PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johny Saint (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Welsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Welsh has chosen Lets Have A War as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Saint
vs
Welsh

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johny Saint!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, TJ Welsh!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saint keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Saint has a takedown stuffed.
Nice takedown defense from Saint. No joy for Welsh on that attempt.
Saint shoots in for a takedown but Welsh shows good takedown defense.
Welsh tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saint sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Welsh somewhat.
Johny Saint has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Welsh.
Welsh fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saint avoids it really well and circles away.
Welsh tries to clinch up but Saint circles away and keeps his distance.
Saint shoots in and drives through. Welsh sprawls well.

Saint changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Welsh looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Saint trying to control the position but Welsh is working away.
Saint is staying tight to Welsh's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint moves into full mount!
Welsh is squirming around, avoiding Saint's attempts to control the action.
Saint connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Saint trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Saint throwing strikes here but Welsh is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Saint lands a big elbow.
Saint scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Welsh?
Welsh tries to hold on but Saint postures up.
Saint pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Saint there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Saint throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Welsh gets back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Welsh avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Saint.
Saint sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Welsh defending well though.
Saint wants to control but Welsh is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saint lands with a punch from half guard.
Welsh has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Saint is working away from the top position though.
Welsh is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Saint's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Saint's back!
Welsh struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Welsh tightening his grip on Saint, looking for the choke.
Welsh is looking to control Saint but Saint is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Welsh is persistently looking for the submission but Saint is defending it well.

Saint is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Welsh off. It looks like it's working - Welsh slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Saint displaying calm under pressure there.
Johny Saint seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welsh fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saint avoids it really well and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saint is defended easily by Welsh.
Welsh scores with a kick to the body.
Saint shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Welsh pinned against the cage. Welsh gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No luck for Saint with that takedown attempt.
Saint is breathing heavily.
Saint stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Saint 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.

Welsh turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Saint shoots in looking for a takedown but Welsh manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Saint's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Saint is trying hard to land a takedown here. Welsh sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Welsh has managed to clinch.

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

Welsh moves into the clinch successfully.
Welsh is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Saint tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Saint wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Saint misses with a punch on the inside.
Welsh has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Saint is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Welsh is working for takedown but Saint is calmly controlling the position for now.
Johny Saint has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Welsh.
Welsh is looking to control Saint's arms but Saint gets an underhook and turns him. Now Welsh has his back to the cage.
Saint misses with a short punch on the inside.

Saint gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saint looks to land a strike but Welsh avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saint drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Welsh manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Saint has Welsh in his guard.
Saint is looking to stand up but Welsh isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Welsh throws a big elbow that misses.
Saint wants to stand and escape but Welsh is having none of it.
Welsh wants to control from the top but Saint keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welsh controls from within his opponent's guard.
Welsh wants to control from the top but Saint keeps moving.

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

Welsh moves into range and clinches up with Saint.

Saint lands a takedown into guard.
Welsh utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Welsh tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh looking to control.
Welsh manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saint manages to get himself to full guard.
Welsh wants to control from the top but Saint keeps moving.
Johny Saint overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Welsh wanted to stand there but Saint had control of the position.
Saint on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Saint tries to get out of the position.
Welsh wants to pass the guard but Saint is keeping the position.

Saint pushes Welsh off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welsh connects with a body shot.
Welsh displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Saint.
Welsh shoots in and drives through. Saint sprawls well.
Welsh changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Saint tries to avoid it but Welsh manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Saint to the ground. Saint escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Welsh shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saint sprawls well. Saint wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Welsh gets slowly back to his feet.
Welsh stuffs the takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Welsh scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saint tries to score a power double leg takedown but Welsh sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Saint somewhat.
Welsh shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Saint as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Welsh 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! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Saint fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saint shoots in for a takedown but Welsh shows good takedown defense.

Saint shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Welsh's guard.
Welsh working a defensive guard here.
Welsh is pulling down on Saint's head to control his posture.
Welsh is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Welsh throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Welsh preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welsh will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Saint works over Welsh with some ground and pound from guard.

Welsh working for a triangle but Saint defends it easily.
Saint trying to control but Welsh is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Welsh is on top in guard.
Welsh passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welsh is stalling here. Saint is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Welsh seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Saint has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Saint landing strikes.

Saint goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Welsh rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Saint's guard! Nice work there by Welsh!

Saint uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Johny Saint is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saint misses with a takedown attempt - Welsh sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johny Saint. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Welsh shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saint pinned against the cage. Saint gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Saint shoots in and drives through. Welsh sprawls well.
TJ Welsh seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Welsh moves in looking to clinch but Saint pushes him off.
Welsh tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saint sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Welsh somewhat.
Welsh dives in and grabs Saint's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saint pushes down on Welsh's head and hops out.
Welsh will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saint is defended easily by Welsh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saint dives in and grabs Welsh's left leg, looking for a takedown. Welsh pushes down on Saint's head and hops out.

Welsh closes the distance and pushes Saint back into the cage.
Saint wants a takedown.
Welsh comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Welsh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saint stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Welsh.
Welsh lands with a thumping leg kick.
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!
Welsh dives in and grabs Saint's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saint pushes down on Welsh's head and hops out.
Welsh shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Welsh is looking to clinch but Saint is avoiding it.
Nice takedown defense from Welsh. No joy for Saint on that attempt.
Welsh shoots in but Saint avoids the takedown attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to TJ Welsh.
I think Welsh 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TJ Welsh!
TJ Welsh was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.