PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ian Dabest (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wesley Demand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ian Dabest had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.7lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Dabest
vs
Demand

175 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
166 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ian Dabest!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wesley Demand!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Hugh Johnson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Demand shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Dabest gets a takedown into half guard.
Dabest is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Demand is trying to maintain the position but Dabest is very close to passing his half guard.
Dabest trying to control from half guard but Demand is working away.
Dabest is taking a breather. Demand says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Dabest trying to control from half guard but Demand is working away.
Demand gets full guard.
Dabest is stalling in the full guard.
Dabest is breathing heavily.
Dabest won't allow Demand to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demand throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Dabest throws a big right hand that misses.

Demand looking for a guillotine here but Dabest defends easily.

Demand looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dabest wants to control from the top but Demand keeps moving.
Dabest lands a couple of digs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Demand keeping full guard, as Dabest tries to pass.
Dabest sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Demand's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dabest is tying to control. Demand wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Demand lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Demand trying to hold on to Dabest's head to control him but Dabest postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Demand is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dabest's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dabest's back!
Demand keeps control of the position as Dabest tries to break free.

Demand has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Dabest has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Dabest defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Demand's arms.
Can Dabest hold on?! Demand is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

Demand looking for the RNC.
Dabest manages to reverse the position and now he's in Demand's guard. Nice work there by Dabest.
Dabest has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dabest stays in close to Demand's body and controls the position.
Dabest stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Demand swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Demand working a defensive guard here.
Dabest stopping the sweep attempt from Demand.
Demand working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Demand gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Dabest counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dabest.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dabest has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Demand is proving hard to escape from.

Demand looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Dabest is defending well. Demand quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Dabest has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Demand celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Wesley Demand!