PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Fatu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Waldrup (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fatu's entrance music is Hawaii - Aloha-Oe. A fine choice. Brandon Waldrup struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 266.8lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Brandon Waldrup is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Fatu
vs
Waldrup

196 cm
24
247 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
20
290 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ryan Fatu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brandon Waldrup!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waldrup thows a left - swing and a miss!

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

Fatu has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Waldrup clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
What can Waldrup do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Waldrup should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Waldrup is keeping busy.
Waldrup covering up well under a series of strikes from Fatu.
Waldrup avoids the strikes from Fatu.
Fatu lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Fatu.
The referee is taking a good look at Waldrup as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Fatu!
This has been an exciting period of action!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waldrup wants to control his opponent's hands but Fatu gets his hands free.
Fatu tries to get the hooks in deep but Waldrup pushed the leg off.
Fatu somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Waldrup tries to escape but Fatu has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Fatu trying to control.
Waldrup tries to break free.
Waldrup prevents Fatu from getting a body triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waldrup wants to escape the position.

Fatu is looking for the choke from the back position but Waldrup is controlling his hands well.
Waldrup staying busy and making it hard for Fatu to control.
Waldrup tries to escape but Fatu has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Waldrup is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Waldrup fending off the submission attempt from Fatu.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Waldrup is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fatu missing with strikes.
Waldrup looking very determined here, making life difficult for Fatu.
Waldrup tries to break free.

Fatu working for a choke but Waldrup is defending well.
Fatu is controlling the position but Waldrup somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Waldrup wants to improve his position but Fatu is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fatu wants to pass the guard but Waldrup is defending well.
Fatu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Waldrup with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Waldrup is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Fatu dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Waldrup falls off balance throwing a combination

and Fatu counters with a single leg into guard. Waldrup didn't expect that.
Fatu stopping the sweep attempt from Waldrup.
Fatu passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Fatu tries to advance to mount but Waldrup denies him.
Fatu sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Waldrup is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Fatu throws a strike aimed at the side of Waldrup's head but Waldrup avoids it well.
Fatu tries to advance to mount but Waldrup denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fatu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Waldrup keeps working.
Fatu wants to stand but Waldrup has his arm trapped.
Waldrup is pushing Fatu's head away, looking to escape. Fatu manages to hold on to the position though.
Fatu is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Waldrup is trying to improve his position.
Fatu trying to control the position but Waldrup is working away.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Fatu here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fatu tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Fatu fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Ryan Fatu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fatu wants to control but Waldrup is keeping him busy.
Waldrup is trying to escape the position but Fatu is controlling the position.
Waldrup is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fatu landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Fatu trying to control the action but Waldrup is working from the bottom.
Waldrup is trying to get back to his feet.
Waldrup manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fatu moves into full guard.
Fatu is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Waldrup working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Waldrup trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Waldrup has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fatu is proving hard to escape from.
Waldrup is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Waldrup wants to control from the top but Fatu keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Waldrup stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fatu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Fatu dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Fatu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Waldrup pinned against the ropes. Waldrup gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Fatu checks a leg kick nicely.

Fatu changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Waldrup looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fatu wants to control but Waldrup is keeping him busy.
Waldrup struggling a bit here.
Waldrup sneaks back into half guard.
Fatu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waldrup blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fatu.
Fatu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fatu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Waldrup gets back to full guard.
Waldrup trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Waldrup looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fatu postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fatu throws an elbow that misses. Waldrup uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fatu's guard. Nice move by Waldrup!
Fatu wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Waldrup passes Fatu's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Fatu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Waldrup pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Waldrup throws a strike but Fatu avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Fatu controls Waldrup momentarily but Waldrup frees himself.
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!
Waldrup with a flurry of punches that miss.
Waldrup trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Waldrup wants to control from the top but Fatu keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waldrup would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Waldrup slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Waldrup tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Waldrup is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Fatu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Fatu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waldrup tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Waldrup is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fatu knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Waldrup trying to control the action but Fatu is working from the bottom.
Waldrup tries to stand but Fatu controls the position and pulls Waldrup into his guard.
Brandon Waldrup has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryan Fatu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fatu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brandon Waldrup.
I think Fatu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Fatu!
Ryan Fatu was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.