PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Werben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Koscheck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Werben kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Rise and fall. Josh Koscheck struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.7lbs 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. John Werben has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Werben
vs
Koscheck

188 cm
20
186 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
26
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Werben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Koscheck!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Werben tries to clinch up

and Koscheck counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Koscheck is thwarting Werben's attempts to control the position.
Werben tries to kick Koscheck off in order to stand up. Koscheck Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Werben is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Koscheck asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Koscheck creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Werben sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Werben is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Koscheck asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Koscheck has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Koscheck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Werben keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werben is looking for a sweep.
Werben is working hard here to advance position.
Werben knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Koscheck on the ground.

Koscheck wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Werben, who protects the arm well.
Werben tries to bench press Koscheck off him but Koscheck keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Werben is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Werben wants to control the action here but instead Koscheck manages to pass to full mount!
Koscheck can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Werben is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werben is looking to improve his position but Koscheck isn't that keen on the idea.
Werben wants to control but Koscheck is having none of it.
Werben can't escape the position.
Werben tries to control the position but Koscheck now has his back.
Koscheck scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Werben is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Koscheck trying to control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Werben controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werben is trying to remain composed but Koscheck is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Werben trying to control the hands but Koscheck won't let him.
Werben tries to escape but Koscheck has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Werben breaks Koscheck's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Koscheck is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Werben wants to stand and escape but instead Koscheck has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koscheck drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Koscheck jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Werben is trying to keep Koscheck in close.
Werben wants to control but Koscheck passes easily into half guard.
Koscheck lands strikes from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Werben has his hands clasped together around Koscheck's back. He's all about the action.
Werben trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Koscheck dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Werben scores with a head kick.

It looks like Josh Koscheck has been cut.

Koscheck closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Koscheck working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Werben taking a bit of punishment here - Koscheck scoring with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Werben's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Koscheck tries to score with some ground and pound. Werben controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Werben is pushing Koscheck's head away, looking to escape. Koscheck manages to hold on to the position though.
Josh Koscheck has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koscheck working away.
Werben tries to improve position but can't.
Werben struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werben tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Koscheck thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Koscheck working the ground and pound.
Werben is trying to control Koscheck's posture but Koscheck avoids it.
Werben manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Koscheck missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Werben blocking the ground and pound attempt from Koscheck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werben is not content to let Koscheck control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Werben manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Koscheck is breathing heavily.
Werben trying to control the position here.
Werben is striking but Koscheck is not phased and passes to half guard.
Werben is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Werben looks like he's trying to stand up.
Werben on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Werben tries to get out of the position.

Koscheck is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Werben doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Koscheck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werben blocking the ground and pound attempt from Koscheck.
Werben is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Koscheck is thwarting Werben's attempts to control the position.
Koscheck prevents Werben from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werben is trying to stand.
Werben is trying to maintain the position but Koscheck is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Koscheck landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Werben wants to get back to full guard.
Werben is looking to control Koscheck's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Werben avoid being mounted?
Werben works his way to full guard. Good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Werben wants to stand but Koscheck is controlling the position.
Koscheck is looking to stand up but Werben won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Werben will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Josh Koscheck's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

That kick from Werben tenderised Koscheck's leg. Koscheck is trying to keep his angry face on.
Werben tries to clinch there but Koscheck circles away.
Koscheck takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A head kick misses from Werben.
Koscheck takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sloppy strikes from Werben. Those never looked like landing.
Werben looks to score with a jab to the body but Koscheck is just out of range.
Koscheck shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Werben sprawls well. Werben wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Koscheck gets slowly back to his feet.
Werben throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Werben fails with an attempt to clinch.
Werben throws a quick inside leg kick.
Koscheck takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Koscheck gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Koscheck throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Werben lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koscheck blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Koscheck pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Koscheck avoids the head kick by Werben.
Werben rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Koscheck moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Werben throws a head kick but Koscheck moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Koscheck or perhaps it was just good defense by Werben which made him look bad.
Koscheck keeps the fight on the outside.
Whack! Werben lands a heavy head kick that drops Koscheck. The ref tackles Werben to stop the fight - a great save by the referee because Koscheck was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). John Werben!