PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Varela (ranked 3635 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tobias Westmoreland (ranked 4088 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Varela
vs
Westmoreland

175 cm
25
156 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dexter Varela !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tobias Westmoreland!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Westmoreland darts in and clinches Varela up against the cage.

Westmoreland jumps guard and drags Varela to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Westmoreland trying to keep a closed guard but Varela is proving a slippery customer.
Westmoreland is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Varela is controlling him.
Westmoreland managing to control the position.

Westmoreland is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Varela is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Westmoreland keeping full guard, as Varela tries to pass.
Varela slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Varela got a little sloppy there for a moment and Westmoreland has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Varela has managed to get both his arms back between Westmoreland's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varela slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Varela wants to control from the top but Westmoreland keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Westmoreland shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Varela but Varela pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Westmoreland misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Varela is looking for a counter combo.
Varela lands with a nice combination. Westmoreland backs away looking to recover.
Nice sprawl there from Westmoreland as Varela shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Westmoreland moves into the clinch.
Westmoreland tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Varela smiles and moves away.
Dexter Varela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tobias Westmoreland.
Westmoreland misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Westmoreland tries to sprawl but Varela drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Varela not doing much here.
Varela throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Westmoreland wants to improve his position but Varela is controlling well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Westmoreland is trying to control but Varela passes into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varela tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Westmoreland tries to escape but Varela is in control.
Varela is staying tight to Westmoreland's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Varela 's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Westmoreland is trying to control Varela 's posture but Varela avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Varela looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Westmoreland is avoiding damage well.
Westmoreland wants to control but Varela postures up.
Westmoreland is trying to improve his position.

Varela tries for a kimura but Westmoreland is defending well.
Westmoreland wants to control but Varela postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Westmoreland is not content to let Varela control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Westmoreland can't do much from the bottom here.

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

Dexter Varela dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Westmoreland tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Varela manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Westmoreland shoots in but Varela avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Varela is looking to counter punch.
Westmoreland with a poor takedown
and Varela counters with a three punch combo that has Westmoreland backing up. Westmoreland nods at Varela to acknowledge the strikes.
Westmoreland shoots for a double leg takedown but Varela sprawls well. He's pushed Westmoreland's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dexter Varela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tobias Westmoreland.
Varela stuffs the takedown.
Varela appears to be looking for a big counter.
Varela with a nice cross.
Westmoreland will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Varela shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Westmoreland sprawls well. Westmoreland wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Varela gets slowly back to his feet.
Westmoreland changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Westmoreland tries to clinch up but Varela circles away and keeps his distance.
Westmoreland is breathing heavily.
Varela shoots in but no luck this time.
Varela shoots in for a double leg but Westmoreland sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tobias Westmoreland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Varela shoots in looking for a takedown but Westmoreland manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Varela 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varela keeps the fight on the outside.
Westmoreland blocks a head kick by Varela .
Varela fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
As Varela backs off Westmoreland throws a huge counter combo but Varela manages to avoid it all.

Westmoreland clinches up with Varela and pushes him back against the cage.
Westmoreland changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Varela fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dexter Varela is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Varela fails to land the takedown.

Varela tries to keep at a distance but Westmoreland has taken the fight into the clinch.
Westmoreland tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Varela smiles and moves away.
Varela shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Westmoreland pinned against the cage. Westmoreland gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Varela .
Westmoreland fails with an attempt to clinch.
Westmoreland looks to land a combination but Varela avoids it well.
Varela is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Westmoreland avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Varela looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Westmoreland is fending him off so far but Varela persists. Nope, Westmoreland circles away and we're back to standing.
Westmoreland fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Westmoreland shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Varela as he jumps to the side.
Varela is looking to counter the offense by Westmoreland and move into the clinch.
Varela tried to score with a low kick but Westmoreland checks it.
Varela tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Westmoreland closes the distance and pushes Varela back into the cage.
Westmoreland drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Varela tries to pull guard but Westmoreland forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Varela is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Westmoreland pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Varela tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Westmoreland just stands there and leans against the cage.
Westmoreland misses with a knee strike.
Varela changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Westmoreland fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Westmoreland changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Varela tries to avoid it but Westmoreland manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Varela to the ground. Varela escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Westmoreland swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Varela .

Westmoreland rushes Varela and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Westmoreland stalling against the cage.
Varela is trying to break free.
Westmoreland drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Varela lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Westmoreland breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Varela throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Varela stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Varela wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tobias Westmoreland will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Varela with a poor takedown
and Westmoreland counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Westmoreland shoots in for a takedown but Varela shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Varela fails with a takedown attempt.
Westmoreland throws out a counter right but Varela avoids it with no problem.

Westmoreland closes the distance and pushes Varela back into the cage.
Westmoreland lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Varela manages to break the clinch.
Varela throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Westmoreland's waist but Westmoreland gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Varela off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dexter Varela . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Westmoreland goes for a double leg but Varela avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Varela continues to drive forward.
Varela shoots in for a double leg but Westmoreland sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Varela throws a head kick but Westmoreland moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varela shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Westmoreland as he jumps to the side.
Westmoreland drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Varela defends it well.
Westmoreland fails with the takedown.
Varela stuffs the takedown.

Westmoreland gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short left from Varela .

Varela breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dexter Varela is winning the standup battle so far.
Westmoreland displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Varela .
No luck with that takedown attempt from Westmoreland.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Varela drives through and clinches with Westmoreland against the cage.
Westmoreland drops down looking for an ankle pick but Varela pulls his leg out and moves away.
Varela throws a right and a left that Westmoreland avoids nicely.
Westmoreland shoots in for a takedown but Varela shows good takedown defense.

Varela has Westmoreland up against the cage in a clinch.
Westmoreland is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Varela has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Westmoreland is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Varela jumps guard but Westmoreland stands there with Varela around his waist. Varela gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Varela prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Westmoreland has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Varela after a bit of a struggle.
Varela jumps guard but Westmoreland turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Varela tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Westmoreland lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Westmoreland tries a knee to the head but Varela blocks it.
Varela jumps guard but Westmoreland turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Westmoreland is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Varela is defending well.
Varela stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Westmoreland breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Westmoreland moves into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Westmoreland - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Varela is trying to force a seperation but Westmoreland has the dominant position.
Varela changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Westmoreland fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Westmoreland stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Westmoreland wants it to stay on the feet.
A head kick misses from Westmoreland.

Westmoreland closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Westmoreland lands a right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Westmoreland trying to land knees to the body.
Varela wants to break free but Westmoreland has control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tobias Westmoreland comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Westmoreland 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tobias Westmoreland!