PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Branch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Weston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Weston has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Nathan Branch's chin.

Branch
vs
Weston

150 cm
24
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nathan Branch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michael Weston!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Branch shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Weston is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Branch is thwarting Weston's attempts to control the position.

Branch is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branch prevents Weston from improving his position.
Weston keeps trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weston trying to hold on to Branch's head to control him but Branch postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Branch seems to be looking for submissions.
Weston is looking for a sweep. Branch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Weston is still trying to improve position.
Weston manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Weston trying to strike off his back.
Weston tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Branch dives in and grabs Weston's left leg, looking for a takedown. Weston pushes down on Branch's head and hops out.

Weston shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Branch napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Weston in side control, throwing shots but Branch defends.
Weston working the body and head with strikes.

Weston decides to stand up, so the ref orders Branch to his feet.
Weston catches Branch with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weston tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Branch shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Weston as he jumps to the side.

Weston fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Branch sprawls well initially but Weston persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Weston looks to land a strike but Branch avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Weston wants to stand and escape but instead Branch has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Weston is trying to keep Branch in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weston is looking to stand up but Branch isn't so interested in that idea.
Weston wants to control the position but Branch says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Weston wants to get back to full guard but Branch has passed into side control.

Branch thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Branch thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Weston dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Branch shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Weston but Weston pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Weston closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Branch quickly recovers to half guard.
Weston wants to pass to mount but Branch is defending the position.
Branch is trying to stand up here but Weston is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Weston decides to stand and escape the position.

Weston changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Branch looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Branch looking for a sweep but Weston has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weston looking to ground and pound but Branch is blocking nicely.
Branch tries to reverse the position but Weston maintains control.
Weston can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Branch is looking to escape.
Branch tries to buck Weston off but Weston takes his back!
Branch trying to get back to his feet but Weston is in full control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branch staying busy and making it hard for Weston to control.
Michael Weston has got the better of the ground game so far.
Branch is trying to get back to his feet but Weston has full control of the position and if anything, Branch has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Weston working for a choke but Branch is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Weston's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Branch rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Weston is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Branch looking for submissions off his back.
Branch won't allow Weston to pass to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Branch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Weston throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Weston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Weston looking to score a takedown here. Branch is defending well but Weston drives through and ends up in Branch's guard.

Weston got a little sloppy there for a moment and Branch has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Weston has managed to get both his arms back between Branch's legs - danger averted.
Weston slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Weston trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Branch manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weston is looking to stand up but Branch isn't so interested in that idea.
Weston lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weston is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Branch has his foot on Weston's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Weston works his way back into a safe position though.
Branch could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Weston is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Weston trying to control the position from guard on top but Branch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Branch is looking for a triangle but Weston pushes his legs off easily.

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

Branch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Weston is aware though and is defending well.
Weston loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weston wants to get up but he can't break Branch's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Weston misses with a body shot.
Branch drops down looking for a counter takedown but Weston sprawls and moves away.
Weston throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A little feinted left hand from Branch on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Branch keeps the fight on the outside.
Branch swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Branch shoots for a double leg takedown but Weston sprawls well. He's pushed Branch's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Weston gets a double leg takedown into Branch's guard.
Weston trying to control the position from guard on top but Branch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Weston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Branch is keeping the position for now.
Weston wants to control from the top but Branch keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weston is looking to work some ground and pound but Branch has wrist control.

Branch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Weston works over Branch with some ground and pound from guard.
Nathan Branch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Weston is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Branch keeping moving, preventing Weston from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Weston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Weston 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Weston!