PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between TheDragon Reborn (ranked 1732 p4p, 221 weight class) and Dean Wesson (ranked 2361 p4p, 313 weight class). Wesson has chosen In Your Honor - Foo Fighters as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Reborn
vs
Wesson

181 cm
23
195 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

182 cm
23
201 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Amped Performance

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 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, TheDragon Reborn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dean Wesson!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reborn throws the left hand but Wesson avoids the punch easily.
Wesson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've been informed that Wesson has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Wesson misses with a head kick.
Dean Wesson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wesson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wesson slips under a jab from Reborn.
A big right from Reborn misses.
Wesson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Reborn looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Reborn gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Wesson connects with a looping right hand.
Wesson lands a nice looking body shot.
Reborn buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Reborn slips a straight right by Wesson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wesson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Reborn's head.
Reborn dodges the punch combination from Wesson.
Wesson stalks Reborn and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Reborn's face. Reborn staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Wesson!
Wesson throws a hook but Reborn blocks it.
Reborn finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Reborn sets himself, and Wesson steps forward looking for the clinch! Reborn avoids it this time.
A big left from Reborn misses.
Wesson counters with a body kick.
Reborn just misses with a punch to the body.
Wesson lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Reborn crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Wesson - the referee stops the clock and Reborn gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Wesson. Reborn manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Reborn shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Wesson lands with a nice combination. Reborn backs away looking to recover.
The fighters circling - Wesson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wesson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A slow jab from Wesson misses its intended target.

Reborn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wesson misses with the head strike.
Wesson lands an elbow just above Reborn 's eye.

It looks like TheDragon Reborn has been cut.
Wesson blocks an elbow strike.
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!
A battle for position here, against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wesson lands a shoulder strike.

Wesson ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Wesson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Reborn tries to free his leg and advance position but Wesson is retaining full guard.
Reborn wants to control from the top but Wesson keeps moving.

Wesson is looking for a triangle but Reborn pushes his legs off easily.
Wesson keeping moving, preventing Reborn from controlling successfully.

Reborn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

Reborn lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wesson wants to sweep but no luck.

Wesson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Wesson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Reborn defends it easily.

Wesson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Reborn has picked Wesson up and slammed him! Wesson can't keep hold of the triangle and Reborn manages to pass to side control!
Reborn moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Reborn wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Wesson, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reborn goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Wesson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Reborn's guard! Nice work there by Wesson!
Reborn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wesson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reborn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wesson pushing down on Reborn's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Wesson seems to be working for a kimura but Reborn defends the submission attempt.
Wesson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Reborn is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Wesson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on TheDragon Reborn's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Reborn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dean Wesson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wesson throws a push kick but Reborn slaps the foot to one side.
Reborn takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Wesson tries to score with a low kick but Reborn moves his leg out of the way.
Wesson looks to throw the jab but Reborn is out of range.
Reborn misses with a combination
and Wesson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wesson scores with a punch to the head.
Wesson staying out of range there.
Reborn tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Wesson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wesson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Wesson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Reborn throws a leg kick
and Wesson counters with a good, hard body kick but Reborn shrugs it off.
Wesson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Wesson avoids a kick to the body.
Wesson lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reborn rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Wesson counters with an outside leg kick.
Reborn walks into a straight right hand from Wesson.
Reborn throws a body shot but no joy.
A slow jab from Reborn misses its intended target.
Reborn takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Reborn wants to clinch up but Wesson keeps it at a distance.
Reborn throws a leg kick which misses Wesson's front leg but catches the back leg as Wesson tries to avoid it.
Reborn takes one to the chin there.
Wesson tries a head kick but it misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Wesson.
Wesson keeps the fight on the outside.
Reborn moves out of range as Wesson throws a body kick.
Wesson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Reborn's head.
Reborn rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Wesson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Reborn takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reborn blocks a head kick by Wesson.
Reborn looks to land a body kick but Wesson moved away.
Wesson misses with a body kick.
Wesson throws a jab but it's blocked by Reborn.
Wesson moves out of range as Reborn strikes.
Reborn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Wesson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wesson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Reborn rushes Wesson and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Reborn lands a shot to the body.
Wesson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Reborn has him pressed against the ropes.
Reborn misses with a body punch.
Reborn comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Wesson misses with a body punch.
Wesson working aggressively here.
Wesson avoids the elbow strike from Reborn, against the ropes.
Reborn is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Wesson is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wesson blocks a body shot from Reborn.
Wesson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wesson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Reborn lands an elbow inside that Wesson shrugs off.
Reborn blocks a body shot from Wesson.
Wesson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Reborn lands an elbow inside.
Wesson can't find room to land a body shot as Reborn controls the action.
Reborn throws an elbow but it misses.

Wesson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wesson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Reborn throws a half hearted mid kick.
Reborn falls off balance throwing a combination
and Wesson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wesson lands with an uppercut that bounces Reborn off the ropes and back into range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Wesson.
Reborn slips under a jab.
Reborn tries to counter by clinching up but Wesson breaks away and moves out of range.
Wesson jabs at Reborn's body.
An inside leg kick lands from Wesson.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reborn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Wesson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Reborn lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Reborn misses with a series of wild punches.
Reborn doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Reborn thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Wesson if he has to take too many more of those.
Wesson lets loose with a powerful body kick. Reborn will feel that in the morning.
Wesson scores with a nice body kick.
Wesson misses with a leg kick
and Reborn counters with a two punch combo.
Wesson misses with a hook. Reborn ducked under it nicely.
Reborn is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Wesson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Wesson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on TheDragon Reborn's cut.
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!

Reborn is looking to clinch but Wesson is avoiding it.
Wesson tries a quick counter leg kick but Reborn is wise to it.
Reborn defending well as Wesson loads up on a big left hand.
Reborn looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Wesson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Reborn is looking to counter the offense by Wesson and move into the clinch.
Wesson scores with a decent looking hook.
Wesson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Wesson takes a swing at Reborn's ribcage but misses.

Reborn rushes Wesson and presses him up against the ropes.
Wesson misses with a punch on the inside.
Reborn dodges an elbow strike from Wesson.
Reborn throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hook to the body lands for Wesson.
Wesson lands a right hand.
Reborn tries to work over Wesson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Reborn blocks an uppercut.
Wesson tries a body shot but Reborn blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reborn misses with a hook to the ribs.
TheDragon Reborn has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Wesson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Reborn closes the distance looking to clinch
and Wesson counters with a low kick, right behind Reborn 's knee.
Wesson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Wesson is looking to score with low kicks.

Reborn moves into the clinch successfully.
Reborn throws an elbow that misses.

Wesson pulls guard successfully.

Wesson has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Reborn should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Wesson has tightened it up now! Reborn should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Dean Wesson!
An out of breath Dean Wesson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
TheDragon Reborn spoke after the fight, saying 'I can do better'.