PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joey Sabu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Weiss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sabu's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Everything Ends. Weiss has chosen Through the Fire and Flames as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Sabu
vs
Weiss

150 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

169 cm
27
134 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joey Sabu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Erik Weiss!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Weiss throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sabu looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Weiss throws a head kick that misses

and Sabu counters with a single leg into guard. Weiss didn't expect that.
Sabu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Weiss wriggles free and stands up.

Sabu tries to keep at a distance but Weiss has taken the fight into the clinch.

Weiss breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Weiss throws a head kick but Sabu moves out of range.

Weiss closes the distance and clinches.
Sabu could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Weiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Weiss scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Weiss throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Weiss clinches with his opponent.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Weiss.

Weiss breaks the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Weiss.
Sabu moves forwards but Weiss connects with a nice, crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Weiss fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sabu to the ground. Weiss is now in Sabu's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sabu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Weiss decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Weiss darts in and clinches Sabu up against the cage.
Sabu is working for takedown but Weiss is calmly controlling the position for now.

Weiss escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sabu tries to keep at a distance but Weiss has taken the fight into the clinch.

Weiss breaks the clinch.
Weiss throws a sloppy head kick and Sabu moves out of range easily.

Sabu gets tackled into the cage by Weiss. Weiss maintains the clinch.

Weiss breaks the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Weiss!
Weiss lands with a shot to the body.
Weiss is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Weiss gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Weiss pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Weiss pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sabu back to the cage. Weiss follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Weiss shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sabu as he avoids it easily.
Weiss misses with a wild combination.

Weiss clinches up against the cage.

Weiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A right-left combo lands from Weiss.

Weiss moves into the clinch successfully.

Weiss breaks the clinch.
Weiss fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A combination from Weiss does no damage.
Weiss lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weiss throws a sloppy head kick and Sabu moves out of range easily.
Weiss shoots in and drives through. Sabu sprawls well.
Joey Sabu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erik Weiss.
Weiss swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

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

Sabu goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Weiss has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sabu but great work by Weiss.
Sabu is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Sabu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Weiss pulls his head out easily.

Sabu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Weiss pulls his head out easily.
Weiss controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sabu wants to get back to full guard but Weiss has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weiss controlling his opponent.
Weiss has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sabu's face.
Weiss looking to control and managing it successfully.
Weiss scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Weiss cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sabu on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sabu tries to get out of the position.
Weiss tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Weiss's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Weiss prevents Sabu from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Weiss connects with a body shot that sends Sabu's belly button to the back.

Weiss clinches with his opponent.
Weiss lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Weiss pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Weiss throws a right hand that Sabu ducks under and follows up with a left that Sabu also avoids with ease.

Weiss has Sabu up against the cage in a clinch.

Weiss breaks the clinch.

Weiss closes the distance and clinches.

Weiss pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Weiss lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sabu circles away quickly and effectively.
Weiss misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Weiss throws a push kick but Sabu slaps the foot to one side.

Weiss gets a clinch.

Weiss pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Weiss thuds a left hand into Sabu's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Weiss gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Weiss breaks from the clinch.
Weiss works Sabu's body with a nice hook.
Weiss scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Weiss takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Weiss throws a series of strikes that have Sabu backpedaling.
Weiss fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sabu avoids it really well and circles away.
Sabu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Weiss.
Weiss throws a combination that misses

and Sabu counters with a single leg into guard. Weiss didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Weiss uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Weiss falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sabu counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sabu postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Weiss is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sabu, into his guard.

Sabu is looking for a triangle here but Weiss uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Weiss scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sabu to see if he's OK.
Sabu tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Weiss wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sabu is being controlled here.

Weiss stands up and beckons Sabu to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Weiss moves into range and clinches up with Sabu.

Weiss breaks the clinch.

Weiss gets a clinch.

Weiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Weiss closes the distance and clinches up with Sabu, looking for a takedown. Weiss pushes Sabu against the cage but Sabu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Joey Sabu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erik Weiss.
Weiss will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Weiss is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Weiss changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sabu tries to avoid it but Weiss manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sabu to the ground. Sabu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sabu avoids a kick to the body.
Sabu shoots in and drives through. Weiss sprawls well.
Weiss lands a jab to the nose.
Weiss pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sabu is out of range and Weiss settles back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weiss shoots and misses

and Sabu counters by moving into the clinch.

Weiss breaks the clinch.
Weiss lands with an uppercut that bounces Sabu off the cage and back into rage.
Erik Weiss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Weiss defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sabu.
Weiss throws a leg kick

and Sabu counters by moving into the clinch.

Weiss breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Erik Weiss seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Weiss looks to land a combination but Sabu avoids it well.
Weiss fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sabu manages to avoid it.
Weiss throws a right hand that Sabu ducks under and follows up with a left that Sabu also avoids with ease.

Sabu gets tackled into the cage by Weiss. Weiss maintains the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Weiss pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Weiss shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sabu manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sabu looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Weiss puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Weiss showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. 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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Weiss escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Weiss misses with a double jab.
Sabu leaves Weiss with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Weiss swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Weiss lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Weiss takes the fight into the clinch.
Sabu is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Weiss pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sabu wants a takedown.

Weiss pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Joey Sabu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sabu takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weiss misses with the combination.
Sabu takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Weiss falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sabu counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Weiss trying to keep a closed guard but Sabu is proving a slippery customer.

Sabu drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Weiss dives on top into guard.
Sabu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Sabu has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Weiss 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 Sabu.

Weiss stands up and beckons Sabu to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weiss looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sabu is fending him off so far but Weiss persists. Nope, Sabu circles away and we're back to standing.

Sabu shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Weiss is trying to defend but Sabu finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Weiss has his hands clasped together around Sabu's back. He's all about the action.

Sabu is trying to work for a kimura but Weiss is defending well.

Sabu is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Weiss still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Weiss has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weiss controlling the position from side mount.
Sabu looking for a sweep but Weiss has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Weiss controlling the position easily from mount.
Weiss trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Weiss sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Weiss prevents Sabu from getting the reversal.
Weiss content just to control the position here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Erik Weiss wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sabu walks into a jab.
Erik Weiss is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Weiss fails to land the takedown.
Joey Sabu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joey Sabu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erik Weiss.

Weiss shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Weiss showed some decent athleticism there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Weiss comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Weiss 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Weiss!