PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between TJ Welsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorgip Wallrium (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Welsh comes to the cage accompanied by Lets Have A War. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Welsh
vs
Wallrium

190 cm
28
199 lbs
14 - 16 - 1

194 cm
30
181 lbs
14 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 14 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, TJ Welsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jorgip Wallrium!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wallrium misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wallrium does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Welsh shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wallrium as he avoids it easily.

Welsh has closed the distance and engaged Wallrium in a clinch.
Welsh looking to throw knees to the head but Wallrium is blocking nicely.
Welsh with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wallrium is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Welsh pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wallrium connects with a right hand. Welsh shakes it off.
Welsh avoids the head kick by Wallrium.
Wallrium throws a sloppy head kick and Welsh moves out of range easily.

Welsh drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Welsh tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Wallrium told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Welsh working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welsh tries to advance to mount but Wallrium denies him.

Welsh is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Wallrium is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Welsh decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Wallrium defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Welsh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welsh avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Welsh pushes Wallrium up against the cage in a clinch.
Welsh taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Wallrium pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Welsh has had enough of the clinch but Wallrium keeps him there for the moment.
Wallrium creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Wallrium on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Welsh blocks the elbow strike.
Welsh trying to land knees to the body.
Welsh blocks an elbow strike from Wallrium.
Welsh tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Wallrium missing with knees to the body.
Welsh throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wallrium blocks it with crossed arms.
Wallrium stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Welsh throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wallrium blocks it with crossed arms.
Wallrium misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Wallrium is keeping busy.
Wallrium pushes off an throws an elbow but Welsh leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Wallrium blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wallrium blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wallrium missing with knees to the body.
Welsh blocks the elbow strike.
Welsh's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Welsh dodges an elbow strike from Wallrium.
Welsh misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Welsh manages to break the clinch.
Welsh waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wallrium.

Wallrium closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wallrium's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Wallrium on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wallrium misses with a punch to the body.
Wallrium is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Welsh is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Wallrium is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Welsh is defending well for now.
With the fighters up against the cage, Wallrium throws an elbow but misses.
Wallrium pushes Welsh back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Welsh blocks an elbow strike.
Welsh looking to stall.
Welsh is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TJ Welsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wallrium lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Welsh is trying to push Wallrium away but Wallrium has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Wallrium avoiding damage as Welsh throws knees to the body.
Wallrium trying to land knees to the body.
Welsh working Wallrium over with knees to the body.
Welsh blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Welsh.
Wallrium gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like TJ Welsh has been cut.

Welsh breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wallrium shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Welsh dominated that round.
The cut man is working on TJ Welsh's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Welsh fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wallrium scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Welsh clinches.
Wallrium managing to block the knees to the body from Welsh.
Wallrium blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Welsh trying to land knees to the body.
Wallrium taking a breather.
Welsh putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Wallrium in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Welsh misses with a knee strike.
Wallrium managing to block the knees to the body from Welsh.
Knees in the clinch landing for Wallrium.
Wallrium lands an elbow just above Welsh 's eye.
Welsh fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Welsh missing with knees to the body.
Wallrium blocks an uppercut.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Wallrium takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wallrium lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welsh taking a breather.
Welsh slowing the pace effectively.
Wallrium tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Welsh avoids it.
TJ Welsh has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Welsh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wallrium paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Welsh fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TJ Welsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Welsh manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Wallrium on his heels. He'll look to pass Wallrium's guard now, I'm sure.
Welsh stops Wallrium from standing up.

Welsh stands and steps away. Wallrium gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Welsh clinches up against the cage.
Welsh drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welsh with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
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 avoids the elbow strike from Wallrium, against the cage.
Wallrium creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Welsh tries to land a knee to the head but Wallrium blocks with his arms.
Wallrium lands with a short shot to the head.
Welsh misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wallrium.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wallrium.
Welsh has a couple of punches blocked by Wallrium.
Wallrium makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Welsh dodges an elbow strike from Wallrium.
A nice right hand lands inside from Wallrium.
Wallrium lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Wallrium blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Welsh drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Welsh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallrium tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Welsh avoids it.
Wallrium misses with an elbow over the top.
Welsh working Wallrium over with knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Welsh - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Wallrium pushes off an throws an elbow but Welsh leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Wallrium trying to stall but Welsh improves his position.
Welsh tries to circle away but Wallrium has him pinned against the cage.
Wallrium tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Welsh avoids it.
Welsh using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Wallrium has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Wallrium on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Welsh missing with knees to the body.
Wallrium on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wallrium tries a body shot but Welsh blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welsh can't find room to land a body shot as Wallrium controls the action.
Welsh tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Welsh controlling the action here for a moment.
Wallrium throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Welsh tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Welsh tries to stall but Wallrium uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Welsh as Wallrium tries to tie him up.
Welsh blocks an elbow strike from Wallrium.
Wallrium lands a nice elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice elbow from Wallrium.
Wallrium missing with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Welsh taking a breather.
Welsh lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Welsh looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that TJ Welsh will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on TJ Welsh's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Welsh shoots in for a double leg but Wallrium sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wallrium lands a nice looking kick to the body. Welsh takes a step back to recover.
Wallrium lands a nice leg kick that just misses Welsh's sensitive parts.
Welsh's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Wallrium connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Welsh scrambles back to his feet.

Wallrium darts in and clinches Welsh up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Wallrium on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wallrium lands a nice elbow.
Wallrium creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Welsh's defenses.
Wallrium looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Welsh manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Welsh being controlled here, momentarily.
Welsh is looking to stand up but Wallrium isn't so interested in that idea.
Wallrium controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Welsh is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Wallrium is stalling in the full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jorgip Wallrium wasn't active enough on the ground.
Welsh darts in looking for a takedown but Wallrium gets double underhooks and turns Welsh into the cage.
Welsh with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Welsh's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welsh misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wallrium.
Wallrium dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nice elbow from Wallrium.
Wallrium is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Welsh is defending well for now.

Welsh breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wallrium scores with a head kick.

TJ Welsh's cut is getting worse.
Wallrium keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TJ Welsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Welsh darts in and clinches Wallrium up against the cage.
Welsh with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Wallrium lands an elbow that stopped Welsh in his tracks for a moment.
Welsh missing with knees to the body.
Welsh avoiding damage as Wallrium throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh blocks the elbow strike.
Welsh scores with a knee to the head.
Welsh misses with some punches.
Wallrium blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wallrium missing with knees to the body.
Wallrium lands a nice elbow.
Welsh is trying to force a seperation but Wallrium has the dominant position.
Welsh is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Wallrium is defending well for now.
TJ Welsh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A short body shot lands from Wallrium as the two fighters clinch.
Wallrium comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

TJ Welsh's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Welsh on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Wallrium.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welsh avoids a wild elbow strike from Wallrium.
Welsh blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wallrium trying to land knees to the body.
Wallrium throws a punch but it's blocked by Welsh.
Jorgip Wallrium has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Welsh throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wallrium blocks it with crossed arms.
Wallrium throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Welsh blocks an elbow strike.
Wallrium scores with a shot to the side of Welsh's head.
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.
Welsh avoids the elbow strike from Wallrium, against the cage.
Wallrium missing with knees to the body.
Wallrium avoiding damage as Welsh throws knees to the body.
Welsh blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jorgip Wallrium comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Welsh has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... TJ Welsh!
TJ Welsh spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.