PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brodie Fanning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wes Welker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fanning kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is m.o.v.e - Rage your dream. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Fanning
vs
Welker

183 cm
21
195 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
192 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Bushido Clothing
Kitsura Clothing Ltd $8 Shorts and T-shirts

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brodie Fanning!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wes Welker!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Welker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Welker shoots in but Fanning avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Welker gets a takedown into half guard.
Fanning lands with a few short shots to the body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Welker decides to stand up.
Fanning ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Welker moves away.
Welker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Fanning throws out the jab.
Welker feints and then cracks Fanning's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Fanning down.
Welker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fanning takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Fanning misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Welker counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fanning won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Welker creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Fanning sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welker fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Welker scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Fanning to see if he's OK.
Fanning tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Welker advances nicely into full mount.
Welker can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fanning is looking to escape.
Welker unloads with some shots from mount but Fanning bucks and avoids them well.
Fanning is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Fanning bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Welker keeping moving, preventing Fanning from controlling successfully.
Fanning stopping the sweep attempt from Welker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanning thows a big elbow that misses.
Welker looking for a sweep. Not yet Welker, not yet.
Welker looking to control but Fanning passes into half guard.
Fanning is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Welker is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Fanning pulls his head out easily.
Fanning scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Welker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fanning is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fanning thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
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. Fanning connects with a nice short shot to Welker's temple.
Fanning is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welker wants to control but Fanning is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Fanning scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Welker looking for submissions off his back.
Welker looks gassed!
Fanning is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Welker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Welker is staying active underneath Fanning, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Welker is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fanning's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fanning's back!
Welker throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Fanning manages to reverse the position and now he's in Welker's guard. Nice work there by Fanning.
Fanning keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Welker's head.
Fanning chips away with some ground and pound.
Fanning trying to control the position from guard on top but Welker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fanning throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Welker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fanning keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Welker's head.
Fanning scoring with punches to the head and body.
Fanning with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fanning is working Welker over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Welker had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Fanning is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Welker Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Fanning's back instead.
Welker throwing damaging strikes from the back! Fanning could be in trouble here!
Welker has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Fanning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wes Welker dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Welker slips under a jab from Fanning.
Welker lands a really nice looking cross but Fanning seems unphased.
Fanning tries for a takedown but Welker circles away easily
and Welker counters with a two punch combo.
Fanning misses the body punch
and Welker counters with an outside leg kick.
Welker looks to throw the jab but Fanning is out of range.
Welker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Welker scores with the left hand. Fanning knows he should have avoided that one.
Welker connects with a body shot.
Fanning swings for the body but Welker moves out of range.

Fanning closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Welker to the mat! Welker manages to get full guard.
Fanning scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fanning throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanning chips away with some ground and pound.

Welker has his foot on Fanning's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fanning works his way back into a safe position though.
Welker is breathing heavily.
Fanning trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Fanning avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fanning's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fanning trying to control but Welker is working from the bottom.

Welker is looking for a triangle but Fanning pushes his legs off easily.
Fanning connects with a couple of short punches.

Welker looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Welker can't keep his opponent in guard - Fanning advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanning wants to free his trapped foot but Welker is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Welker wants to improve his position but Fanning is controlling well.
Brodie Fanning overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fanning is keen to just control but Welker is a slippery customer.
Welker wants to get back to full guard.
Fanning is looking to take a break and control but Welker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fanning slips a nice elbow through Welker's hands, connecting with Welker's forehead.
Fanning passes to full mount!
Fanning knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Welker on the ground.
Welker keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanning looking to finish Welker with some ground and pound. This is bad for Welker!
Fanning cracks Welker with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Fanning tries to control but Welker wriggling away.
Welker is in a horrible position here. Fanning smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Fanning lands with some strikes.
Welker tries to hold on but Fanning postures up.
Welker gets back to half guard.
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. Fanning connects with a nice short shot to Welker's temple.

Welker looking for submissions off his back.
Welker is looking for a sweep. Fanning is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fanning working over Welker with some ground and pound. Welker looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Welker wants to control but Fanning is keeping busy.
Fanning takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fanning looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Welker wants to improve his position but Fanning is controlling well.
Fanning working over Welker with some ground and pound. Welker looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fanning working over Welker with some ground and pound. Welker looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fanning working over Welker with some ground and pound. Welker looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Welker manages to get to full guard.
Fanning is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brodie Fanning dominated that second 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.

Fanning misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Welker counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Welker.
Welker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fanning throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Welker won't allow Fanning to sweep him here.
Fanning lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Welker!
Fanning scoring with strikes but Welker is staying in there.
Welker is trying desperately to improve position.
Welker slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Fanning thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Welker's head.
Fanning not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fanning works his way into side control.
Fanning lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welker is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Welker manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Fanning is doing well to control the position and prevent Welker from advancing to side control.

Welker is trying to work for a kimura but Fanning is defending well.
Fanning misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Welker trying to mount his opponent but Fanning defends it.
Welker is trying to control the action in half guard but Fanning is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Welker looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Fanning on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fanning tries to get out of the position.
Welker is tying to control. Fanning wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fanning is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Welker slips under a jab.
Fanning is looking to wear down Welker with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A shot to the body from Fanning misses

and Welker counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Welker is pressing down on Fanning's thigh, looking to free his foot. Fanning is holding on for now.
Fanning regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fanning wants to sweep but no luck.
Welker wants to control from the top but Fanning keeps moving.
Welker throwing strikes from guard but Fanning blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanning striking off his back but it's not causing Welker any problems.
Fanning is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Welker wants to control from the top but Fanning keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Welker looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fanning punching from the bottom - just letting Welker know he's still in a fight.
Fanning looking to control.
Welker slips nicely into half guard.
Fanning manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Welker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fanning is on top in guard.
Fanning pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Welker is keeping the position for now.

Welker pushes a forearm under Fanning's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Fanning is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Wes Welker! Wes Welker retains his middleweight title!