PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Winters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Kotze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Winters
vs
Kotze

166 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dexter Winters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Kotze!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kotze drives through and clinches with Winters against the cage.

Kotze has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Winters regains guard immediately.
Kotze stands and throws Winters's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Winters might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Kotze tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kotze has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Winters trying to remain calm as Kotze controls from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Winters managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kotze.
Kotze wants to lay and pray for a moment but Winters keeps working.

Kotze is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Winters knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winters is looking for a sweep.
Winters is being controlled here.

Kotze is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Winters has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kotze staying calm.
Winters regains half guard.

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.
Winters tries to get to full guard but Kotze has control of the leg.
Winters tries to kick Kotze off but Kotze keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kotze in particular looking to stall.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kotze thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Winters's head.
Kotze is figuring out what he wants to do next.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kotze keeps the fight on the outside.

Kotze closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Kotze has clasped his hands together around Winters's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Winters is not content to let Kotze control the position.
Kotze tries to advance to mount but can't.
Kotze creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Winters sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kotze decides to stand back up.

Winters closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kotze did well to prevent Winters getting side control.

Kotze kicks Winters off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Winters fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Winters enables Kotze to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Winters manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Winters has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Kotze has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Kotze is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Winters has Kotze pressed against the cage, preventing Kotze from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Kotze dominated that round.
That's time! Winters's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kotze.

Kotze swings around for an armbar but Winters sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kotze's guard.
Kotze has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kotze wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Kotze has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Winters off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Winters tries to clinch up.
Kotze connects with a nice looking jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kotze misses with a few strikes there.

Kotze rushes Winters and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on Kotze - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Kotze is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Winters can't fight it off and eventually Kotze manages to take the fight to the floor. Winters looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Kotze drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Winters manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kotze has Winters in his guard.

Winters trying to control the position from guard on top but Kotze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winters is really struggling to control Kotze but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Winters slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kotze has Winters pulled in close to control his posture.
Winters throws a big elbow that misses.
Kotze wants to sweep here but Winters controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kotze throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Winters has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Kotze manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Kotze gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kotze not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Winters blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kotze.
Kotze controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winters is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Winters tries to kick Kotze off in order to stand up. Kotze Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kotze in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Kotze decides to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Kotze showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Winters tries to clinch up.
Kotze throws a good cross that connects.

Kotze looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Winters!
Winters is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Kotze trying to mount his opponent but Winters defends it.
Kotze with the ground and pound but Winters uses the opportunity to regain guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kotze is pushing down on Winters's leg trying to pass to half guard. Winters is fighting to maintain full guard but Kotze has managed to sneak the leg through.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kotze decides to return to a standing position.

Kotze bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Winters is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kotze off and has taken his back!

Winters looking for the RNC.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Winters patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Winters doesn't have the hooks in and Kotze manages to turn into his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kotze sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kotze missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotze passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Winters prevents Kotze from moving into mount.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Kotze decides to stand back up. Kotze steps back and let's Winters get back to his feet.

Kotze dives in and scores a takedown into Winters's guard.

Kotze decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kotze has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winters stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Kotze lands a takedown into guard.
Kotze is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotze passes into half guard.
Kotze takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Winters missing with punches from the bottom.
Kotze seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Kotze comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kotze 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Kotze!