PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bert Ernie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josey Wales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Ernie
vs
Wales

179 cm
22
135 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

170 cm
27
146 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Golden supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Bert Ernie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Josey Wales!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Ackerman and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wales shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ernie's guard.
Wales stands and throws Ernie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Wales is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Ernie is trying to get back to half guard.
Wales is staying tight to Ernie's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Ernie tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Wales easily slips into full mount!
Wales avoids the attempt from Ernie to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ernie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wales lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernie's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Wales scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Wales controlling from the full mount.
Ernie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Wales connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Wales lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Ernie gets back to half guard.
Ernie tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Wales has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Wales working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wales punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ernie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wales content just to control the position here.
Wales prevents Ernie from getting the reversal.
Wales tries to control but Ernie wriggling away.
Wales prevents Ernie from getting the reversal.
Ernie tries to hold on but Wales pushes him away.
Ernie tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernie throwing hammer fists to the chest of Wales. What's that going to do exactly?
Ernie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ernie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wales has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wales looking to control and managing it successfully.
Wales landing strikes from the mount and Ernie is in trouble!
Ernie tries to reverse the position but Wales maintains control.
Wales controlling his opponent.
Ernie is squirming around, avoiding Wales's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ernie is working to get back to half guard.
Wales sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ernie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Wales controlling his opponent.
Ernie is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josey Wales 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.

Wales fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ernie wants to clinch up but Wales keeps it at a distance.
Ernie fails with the takedown
and Wales counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ernie is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ernie with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Wales to score with a decent uppercut.
Wales doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ernie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Wales's guard now.
Ernie has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Ernie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Wales looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Wales looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Wales!
Ernie throws a few strikes from the bottom but Wales takes advantage and mounts!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wales looking to control but Ernie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Wales takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Wales is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wales looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Wales prevents Ernie from getting the reversal.
Ernie on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ernie tries to get out of the position.
Wales putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Ernie flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Wales prevents Ernie from getting the reversal.
Wales with a couple of short strikes.

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.
Ernie can't escape the position.
Wales tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ernie throwing hammer fists to the chest of Wales. What's that going to do exactly?
Ernie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wales looking to finish Ernie with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ernie!
Wales landing strikes, looking to finish!
Ernie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Wales takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ernie is looking to improve his position but Wales isn't that keen on the idea.
Ernie wants to hold on but Wales pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernie is desperately trying to improve his position but Wales has a good base and remains in mount.
Wales sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Wales trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wales prevents Ernie from getting the reversal.
Wales controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ernie is trying to escape the mount.
Ernie wants to hold on but Wales pushes him away.
Wales controlling his opponent.
Ernie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Wales with a couple of short strikes.
Ernie tries to reverse the position but Wales maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josey Wales showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Wales misses with a two punch combination.
Wales misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ernie tries for a takedown but Wales circles away easily
and Wales counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ernie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Wales counters with a left and a right that stings Ernie.

Wales changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ernie looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ernie tries to improve position but can't.
Wales trying to control the position but Ernie is working away.
Josey Wales has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ernie takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Wales lands an elbow.
Wales takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wales staying calm.
Ernie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernie takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Wales taking a breather here.
Ernie is looking to regain half guard here but Wales keeps moving and retains side control.
Wales works to advance to full mount. Ernie defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Ernie is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ernie is working hard here to advance position.
Ernie tries to hold on but Wales pushes him away.
Ernie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Wales cracks Ernie with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ernie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ernie is in a horrible position here. Wales smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Wales trying to control but Ernie is having none of it.
The referee warns Ernie that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wales controlling the position easily from mount.
Ernie regains half guard.
Ernie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ernie trying to get back to full guard but Wales takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Ernie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wales tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ernie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Wales keeping full guard, as Ernie tries to pass.

Ernie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Wales dives on top into guard.

Ernie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wales defends well.

Ernie has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Wales is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ernie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josey Wales really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Wales looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ernie!
Wales scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Wales landing strikes, looking to finish!
Ernie throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Wales breaks from Ernie's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ernie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Wales wants to control the pace but Ernie is squirming around nicely.
Ernie takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Wales has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ernie's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernie is looking to get to half guard.
Wales looking to finish Ernie with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ernie!
Ernie is in all sorts of trouble here.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Wales landing strikes from the mount.
Ernie is trying to escape the mount.
Wales lands a nice shot to the head.
Ernie slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Wales blocks the strikes from Ernie.
Wales slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ernie has a hand on Wales's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Wales takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Ernie is looking to improve his position but Wales isn't that keen on the idea.
BOOM! Wales connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Wales working for a submission but Ernie is keeping him at bay.
Ernie is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernie gets back to half guard.

Ernie looking for submissions off his back.

Ernie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ernie wants to control the action here but instead Wales manages to pass to full mount!
Wales looking to control and managing it successfully.
Wales punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wales can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ernie is looking to escape.
A nice elbow there by Wales.
Ernie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Wales looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ernie working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Wales cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josey Wales dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Wales shoots in and drives through. Ernie sprawls well.
Ernie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wales lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ernie circles away quickly and effectively.
Ernie misses with a takedown attempt
and Wales counters with a series of strikes. Ernie will be more careful next time no doubt.

Wales shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Wales was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ernie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ernie swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Ernie manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ernie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Wales's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Wales's back!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Wales is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Ernie is controlling the position but Wales somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wales keeping control of the position.

Ernie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Wales defends it well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Wales manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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.
Ernie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ernie preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wales wants to control but Ernie is keeping him busy.
Wales moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Ernie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Josey Wales is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ernie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Ernie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Wales doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ernie.

Wales kicks off Ernie and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ernie misses with a takedown

and Wales counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Wales.
Ernie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wales controls the pace.

Ernie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Wales passes into half guard.

Ernie actively working from the bottom here.
Bert Ernie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wales with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josey Wales comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wales has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 45:50
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 45:50
Judge James Glass scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josey Wales! Josey Wales retains his bantamweight title!