PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michale Cleveland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Werr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cleveland
vs
Werr

206 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
18
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Michale Cleveland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rick Werr!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cleveland leaves Werr with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cleveland tries to counter by clinching up but Werr breaks away and moves out of range.
Werr closes the distance and clinches up with Cleveland, looking for a takedown. Werr pushes Cleveland against the cage but Cleveland circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
As Werr looks to move away, Cleveland throws a big counter combo bu Werr just gets out of the way.
Werr fails to land the takedown.
Michale Cleveland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Werr.

Werr shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Werr was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cleveland is trying to control Werr's posture but Werr avoids it.
Cleveland tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Werr presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Werr is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Cleveland is just holding on here. Werr manages to take his back.
Werr should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werr is not going to allow Cleveland to sit and survive in this position.
You can see the frustration on Cleveland's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Werr scores with strikes from the back.

Werr patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Cleveland can't escape the position.

Cleveland is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Cleveland is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Werr looking for the RNC.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cleveland trying to control the hands but Werr won't let him.
Cleveland tries to escape the position.
Cleveland is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Cleveland tries to escape but Werr has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Cleveland is trying to get back to his feet but Werr has full control of the position and if anything, Cleveland has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Cleveland trying to control the position but Werr manages to sink in the hooks.

Werr is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Cleveland has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland prevents Werr from getting a body triangle.
Werr is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Werr lands shots from the back.

Werr is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Cleveland is defending well though. Werr let's go of the attempt for now.
Cleveland wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Werr is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Cleveland has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Cleveland is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Cleveland avoids the strikes from Werr.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cleveland tries to break free.

Werr is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Cleveland defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Werr 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.

Werr gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Werr is trying to force a seperation but Cleveland has the dominant position.
Werr is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Werr trying to stall but Cleveland improves his position.

Werr manages to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cleveland works over Werr with some ground and pound from guard.
Werr wants to sweep but no luck.
Cleveland throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleveland scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Werr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cleveland scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Cleveland gets to his feet. Werr looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Werr scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Werr. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Werr is breathing heavily.
Cleveland trying to control here.
Cleveland is pressing down on Werr's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cleveland looking for a sweep. Not yet Cleveland, not yet.
Cleveland is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Werr is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werr is looking to stand up but Cleveland won't let him.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cleveland keeping moving, preventing Werr from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cleveland leaves Werr with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Werr looks for a takedown but Cleveland sprawls well.
Michale Cleveland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Werr.

Werr clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werr jumps guard but Cleveland stands there with Werr around his waist. Werr gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Werr keeps control of Cleveland as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cleveland is trying to push Werr away but Werr has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cleveland throws an elbow that misses.
Werr is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cleveland is defending well.
Werr tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Werr wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Werr manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cleveland with a flurry of punches that miss.

Cleveland gets to his feet - Werr follows without any prompting.
Cleveland rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Werr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cleveland misses with a wild combination.
Rick Werr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cleveland pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Werr back to the cage. Cleveland follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Werr breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rick Werr will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Werr instigates a clinch.
Werr has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cleveland after a bit of a struggle.
Cleveland looking for a takedown.
Werr tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cleveland avoids it.
Werr stops a takedown attempt from Cleveland.

Cleveland has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Werr uses from the top position.
Cleveland looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Werr wants to get up but he can't break Cleveland's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cleveland wants to sweep here but Werr controlling him for the moment.
Cleveland keeping moving, preventing Werr from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werr won't allow Cleveland to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Werr is standing up over Cleveland. Cleveland looks to escape but Werr dives into side control.
Cleveland is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cleveland is not content to let Werr control the position.
Cleveland is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cleveland stops Werr from passing to mount.
Cleveland takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Werr trying to control the position but Cleveland is working away.
Werr tries to stand but Cleveland is controlling his head.
Werr controlling the position from side mount.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werr shoots in but no luck this time.
Cleveland stuffs the takedown attempt from Werr. Werr gets slowly back to his feet.
Michale Cleveland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Werr.
Cleveland throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice sprawl there from Cleveland as Werr shoots in.
Cleveland drops down looking for an ankle pick but Werr pulls his leg out and moves away.
Werr dives in for a single leg takedown but Cleveland sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cleveland went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A combination from Cleveland does no damage.
Cleveland fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Werr drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cleveland is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Werr has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cleveland is trying to control Werr's posture but Werr avoids it.
Cleveland is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cleveland can't do much from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Werr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Werr 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Werr!