PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Machio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Welsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Welsh has chosen Lets Have A War as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. TJ Welsh is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Machio
vs
Welsh

190 cm
23
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
35
199 lbs
21 - 25 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Good elbows
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ralph Machio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 25 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, TJ Welsh!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Welsh gets a takedown into half guard.
Welsh moves into full mount! Machio won't be happy about that!

Welsh stands up from mount. Strange move.
Machio tries to bum rush Welsh with a series of wild strikes but Welsh uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Welsh feints and as Machio raises his hands in defense, Welsh changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Welsh not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Welsh gets to his feet - Machio follows without any prompting.

Welsh closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Welsh lands in his opponent's guard.
Machio definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Welsh decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Machio, up you get!

Machio gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Welsh to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Welsh is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welsh trying to control the position from guard on top but Machio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Machio is working an open guard so Welsh takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Machio gets a clinch.

Welsh manages to pull guard.
Welsh keeping moving, preventing Machio from controlling successfully.
Machio engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Machio trying to control but Welsh is working from the bottom.
Machio would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machio throws a big elbow that misses.
Machio won't allow Welsh to sweep him here.
Machio slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Welsh has control of Machio's left arm, preventing Machio from doing any damage.
Machio loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Machio preventing the sweep.
Machio forces his way into half guard.
Welsh tries to kick Machio off but Machio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Welsh keeping control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Welsh trying to control but Machio postures up.

Machio seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Welsh.
Welsh controlling Machio's posture.

Welsh manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Welsh landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Machio is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Welsh can't fight it off and eventually Machio manages to take the fight to the floor. Welsh looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Welsh pushes Machio off and gets back to his feet.

Welsh gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Welsh scores with a knee to the head.
Machio takes a knee right on the jaw!
Welsh with a knee to the head.
Welsh with a knee to the head.
Welsh connects with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Welsh.

Welsh jumps into guard, dragging Machio to the mat.
Machio trying to control but Welsh is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machio wants to stand but Welsh has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Welsh pulls Machio in close to his closed guard and prevents Machio from doing any damage or advancing position.
Let's hope that Welsh has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Welsh dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Welsh closes the distance and pushes Machio back into the cage.
Welsh using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Welsh scores a nice knee to the body.
Welsh lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A short right from Welsh on the inside.

Machio tightens his grip and picks Welsh up, before dumping him to the ground. Welsh manages to land in guard.

Welsh manages to escape and get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Welsh clinches up with Machio and pushes him back against the cage.

Welsh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Welsh shoots in and gets a takedown into Machio's guard.
TJ Welsh has got the better of the ground game so far.

Welsh gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Machio closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Machio lands in his opponent's guard.

Welsh pushes Machio off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Welsh darts in and clinches Machio up against the cage.
Welsh has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Machio drags the fight down to the ground.
Welsh stays in close to Machio's body and controls the position.
Machio is trying to control the position but Welsh postures up.
Welsh trying to control the position from guard on top but Machio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Welsh stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Welsh darts in and clinches Machio up against the cage.
Welsh connects with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Welsh obliges.
Welsh has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Machio seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Welsh can turn it around.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Welsh turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Welsh advances nicely into full mount.
Machio is working to get back to half guard.
Welsh tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Welsh working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Welsh seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Machio is holding on tight.

Welsh is working for a guillotine from mount but Machio frees his head quite easily.
Welsh tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Welsh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Welsh gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Welsh scores with a takedown into Machio's guard.
Machio wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Welsh shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Machio is trying to control but can't.
Machio is trying to get back to full guard.
Welsh seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Welsh seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Machio is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). 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.