PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Waylon Justice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Califf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Califf has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Justice
vs
Califf

196 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Waylon Justice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Califf!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Justice avoids the head kick by Califf.

Califf shoots in and gets a takedown into Justice's guard.
Justice could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Justice keeping moving, preventing Califf from controlling successfully.
Califf advances to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Califf wants to pass to mount but Justice is defending the position.

Califf is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Justice avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Califf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Califf thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Justice's head.
Califf controlling the action here.
Califf is just content to waste time from the top position. Justice takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Califf missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Justice keeping full guard, as Califf tries to pass.
Califf slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Califf tries to move to mount but Justice blocks the move with his legs.
Califf wants to control but Justice is keeping him busy.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Califf is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Justice is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Califf is trying to ground and pound but Justice uses the momentary lack of control by Califf to regain half guard.
Califf has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Califf throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Justice to regain full guard.
Justice keeping moving, preventing Califf from controlling successfully.

That's four 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.
Califf showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Califf trying to control but Justice is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joe Califf hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Justice keeps the fight on the outside.

Justice gets caught napping as Califf dives in and scores a takedown. Justice manages to retain guard.
Califf stopping the sweep attempt from Justice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Califf gets a double leg takedown into Justice's guard.
Justice looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Califf wants to control from the top but Justice keeps moving.
Justice looking to hit a scissor sweep but Califf is one step ahead there.
Joe Califf has got the better of the ground game so far.
Califf tries to stand but Justice is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Califf looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Joe Califf has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Justice throws a head kick but Califf moves out of range.
Califf scores with a leg kick.

Califf drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Califf tries to stand but Justice is controlling from the bottom.
Califf works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Califf seems to be looking for submissions.
Califf with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Califf throwing shots but Justice is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Califf missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Califf decides to stand and escape the position.

Justice tries to sprawl but Califf drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Califf looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Califf throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Califf is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Justice really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Poor strikes thrown by Califf there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Califf 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. This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Justice enables Califf to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Justice manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Justice thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Justice keeping moving, preventing Califf from controlling successfully.
Justice avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Califf drops back, looking for a kneebar! Justice looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Justice looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Justice!
Califf is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Check out the look on Justice's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Califf manages to get back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Justice seems content to control.
Justice trying to control from half guard but Califf is working away.
Califf trying to hold on to Justice's head to control him but Justice postures up.
Justice thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Califf is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Califf gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Califf is adopting a defensive guard.

Califf working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Justice doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Justice manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Califf working a defensive guard but Justice manages to pass into side control anyway.
Califf is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justice wants to lay and pray for a moment but Califf keeps working.
Califf is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Califf trying to control from the bottom.
It looks like Justice is going to stand back up.
Califf keeping hold of Justice's head, controlling as best he can.
Califf takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Justice sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Califf defending well though.
Justice landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Justice prevents Califf from standing back up.
Justice controlling the action here.
Justice sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Califf defending well though.
Califf flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Califf punching from the bottom.
Califf trying to control from the bottom.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Califf. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Justice is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Califf sees it coming and defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Califf comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Califf 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Califf!
During a confident post fight interview, Joe Califf thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.