PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Elvin James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kev Welford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Welford

185 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Elvin James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kev Welford!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Welford manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Welford shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Welford was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Welford lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Welford has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Welford is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Welford lands a decent elbow from side control.
James wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Welford has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for James!
Welford putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's one minute gone in the round.
James manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Welford looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks James with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Welford scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Welford throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Still in half guard, Welford seems content to control.
James has a hand on Welford's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Welford takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
James manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Welford prevents James from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Welford is working for a kimura but James is defending it quite comfortably.
Welford controlling the pace.
Welford not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
James wants to control but Welford is keeping busy.
James has hold of Welford's hands but Welford slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking for a sweep. Welford is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Welford trying to control from half guard but James is working away.
James wants to get back to full guard.
James is trying to stand back up but Welford is controlling him
Welford trying to control the pace.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Welford is looking for a kimura here.
Welford stalling away here and it's allowed James to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

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.
Welford wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James is wriggling around but Welford manages to pass to half guard.
James is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Welford is trying to work for a kimura but James is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kev Welford dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Welford changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. James tries to avoid it but Welford manages to keep hold of a leg and drag James to the ground. James escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
James throws a big counter combination but Welford scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Welford has a takedown stuffed.
Welford has a takedown stuffed.
Elvin James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kev Welford.
No joy there for Welford, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Welford tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Welford manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Welford has managed to clinch.
Welford jumps guard but James turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Welford has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Welford circles away.
Horrible takedown attempt by James or perhaps it was just good defense by Welford, which made it look bad.

Welford throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. James tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Welford is in James's guard.

James pushes Welford off and gets back to his feet.
Welford tries to clinch but James moves out of range.

James has managed to clinch.
Welford is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but James is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James breaks the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Welford stuffs the takedown attempt from James. James gets slowly back to his feet.
Welford flicks out a counter leg kick but James steps away.
Welford dives in and grabs James's left leg, looking for a takedown. James pushes down on Welford's head and hops out.

Welford takes the fight into the clinch.
Welford is trying to push James away but James has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Welford has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from James.

James gets in close and instigates a clinch.

James has clasped his hands together around Welford's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welford tries to buck James off but James is having none of it.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Welford keeps working.
James really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Welford is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Welford pushes James off and gets back to his feet.

Welford pushes James up against the cage in a clinch.
James'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.
Welford is trying to work for a single leg takedown but James pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Welford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Welford shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Welford tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James appears to be looking for a big counter.
Welford uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.
Welford is trying to counter with his kicks.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
James feinted with a counter takedown.
James connects with a crisp jab.
Welford tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Welford or perhaps it was just good defense by James, which made it look bad.

Welford rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
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 Elvin James will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Welford shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. James is trying to defend but Welford finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

James pushes Welford off and gets back to his feet.

Welford rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
James lands a nice uppercut.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Welford is struggling to control the position.

James breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welford wants to clinch.
James tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Welford manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Welford throws a counter combo.

Welford moves into the clinch.
James stalls.
Welford is working for takedown but James is calmly controlling the position for now.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Elvin James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James tries to clinch up but Welford circles away and keeps his distance.
Welford tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Elvin James is winning the standup battle so far.
James fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Welford avoids it really well and circles away.
Welford is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Welford pinned against the cage. Welford gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elvin James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Welford counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Welford.
Welford has James pushed against the cage.
Welford tries to pull guard but James holds him up against the cage and eventually Welford drops back down to his feet.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James tries to close the distance and clinch but Welford swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Welford throws a counter combo.
James looks to land a body kick but Welford moved away.

Welford gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Welford tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. James smiles and moves away.
James misses with the combination.
James fails with a takedown attempt.

Welford shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Welford prevents James from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welford is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
James wants to control but Welford is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Welford is sneakily working for an arm triangle but James sees it coming and defends easily.

Welford seems to be working for a kimura but James defends the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kev Welford.
I think Welford has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kev Welford!