PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephan Walter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gio Naza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Naza is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Saliva - Ladies and Gentlemen. Gio Naza is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Walter
vs
Naza

173 cm
26
181 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
28
176 lbs
12 - 11 - 2

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Olympic wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Adam's NORTHERN WILD $10 Sale

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Stephan Walter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 2, fighting out of London, Gio Naza!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Naza counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Walter is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Walter working for submissions but it's allowed Naza to get to half guard.
Naza takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Naza is nestled in close to Walter, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Walter taking some punishment here, with Naza in his half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Naza is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Naza is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Naza looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Naza content to control rather than advance.
It looks like Naza might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Naza connects with a nice short shot to Walter's temple.
Naza lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Naza is trying to control the action in half guard but Walter is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Naza moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Walter.
Naza cracks Walter with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Naza has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Naza in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Walter pushes Naza away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Naza gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Naza just content to control the position.
Walter is trying to get back to his feet.
Walter being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Naza's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gio Naza was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Walter with a poor takedown
and Naza counters with a nice leg kick.
Walter misses with a takedown attempt

and Naza counters with a single leg into guard. Walter didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephan Walter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Naza is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Naza wants to control from the top but Walter keeps moving.
Naza postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Walter keeping moving, preventing Naza from controlling successfully.
Naza lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naza chips away with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Walter keeping moving, preventing Naza from controlling successfully.
Naza forces his way into half guard.
Naza keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Naza working over Walter with some ground and pound. Walter looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Naza not doing much here.
Naza trying to control the action but Walter is working from the bottom.
Naza content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Walter looking for submissions off his back.
Naza stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naza drops an elbow to the side of Walter's head.
Naza works his way into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Naza lands a nice forearm strike.
Naza working the head with strikes.
Walter pushes Naza away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Naza gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Naza working the ground and pound.
Walter is trying to get back to his feet.
Naza cracks Walter with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Naza slows the pace down.
Naza landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Naza cracks Walter with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Naza lands some shots froms side control.
Walter tries to buck Naza off but Naza is having none of it.
Naza works to advance to full mount. Walter defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gio Naza dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Walter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Naza to counter with a crisp jab.
Walter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Naza.

Naza shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Walter manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Walter can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Naza controls the pace.
Naza lands a couple of elbows.
Naza scoring with some ground and pound.
Naza passes Walter's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Walter is looking to escape.
Naza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Walter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Walter taking some punishment here, with Naza in his half guard.
Naza is looking to take a break and control but Walter is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Naza trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walter is refusing to be controlled, as Naza sits in half guard.
Walter tries to kick Naza off but Naza keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Naza lands strikes from half guard.
Naza not doing much here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Naza working Walter over with strikes.
Naza seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gio Naza has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gio Naza has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Walter shoots and misses
and Naza counters with a nice uppercut.
Walter shoots and misses
and Naza counters with a low kick, right behind Walter 's knee.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephan Walter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Walter fails with the takedown
and Naza counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Walter slips under a jab from Naza.
Walter fails with the takedown
and Naza counters with a low kick, right behind Walter 's knee.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Walter tries for a takedown but Naza circles away easily
and Naza counters with a straight right hand.
Walter tries for a takedown but Naza circles away easily
and Naza counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Walter blocks a jab.
Stephan Walter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walter has his takedown stuffed

and Naza counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Naza engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Naza working some strikes from top position.
Naza is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Naza landing with the ground and pound.
Naza passes into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Naza lands a nice short elbow.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Walter actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naza is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Walter taking some punishment here, with Naza in his half guard.
Naza is looking to take a break and control but Walter is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Naza landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Walter is trying to stand up here but Naza is controlling him well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Naza lands a nice short elbow.
Walter is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Naza scores with a couple of nice shots.
Naza is taking a breather. Walter 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.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Naza trying to control from half guard but Walter is working away.
Naza passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Walter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gio Naza 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!

Walter doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Naza counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Naza is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Naza looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Naza seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Let's hope that Naza 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.
Walter wants to get back to his feet.
Naza controlling the pace.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gio Naza has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Walter gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Naza counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naza misses with an uppercut. Walter saw that one coming.
Naza is looking to slow Walter down with leg kicks.
Walter gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Walter takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephan Walter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Walter misses with a takedown
and Naza counters with a stiff right hand.
Walter has his takedown stuffed
and Naza counters with a nice low kick that buckles Walter's knee momentarily.

Naza shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Naza was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Naza scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Walter?
Naza working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naza postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Walter looks a forlorn figure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Naza with good strikes from the mount here!
Walter might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Naza landing punches.
Naza content just to control the position here.
Walter wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Naza lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The referee warns Walter that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Walter is rocked!
Walter can't escape the position.
Oh Walter is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Naza landing punches.
Naza landing strikes from the mount.
Naza with the ground and pound from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naza controlling the position easily from mount.
Naza lands a big elbow.
Walter can't escape the position.
Naza landing punches.
Naza looking to control and managing it successfully.
Naza lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Gio Naza is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naza working the ground and pound effectively.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Naza takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Naza working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Walter slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Walter slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Naza controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Naza trying to control the position from guard on top but Walter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stephan Walter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Gio Naza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Naza 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gio Naza!