PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Francois Permitis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Welsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Welsh has chosen Lets Have A War as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Permitis
vs
Welsh

180 cm
37
190 lbs
19 - 16 - 0

190 cm
37
199 lbs
24 - 26 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

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 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Francois Permitis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 26 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, TJ Welsh!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Welsh has managed to clinch.
Permitis takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Francois Permitis has been cut.
Welsh tries a knee to the head but Permitis blocks it.

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

Permitis drives through with a takedown into guard.

Welsh manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Welsh tries for a takedown. No joy.

Welsh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Permitis closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Permitis.

Permitis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Welsh is looking to regain half guard here but Permitis keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Permitis looking to control but instead Welsh has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Permitis is thwarting Welsh's attempts to control the position.
Welsh is trying to control but Permitis passes into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Welsh tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Permitis presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
A nice elbow there by Permitis.

It looks like TJ Welsh has been cut.
Welsh slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Permitis not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Permitis is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Welsh is just riding it out for now. Permitis eventually gives up the hold.
Welsh is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Permitis is thwarting Welsh's attempts to control the position.

Permitis 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.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Welsh wants to improve his position but Permitis is controlling well.

Permitis is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Welsh is controlling Permitis's trapped leg to prevent Permitis from advancing to side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Permitis explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but TJ Welsh will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Welsh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Permitis swivels and escapes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Welsh is defended easily by Permitis.
Welsh tries to clinch up but Permitis circles away and keeps his distance.
Welsh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Permitis circles away.
Francois Permitis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Welsh.

Permitis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Welsh tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Permitis manages to move to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Welsh flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Permitis avoids the attempt from Welsh to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Permitis goes for an armbar but Welsh turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Welsh.
Welsh trying to control the position from guard on top but Permitis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Welsh preventing the sweep.
Permitis has a closed guard, preventing Welsh from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Permitis keeping moving, preventing Welsh from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Welsh decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Permitis seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Welsh is defended easily by Permitis.

Permitis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Permitis showed some decent athleticism there.
Welsh is looking to improve his position.

Permitis is working for a kimura but Welsh is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Permitis frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Welsh working to try and regain half guard.

Permitis goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Welsh is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Welsh gets to his feet. Permitis looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Permitis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Welsh.

Permitis looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Permitis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Welsh keeps working.
Welsh has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Permitis is working away from the top position though.
Permitis trying to mount his opponent but Welsh defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francois Permitis dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Permitis scores with a takedown into Welsh's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Welsh holds on and takes a little breather.
Welsh is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Welsh is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Welsh working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Permitis's thigh. Permitis counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Permitis seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welsh would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Welsh gets to his feet. Permitis looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Permitis decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Welsh trying to control but Permitis postures up.
Welsh gets back to full guard.
Welsh controls Permitis momentarily but Permitis frees himself.
Francois Permitis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Welsh is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Permitis managing to block the knees to the body from Welsh.

Permitis gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Welsh regains full guard. Nicely done.
Permitis landing with the ground and pound.

Permitis stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Welsh moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Permitis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Permitis has hold of one of Welsh's legs. Welsh is fighting the takedown attempt but Permitis gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Welsh has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Permitis off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Welsh has taken the fight to the clinch.

Permitis jumps guard and drags Welsh to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Permitis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Welsh stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Welsh shoots for a takedown but Permitis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Francois Permitis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Welsh fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Permitis, pushing him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Permitis turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Permitis manages to end up in side control.
Welsh wants to get back to his feet but Permitis is dominant here and he's now got Welsh's back!
Welsh trying to control the action but Permitis just sinks the hooks in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Permitis is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Welsh has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Welsh tries to break free.
Welsh prevents Permitis from getting a body triangle.
Welsh tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

And that's the end of the fight!
TJ Welsh comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Welsh 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!