of Witherspoon's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Witherspoon manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Witherspoon tries to buck Locke off but he can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Locke dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Witherspoon attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Witherspoon closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like John Locke has been cut.
Witherspoon thumps Locke with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Witherspoon is looking to chop away at Locke's legs.
Locke fails with the takedown.
Witherspoon lands a nice hook to Locke's body. Locke takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A punch combination from Witherspoon misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Locke avoids the head kick by Witherspoon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witherspoon misses with a two punch combination.
Witherspoon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Witherspoon lands a big head kick that sends Locke tumbling to the mat! Witherspoon takes a step backwards and waves Locke back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Witherspoon thows a body shot but no joy.
Witherspoon throws a head kick but Locke moves out of range.
Witherspoon throws a lazy right hand but Locke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Witherspoon looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Witherspoon moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Locke takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Locke moves out of range of the leg kick from Witherspoon.
Witherspoon throws a head kick that misses.
Witherspoon misses with a wild body shot.
Witherspoon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Witherspoon connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Witherspoon throws a leg kick but Locke sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witherspoon throws a head kick but Locke moves out of range.
Locke slips a jab and a cross from Witherspoon.
Witherspoon moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Witherspoon takes a swing at Locke's ribcage but misses.
Witherspoon will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Steve Witherspoon seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Witherspoon swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Witherspoon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Witherspoon misses the shot to the body.
Witherspoon stuffs the takedown attempt from Locke. Locke gets slowly back to his feet.
Witherspoon walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Locke checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Steve Witherspoon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Locke checks a leg kick.
Steve Witherspoon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Witherspoon misses with a wild combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Witherspoon throws a low kick but Locke avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Witherspoon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Locke's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Witherspoon misses with a few strikes there.
Witherspoon misses with a head kick.
Witherspoon misses with a few strikes there.
Witherspoon throws a right and a left that Locke avoids nicely.
Witherspoon is looking to chop away at Locke's legs.
Witherspoon swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Witherspoon stuffs the takedown.
Locke fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Witherspoon sprawls well. Witherspoon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Locke gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Locke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Witherspoon throws a chopping leg kick but Locke manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nice defenses there by Locke.
Locke moves out of range of the strikes.
Witherspoon throws a chopping leg kick but Locke manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Witherspoon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Witherspoon throws a front kick that sends Locke stumbling back into the cage.
Witherspoon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Witherspoon misses with a wild combination.
Witherspoon throws out a leg kick but Locke moves out of range and Witherspoon only half commits.
Witherspoon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Witherspoon is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Locke rather than just go for the knockout.
Witherspoon throws a low kick but it's checked well by Locke.
Locke looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Witherspoon is fending him off so far but Locke persists. Nope, Witherspoon circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witherspoon pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Locke moves out of range of the body kick from Witherspoon.
Witherspoon looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Witherspoon tries to bum rush Locke with a series of wild strikes but Locke uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Witherspoon throws a sloppy head kick and Locke moves out of range easily.
Witherspoon connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Locke moves out of range as Witherspoon throws a body kick.
A combination from Witherspoon does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Witherspoon throws a series of punches but Locke avoids them all with ease.
Witherspoon dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Witherspoon is looking to slow Locke down with leg kicks.
Locke checks a leg kick.

Witherspoon lands a left and a right that send Locke crashing to the mat, dazed. Witherspoon thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Locke is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Witherspoon tries to land a leg kick but Locke saw it coming and moves away.
Oh Locke is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Witherspoon throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Locke seems to have got his legs back now.
Witherspoon looks for the body kick but Locke saw that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Witherspoon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Witherspoon has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 26:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 26:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 26:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Witherspoon!