PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Clifford Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Fletcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Lewis
vs
Fletcher

180 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Clifford Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Zach Fletcher!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fletcher misses with the combination.
Lewis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fletcher.
Fletcher tries a low kick but Lewis avoids it.
Lewis shoots in for a double leg but Fletcher sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fletcher lands with an uppercut that bounces Lewis off the cage and back into range.
Fletcher looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lewis walks into a straight right hand from Fletcher.
A punch combination from Fletcher misses.

Fletcher rushes Lewis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fletcher wants to take the fight to the mat but Lewis manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Fletcher can't break the clinch.
Lewis is trying to break the clinch but Fletcher is controlling him.
Fletcher wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fletcher looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lewis manages to break the clinch.
Fletcher connects with a body shot.
Lewis misses with a takedown attempt - Fletcher sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lewis doesn't manage to clinch there - Fletcher circles away.
Fletcher swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fletcher misses with a combination

and Lewis counters with a single leg into guard. Fletcher didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lewis looking to pass the guard.
Lewis trying to control but Fletcher is working from the bottom.
Lewis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Fletcher scrambles and gets back to his feet.
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!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lewis stalling in the clinch but Fletcher improves position.
Fletcher can't break the clinch.
Lewis tries for a takedown but Fletcher manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clifford Lewis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fletcher is looking to break free of the clinch but Lewis has double underhooks.
Fletcher wants to break free but Lewis has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher tries to break free but Lewis pushes him back against the cage.
Fletcher is pressed up against the cage. Lewis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fletcher down to the mat. Fletcher avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lewis moves out of range of the leg kick from Fletcher.
Lewis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fletcher.
Fletcher throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lewis.
Fletcher looks gassed!
Lewis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Clifford Lewis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lewis dodges the punch combination from Fletcher.
Zach Fletcher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fletcher throws a sloppy head kick and Lewis moves out of range easily.
Lewis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fletcher swivels and escapes.
Fletcher throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lewis scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Lewis with that takedown attempt.
Fletcher lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lewis circles away quickly and effectively.
Fletcher looks to land a combination. Lewis sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
No joy there for Fletcher, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Lewis tries to keep at a distance but Fletcher has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fletcher is looking to break free of the clinch but Lewis has double underhooks.
Lewis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fletcher walks away with a smile on his face. Lewis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lewis connects with a nice looking jab.
Lewis shoots in but Fletcher avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Fletcher has Lewis up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fletcher throws a series of punches but Lewis avoids them all with ease.
Lewis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lewis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fletcher tries to avoid it but Lewis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fletcher to the ground. Fletcher escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lewis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fletcher keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lewis shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clifford Lewis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fletcher cracks a nice hook into Lewis's ribs.
Fletcher feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lewiss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Fletcher shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lewis fails with the takedown.
Lewis avoids a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Lewis 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fletcher lands a jab to Lewis's midsection.
Lewis shoots and misses
and Fletcher counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fletcher fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fletcher looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lewis slips a jab and a cross from Fletcher.
Fletcher throws a one two combo.
Lewis checks a low kick from Fletcher.
Lewis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fletcher stuffs the takedown attempt from Lewis. Lewis gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lewis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fletcher scores with a jab to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fletcher misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fletcher throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lewis.
Some wild striking there from Fletcher.
Lewis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fletcher lands a glancing blow to the side of Lewis's head.
Clifford Lewis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fletcher finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fletcher.
A jab from Fletcher finds it's way through Lewis's defenses.
Fletcher tries to clinch up.
Lewis takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Lewis fails with a takedown attempt.
Fletcher swats away the attempt to clinch by Lewis.
Lewis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lewis takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Lewis throws a series of punches but Fletcher moves out of range.
Fletcher fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Some wild striking there from Fletcher.

Lewis gets tackled into the cage by Fletcher. Fletcher maintains the clinch.

Fletcher escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fletcher misses with a wild combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lewis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fletcher sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Fletcher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Fletcher closes the distance and clinches.
Fletcher has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lewis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Fletcher jumps guard.
Lewis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fletcher controlling Lewis's posture.
Lewis looking to pass the guard.
Lewis prevents Fletcher from getting back to his feet.
Lewis has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fletcher takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fletcher seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zach Fletcher was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Lewis works over Fletcher's head and body with a nice combination.

Lewis has Fletcher up against the cage in a clinch.

Fletcher ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Fletcher no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lewis passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Lewis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fletcher keeps working.
Fletcher is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lewis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lewis prevents Fletcher from escaping the position.
Lewis misses with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher prevents Lewis from moving into mount.
Fletcher wants to get back to his feet but Lewis drags him back down.
Fletcher wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Fletcher tries to improve position but can't.
Lewis throws a strike aimed at the side of Fletcher's head but Fletcher avoids it well.
Lewis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fletcher keeps working.
Lewis wants to take a breather but Fletcher manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Lewis.

Lewis postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Fletcher is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lewis, into his guard.
Zach Fletcher is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fletcher gets to his feet. Lewis looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Fletcher looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lewis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fletcher's waist but Fletcher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lewis off to one side.
Fletcher throws a right and a left that Lewis avoids nicely.
Clifford Lewis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lewis throws a wild body kick that Fletcher sees coming a mile off.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zach Fletcher.
I've got Fletcher 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zach Fletcher!