PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Edwardo Welch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick Stewart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edwardo Welch has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Welch
vs
Stewart

222 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Edwardo Welch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Patrick Stewart!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Welch tries to keep at a distance but Stewart has taken the fight into the clinch.

Stewart gets control of Welch's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stewart will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Welch will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Welch loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Welch with a nice head shot there.
Welch really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Welch connects with a couple of short punches.
Welch throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Welch chips away with some ground and pound.
Welch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Welch throws a big right hand that misses.
Stewart is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stewart can do anything to dispel that myth.
Welch is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Welch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Stewart manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Welch fails to pull guard.
Welch with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welch is looking to break free of the clinch but Stewart has double underhooks.

Stewart decides to pull guard.
Welch keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stewart's head.
Stewart looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Welch throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stewart wants to stand and escape but Welch is having none of it.
Welch wanted to stand there but Stewart had control of the position.
Welch missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Welch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stewart wants to sweep but no luck.
Stewart avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Welch's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Welch drops back, looking for a kneebar! Stewart looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Stewart looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Stewart!
Welch tries to buck Stewart off but Stewart is having none of it.
Stewart throws a strike aimed at the side of Welch's head but Welch avoids it well.
Stewart creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Welch sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Stewart controls the position.
Stewart tries to advance to mount but Welch denies him.
Stewart trying to control the action but Welch is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stewart stands up and beckons Welch to his feet.
Welch throws a push kick but Stewart slaps the foot to one side.

Stewart has Welch up against the cage in a clinch.
Stewart has had enough of the clinch but Welch keeps him there for the moment.

Welch has picked Stewart up - he's going for a ride! Welch dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Welch is trying to control. Stewart wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welch seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Welch looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Stewart trying to control from the bottom.
Stewart wants to get back to full guard.
Welch wants to stand up but Stewart has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stewart flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Stewart blocking the ground and pound attempt from Welch.
Welch is looking to stall here but Stewart recovers full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edwardo Welch 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.

Stewart pushes Welch up against the cage in a clinch.

Welch lands a takedown into guard.

Stewart has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Welch off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Stewart gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stewart lands a nice shot to the body.
Stewart stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart just leaning against Welch, taking a breather.
Come on Stewart - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Welch throws a knee to the head but misses.

Stewart manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Welch content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Welch is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Stewart pushes Welch off and scrambles back to his feet.
Edwardo Welch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stewart misses with a leg kick.
Stewart lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Welch.
A nice side step and Stewart releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stewart gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Welch tightens his grip and picks Stewart up, before dumping him to the ground. Stewart manages to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stewart not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Welch stands up over Stewart, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Stewart controls Welch momentarily but Welch frees himself.
Edwardo Welch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Welch wants to stand but Stewart is controlling his posture from full guard.

Stewart pushes Welch off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Welch shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stewart but Stewart pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stewart pushes Welch up against the cage in a clinch.
Stewart is stalling here.

Stewart has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Welch regains guard immediately.
Stewart is breathing heavily.

Welch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Welch is working an open guard so Stewart takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stewart rushes Welch and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stewart keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Welch's efforts to push away.

Welch manages to break the clinch.

Stewart drives through and clinches with Welch against the cage.

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

Stewart instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Stewart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Stewart clinches up with Welch and pushes him back against the cage.

Stewart gets control of Welch's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stewart will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Welch trying to control the position from guard on top but Stewart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stewart uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Stewart instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stewart lands a right hand.

Stewart pulls guard.
Stewart has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Welch drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Stewart dives on top into guard.

Welch has an active guard here but Stewart has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welch works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stewart content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Welch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stewart must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stewart cracks Welch with a solid left hand.
Welch has a closed guard, preventing Stewart from standing up.
Stewart controlling from the top position.

That's two 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.

Welch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stewart is aware though and is defending well.
Stewart looking to pass the guard.

Welch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Welch has momentary wrist control but Stewart slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart trying to control the position from guard on top but Welch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stewart decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Welch, up you get!
Welch looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stewart is fending him off so far but Welch persists. Nope, Stewart circles away and we're back to standing.

Stewart gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Stewart manages to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welch wants to get up but he can't break Stewart's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Welch throwing strikes from guard but Stewart blocks nicely.
Welch throws a big elbow that misses.
Stewart tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Welch postures up.
Welch has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Welch throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stewart works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stewart looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stewart is controlling Welch's posture.
Welch wants to control from the top but Stewart keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Stewart had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Welch defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Patrick Stewart comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stewart 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Patrick Stewart!