PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Warner Dean (ranked 24047 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Essex (ranked 4728 p4p, 0 weight class). Essex has chosen Sleaford Mods - Jobseeker as his entrance music. Warner Dean has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Dean
vs
Essex

150 cm
18
177 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

170 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Warner Dean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dean Essex!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Essex closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dean did well to prevent Essex getting side control.
Dean has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Essex is working away from the top position though.
Still in half guard, Essex seems content to control.
Dean is trying to control but can't.
Essex prevents Dean from improving his position.
Essex stalling.
Essex landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dean wants to get back to full guard.
Essex content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Essex working Dean over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Essex wants to get back to his feet.
Essex controlling the action here.
Dean really is a fat lump.
Dean has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Essex is working away from the top position though.
Essex perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Dean tries to roll over but Essex keeps him under control.

That's two 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.
Still in half guard, Essex seems content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dean won't allow Essex to pass to mount.
Essex is still trying to improve position.
Essex is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Essex closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Dean is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Essex lands a nice forearm strike.
Essex landing a few strikes.
Dean might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Essex controlling from side mount.
Let's hope that Essex 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.
Dean gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Essex is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Dean can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Essex takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Essex cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Essex is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Dean to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Dean shrugs it off.
Dean can't escape the position.
Essex fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Dean is looking to get to half guard.
Essex content just to control the position here.
Dean working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Essex takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Essex dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Essex gets a double leg takedown into Dean's guard.
Essex sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Essex working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dean's head.
Essex controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Essex preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Essex engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Essex scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Essex wants to stand but Dean has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Essex's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Essex throws a big right hand that misses.
Essex is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Essex throwing strikes from guard but Dean blocks nicely.
Dean Essex has got the better of the ground game so far.
Essex pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dean is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Essex advances to half guard.
Essex stalling.
Dean is looking for a sweep. Essex is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Essex sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Essex is continuing to stall.
Essex working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Essex sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The adventures of Essex the control monster continue. Boring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Essex has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dean is trying to maintain the position but Essex is very close to passing his half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Essex decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Essex there.
Essex lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dean manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dean working a defensive guard here.
Essex is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dean 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.
Dean is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Essex controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Essex's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Essex 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dean tries to clinch up but Essex circles away and keeps his distance.

Essex gets the takedown into side control.
Essex controlling the position from side mount.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Essex.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Essex scores with punches from side control.
Essex has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Essex taking a breather here.
Dean is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Dean's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dean is letting Essex control him for a moment.
Essex creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Essex remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Dean is looking to regain half guard here but Essex keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Essex wants to stand but Dean is controlling his arm.
A lull in the action here as Essex stalls from top position.
Essex scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Dean to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Essex is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dean is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dean tries to improve position but can't.
Essex is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
More stalling from Essex.

Essex looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dean is looking for a sweep.
Essex tries to advance to mount but can't.
Dean takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Essex is staying tight to Dean's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Essex lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Dean's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Warner Dean has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dean Essex is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Essex slows the pace down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dean Essex comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Essex 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 24:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 25:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dean Essex!
Post fight, Dean Essex took to the microphone: 'I've got drugs to take and a mind to break'.