PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johny Witson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Caige (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Caige has chosen Silverchair- Freak as his entrance music. Johny Witson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Witson
vs
Caige

185 cm
19
201 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
23
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Alpha-Male Nutritional Supplements (q160)
KAISER Nutrition (160!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johny Witson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Billy Caige!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Witson tries a head kick but it misses.
Caige will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Witson.
Witson tries a head kick but it misses.
Witson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Caige pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Witson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Caige sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Witson somewhat.
Witson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sloppy strikes from Caige. Those never looked like landing.
Witson moves away from the strike by Caige.

Caige changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Witson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Witson is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Caige stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Witson moves out of range of the body kick from Caige.
Caige scores with a three punch combo!

Witson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Caige, pushing him back against the cage.
Witson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Caige working hard to break the clinch.

Witson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Witson shoots in for a takedown but Caige shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johny Witson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Witson misses with a head kick.
Witson thuds a left hand into Caige's body.
A right-left combo lands from Caige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Witson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Caige closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Witson quickly recovers to half guard.
Witson has his hands clasped together around Caige's back. He's all about the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Caige tries to stand and escape but Witson actually recovers to full guard.
Caige trying to stand up but can't free himself from Witson's guard.

Witson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Caige can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Caige wants to get up but he can't break Witson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caige wants to stand and escape but instead Witson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Caige keeping moving, preventing Witson from controlling successfully.
Witson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Johny Witson.
Witson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Caige avoids it really well and circles away.
Witson misses with a head kick.
Caige on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Caige takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Witson throws a head kick that half lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Witson is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Caige.
Witson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Caige shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Billy Caige will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Caige circles away from the clinch attempt.
A big right from Witson misses.
Caige checks a leg kick nicely.

Caige drives through with a takedown into guard.
Witson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Witson wriggles free and stands up.
Witson bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Caige throws a head kick that misses.
Johny Witson is winning the standup battle so far.
Witson works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witson tries to score with a low kick but Caige moves his leg out of the way.
Caige rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Witson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Witson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Caige.
Witson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johny Witson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Caige shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Caige is breathing heavily.
Witson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Witson pushes Caige off and scrambles back to his feet.
Witson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Caige manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Caige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Caige drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Witson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Witson is really struggling to control Caige but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Caige won't allow Witson to sweep him here.
Caige wanted to stand there but Witson had control of the position.
Witson trying to keep a closed guard but Caige is proving a slippery customer.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Johny Witson just wasn't active enough.

Caige shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Witson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Witson pulls Caige in close to his closed guard and prevents Caige from doing any damage or advancing position.
Caige wants to stand but Witson is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Witson is looking for a triangle but Caige pushes his legs off easily.

Witson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Caige is aware though and is defending well.
Witson has a closed guard, preventing Caige from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caige won't allow Witson to sweep him here.
Caige wants to stand and escape but instead Witson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Witson trying to control but Caige is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Witson passes Caige's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Billy Caige will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Witson misses the shot to the body.

Caige bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Caige stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Caige throws a right and a left that Witson avoids nicely.
Witson fails with a takedown attempt.
Witson misses with a double jab.
Caige tries to bum rush Witson with a series of wild strikes but Witson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Witson clinches with his opponent.
Caige is trying to break free.
Caige wants to break free but Witson has control.

Witson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caige throws a series of punches but Witson avoids them all with ease.
Caige takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Caige moves out of range of the body kick.

Caige shoots in and bounces Witson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Witson is adopting a defensive guard.
Billy Caige has got the better of the ground game so far.
Caige wants to stand and escape but instead Witson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Witson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Witson advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Witson wants to control but Caige is keeping him busy.
Witson controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caige is not content to let Witson control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Johny Witson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Witson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's four 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.

Johny Witson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Caige throws a head kick that misses.

Witson gets a clinch.
Witson prevents Caige from breaking the clinch.
Caige gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Witson.

Witson manages to break the clinch.
Caige throws a one two combo.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Witson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Caige has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Caige on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Caige blocks a head kick by Witson.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Johny Witson.
I think Caige has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johny Witson!