PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lesley Walsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Garapata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jason Garapata has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Lesley Walsh's chin.

Walsh
vs
Garapata

173 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
24
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lesley Walsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jason Garapata!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garapata fails to land with a series of punches.
Walsh throws a half hearted mid kick.
Garapata is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Garapata looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Garapata circles away from the clinch attempt.
Walsh showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Garapata.
Garapata looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Walsh shoots for a double leg takedown but Garapata sprawls well. He's pushed Walsh's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Garapata dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Walsh. That did some damage!
Garapata scores with a one two! Walsh had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Garapata rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Walsh moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A combination from Garapata does no damage.
Garapata misses with a combination
and Walsh counters with a three punch combo that has Garapata backing up. Garapata nods at Walsh to acknowledge the strikes.
Walsh throws a body punch but Garapata moves out of range.
Garapata misses with a double jab.
Garapata lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walsh tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Garapata defends well and Walsh ends up having to push Garapata into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Walsh has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Garapata uses from the top position.
Walsh manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Garapata manages to get himself to full guard.
Garapata wants to stand and escape but Walsh is having none of it.
Garapata has a closed guard, preventing Walsh from standing up.
Walsh postures up in Garapata's guard and throws a big left but Garapata blocks it.
Walsh wanted to stand there but Garapata had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garapata is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Walsh is stalling in the full guard.
Garapata wants to stand up but Walsh is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lesley Walsh wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Walsh avoids the head kick by Garapata.
Garapata misses with a series of wild punches.
Garapata throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Jason Garapata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garapata tries to score a power double leg takedown but Walsh sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Garapata somewhat.
Garapata looks winded!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A punch combination from Garapata misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Walsh clinches with his opponent.
Walsh tries to pull guard but Garapata holds him up against the cage and eventually Walsh drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lesley Walsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Walsh pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Garapata lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Walsh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Garapata looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Walsh wants to sweep here but Garapata controlling him for the moment.
Garapata landing with the ground and pound.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Garapata working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Garapata wants to stand but Walsh has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh wants to sweep but no luck.
Walsh trying to control the position here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Garapata in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage 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!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lesley Walsh just wasn't active enough.

Walsh clinches with his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garapata is trying to break the clinch but Walsh has him pressed against the cage.

Walsh breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jason Garapata will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Garapata goes for a double leg but Walsh avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Walsh continues to drive forward.
Walsh taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Garapata is trying to force a seperation but Walsh has the dominant position.
Walsh displaying some good clinch control by pressing Garapata up against the cage.
Garapata is trying to force a seperation but Walsh has the dominant position.
Walsh tries to pull guard but Garapata forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Walsh drags the fight down to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Walsh throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Walsh looking for a sweep. Not yet Walsh, not yet.
Garapata postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garapata lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Garapata accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Walsh working a defensive guard here.
Garapata lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Garapata throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Walsh works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Garapata with a flurry of punches that miss.
Walsh pulls Garapata in close to prevent any damage.
Walsh is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Garapata wants to stand but Walsh has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Walsh is looking to stand up but Garapata isn't so interested in that idea.
Walsh utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Walsh is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lesley Walsh wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Garapata lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Walsh circles away quickly and effectively.
Walsh tries a low kick but Garapata avoids it.
Walsh takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garapata's corner calls for a 1-2. Garapata obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Garapata thows a body kick. Walsh tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Lesley Walsh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Garapata misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh shoots for a double leg takedown but Garapata sprawls well. He's pushed Walsh's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Garapata looks for a takedown but Walsh sprawls well.
Garapata blocks a low kick nicely.
Garapata darts in looking for a takedown but Walsh gets double underhooks and turns Garapata into the cage.
Lesley Walsh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Garapata.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Walsh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Garapata swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Garapata. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh misses the body punch
and Garapata counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Garapata lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Garapata throws a right hand that Walsh ducks under and follows up with a left that Walsh also avoids with ease.
Walsh tries to clinch but Garapata is having none of it.
Some wild striking there from Garapata.
Garapata will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Walsh thows a left - swing and a miss!
Garapata works over Walsh's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Garapata lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Walsh circles away quickly and effectively.

Walsh closes the distance and clinches.
Walsh misses with a knee strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jason Garapata will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Walsh tries to clinch but Garapata is having none of it.
Walsh darts in looking for a takedown but Garapata gets double underhooks and turns Walsh into the cage.

Walsh breaks the clinch.
Garapata pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Garapata misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Walsh instigates a clinch.
Walsh looking to throw knees to the head but Garapata is blocking nicely.
Walsh has Garapata pressed against the cage, preventing Garapata from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Walsh breaks from the clinch.
Walsh throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Garapata tries for a takedown but Walsh circles away easily
and Walsh counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garapata throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Walsh misses with a low kick as Garapata jumps back.
Walsh has a takedown stuffed.
Garapata throws a leg kick which misses Walsh's front leg but catches the back leg as Walsh tries to avoid it.
Garapata rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Walsh moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Walsh forces Garapata back against the cage and clinches.
Garapata is trying to push Walsh away but Walsh has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Walsh tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lesley Walsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A frustrated look appears on Garapata's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Walsh tries to pull guard but Garapata forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garapata wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Walsh jumps guard but Garapata stands there with Walsh around his waist. Walsh gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Walsh breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Garapata swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Walsh tries to close the distance and clinch up but Garapata swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Walsh throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Garapata was covering up waiting for the punch and Walsh finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Walsh won't allow Garapata to get back to his feet.
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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh is standing up over Garapata. Garapata looks to escape but Walsh dives into side control.
Garapata wants to get back to his feet.
Lesley Walsh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Walsh looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Walsh tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Walsh just content to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Walsh is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Garapata is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Garapata is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Jason Garapata is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Garapata is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Walsh is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Garapata is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Garapata prevents Walsh from moving into mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lesley Walsh showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Garapata 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Garapata!
A very excited looking Jason Garapata made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.