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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between TJ Welsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Afolabi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Welsh comes to the cage accompanied by Lets Have A War. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 190 cm
24
199 lbs
6 - 10 - 0 |
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185 cm
26
190 lbs
3 - 4 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Cardio machine |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin |
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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
6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, TJ Welsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Afolabi!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Ian Loll.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Welsh shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Afolabi as he jumps to the side.
James Afolabi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Afolabi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Welsh paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Welsh showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Afolabi.
Afolabi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Welsh.
Welsh scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Welsh looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Welsh content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Afolabi is looking to regain half guard here but Welsh keeps moving and retains side control.
Welsh stands up and beckons Afolabi to his feet.
Welsh slaps away a takedown attempt from Afolabi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Afolabi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Welsh keeps the fight on the outside.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Welsh.
Welsh scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Welsh tries to move into full mount but can't pass Afolabi's legs.
Afolabi is pushing Welsh's head away, looking to escape. Welsh manages to hold on to the position though.
Welsh decides to stand back up. Welsh steps back and let's Afolabi get back to his feet.
Afolabi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Afolabi misses with a body shot.
Welsh gets a takedown into half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Welsh trying to pass the guard but Afolabi defending well.
Afolabi flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Afolabi is looking for a sweep. Welsh is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Welsh scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Afolabi kicks Welsh off and gets back to his feet.
Welsh pushes Afolabi up against the cage in a clinch.
Afolabi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Welsh scores with a knee to the head.
Welsh looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TJ Welsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Afolabi wants a takedown.
Welsh will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Afolabi up against the cage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Afolabi's efforts to push away.
Welsh drags the fight down to the ground.
Welsh controlling Afolabi's posture.
Welsh's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref stands the fighters back up because TJ Welsh just wasn't active enough.
Nice takedown defense from Afolabi. No joy for Welsh on that attempt.
Welsh scores with a takedown into Afolabi's guard.
Welsh trying to control but Afolabi is working from the bottom.
Welsh throwing strikes from guard but Afolabi blocks nicely.
Welsh trying to control the position from guard on top but Afolabi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Welsh decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Afolabi, up you get!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice takedown defense from Afolabi. No joy for Welsh on that attempt.
Welsh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Afolabi circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
TJ Welsh 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.
Afolabi shoots in for a takedown but Welsh shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Afolabi throws a head kick but Welsh moves out of range.
Welsh shoots in for a takedown but Afolabi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Afolabi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Welsh counters by moving into the clinch.
Afolabi takes a knee to the side of the body.
Welsh lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Afolabi backwards.
Welsh jumps guard and drags Afolabi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Welsh keeping moving, preventing Afolabi from controlling successfully.
Afolabi prevents Welsh from getting back to his feet.
Welsh scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Welsh moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Afolabi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Welsh gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Welsh lands a damaging elbow.
Afolabi is looking for a takedown.
TJ Welsh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Afolabi.
Afolabi is breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Welsh working Afolabi over with knees to the body.
Welsh lands a knee to the head.
Welsh jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Afolabi stops Welsh from standing up.
Welsh trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Welsh controlling Afolabi's posture.
Afolabi trying to control but Welsh is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
James Afolabi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Welsh throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Afolabi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Welsh is in Afolabi's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Welsh stands up and waves to Afolabi to follow him.
Welsh looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Afolabi is fending him off so far but Welsh persists. Nope, Afolabi circles away and we're back to standing.
Welsh darts in and clinches Afolabi up against the cage.
Afolabi prevents a takedown attempt there.
Welsh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Welsh shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Welsh uses his free foot to push down on Afolabi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Afolabi.
Welsh can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Afolabi is looking to escape.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Afolabi tries to buck Welsh off but he can't manage it.
Welsh thowing shots but they're missing.
Welsh lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Afolabi hang on?
Welsh looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Afolabi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Welsh is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Afolabi can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Welsh controlling from the full mount.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welsh thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Welsh looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Welsh works his way to his opponent's back.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Afolabi tries to escape but Welsh has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Afolabi is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Welsh wants to control but Afolabi is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
TJ Welsh dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Welsh connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Afolabi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Welsh is defended easily by Afolabi.
Welsh fails with a takedown attempt.
Welsh is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Afolabi can do to turn this around?
Afolabi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Welsh.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TJ Welsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Afolabi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Afolabi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Welsh's waist but Welsh gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Afolabi off to one side.
Welsh looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Afolabi pushes Welsh off looking to stand but Welsh dives back in and keeps control.
Welsh is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Afolabi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Welsh throwing shots but Afolabi is blocking nicely.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Welsh stalling.
Welsh is trying to control the action in half guard but Afolabi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
TJ Welsh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Afolabi has one foot on Welsh's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Afolabi throws a head kick but Welsh moves out of range.
Afolabi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Welsh shoots in looking for a takedown but Afolabi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Welsh's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Afolabi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Afolabi moves in looking to clinch but Welsh pushes him off.
Welsh closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welsh lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Welsh prevents the takedown attempt.
Welsh manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Afolabi trying to control but Welsh is working from the bottom.
Afolabi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Welsh pushes Afolabi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Welsh fails to land the takedown.
Welsh displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Afolabi.
Welsh closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Afolabi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Afolabi leaves Welsh with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Afolabi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Welsh will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Welsh moves into the clinch successfully.
Afolabi trying to land knees to the body.
Welsh gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
TJ Welsh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Welsh controls from within his opponent's guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welsh throws a big right hand that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of TJ Welsh.
Welsh checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Welsh checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Welsh shoots in looking for a takedown. Afolabi tries to sprawl out of it but Welsh keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Afolabi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Afolabi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Welsh sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Welsh gets a clinch.
James Afolabi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Afolabi misses with a punch to the body.
And that's the end of the fight!
TJ Welsh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Welsh has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TJ Welsh!
TJ Welsh decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
72% |
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