PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Weaver (ranked 23304 p4p, 2891 weight class) and Alex Driver (ranked 652 p4p, 371 weight class). Alex Driver has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Weaver
vs
Driver

185 cm
22
180
0 - 2 - 0

187 cm
23
180
4 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joseph Weaver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Driver!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Weaver moves into range and clinches up with Driver.
Weaver tries to throw a body punch but Driver avoids it by throwing Weaver back against the cage.
Weaver lands a hook that snaps the head of Driver backwards.

Driver breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Driver checks a low kick from Weaver.
Weaver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Driver tries a quick counter leg kick but Weaver is wise to it.
Weaver lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Weaver.

It looks like Alex Driver has been cut.
A clash of legs there as Driver blocks the low kick.
Driver throws a big counter head kick but Weaver avoids it with no problem.
Weaver is looking to slow Driver down with leg kicks.
Weaver throws a leg kick but Driver moved away.
Driver swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Driver misses with a head kick.
Weaver with the inside leg kick.
Weaver lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Weaver misses with a jab, cross combination.
Despite the aggression on Driver's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Weaver lands a nice leg kick that just misses Driver's sensitive parts.
Weaver swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Weaver looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Driver throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Weaver throws a sloppy head kick and Driver moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weaver lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Weaver fails to land with a series of punches.
Driver throws a leg kick but Weaver sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Weaver scores with the left hand. Driver knows he should have avoided that one.
Weaver throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Weaver cracks Driver with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Driver uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Weaver.
A slow jab from Weaver misses its intended target.
Driver is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Weaver looks to throw the jab but Driver is out of range.
Driver takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Driver's coach down at Navy Street MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Driver's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Driver throws a half hearted mid kick.
A head kick misses from Weaver.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Driver! But no joy.
Weaver will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Weaver fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Weaver tries to land a front kick but Driver steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Weaver misses with a low kick as Driver jumps back.
Driver checks a low kick from Weaver.
Driver doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Weaver lands a lovely overhand right.
Driver checks a leg kick.
Weaver throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Weaver lands a jab to the nose.
Driver throws the kick towards the body but Weaver avoids it.
Driver just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromWeaver.
Weaver falls off balance throwing a combination

and Driver counters with a head kick that drops Weaver to the mat! Weaver scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
Driver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A big left from Weaver misses.
Weaver's corner calls for a 1-2. Weaver obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Weaver connects with a right hand. Driver shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Weaver misses with a kick to the body.
Driver swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Driver throws a head kick that misses.
Driver misses with a body kick.
Weaver misses with a double jab.
Driver unleashes a big counter combination but Weaver bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Weaver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Driver explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Weaver is looking to clinch.
Driver looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Weaver tries to land a front kick but Driver steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Driver looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Weaver tries to close the distance and clinch up but Driver swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Driver misses with a kick to the body.
Driver looks to land a body kick but Weaver moved away.
Weaver lands a nice looking kick to the body. Driver takes a step back to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Weaver closes the distance and clinches.
Driver blocks an uppercut.
Driver is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Weaver is defending well for now.
A right hand to the body from Weaver.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Driver breaks from the clinch.
Driver takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Weaver cracks Driver with an open hand slap.
Weaver throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Driver.
Weaver misses with a straight right.
A big left from Weaver misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Weaver thows a body kick. Driver tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Driver looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Weaver rushes Driver and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Weaver blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Weaver dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Driver's cut.
That's time! Weaver's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Driver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Weaver slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A jab from Weaver finds it's way through Driver's defenses.
Good work by Driver as he checks the leg kick.
Driver takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Weaver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Weaver thuds a left hand into Driver's body.
Joseph Weaver is winning the standup battle so far.
Weaver lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Driver checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Weaver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Weaver gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Weaver pushes Driver back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Weaver tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Weaver is stalling here.
Weaver stalling against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Driver is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Driver misses with a punch to the body.
The referee calls for Weaver to work.
Driver swings wildly with an uppercut but Weaver uses good head movement to avoid it.

Driver breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Weaver with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Weaver tries to land a leg kick but Driver saw it coming and moves away.
Weaver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Weaver keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Weaver loads up on a big right hand but Driver slips the punch.
Driver is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Weaver lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weaver misses with a series of wild punches.
Weaver throws a jab but it's blocked by Driver.
Weaver will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Weaver is looking to land body kicks.
Driver checks a leg kick nicely.
That kick from Weaver tenderised Driver's leg. Driver is trying to keep his angry face on.
Driver connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Weaver throws a shot from downtown. Driver moves away and avoids it.
Driver blocks a head kick by Weaver.
Weaver avoids the head kick by Driver.
Weaver buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Joseph Weaver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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!
Driver fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Weaver checks it well.
Weaver takes a swing at Driver's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Driver misses with a few strikes there.
Driver avoids the head kick by Weaver.
Weaver throws a leg kick but Driver checks it.
Weaver swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Driver tries to keep at a distance but Weaver has taken the fight into the clinch.
Weaver pushes Driver back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Driver throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Weaver blocks it with crossed arms.
Weaver scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Weaver misses with some punches.
Driver blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Driver's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Weaver blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Weaver is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Weaver is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Driver can do to turn this around?
Weaver slows down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Driver using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Weaver has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Driver tries a knee to the head but Weaver blocks it.

Driver breaks from the clinch.
Weaver throws out a powerful jab.
Driver connects with a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Weaver feints and then cracks Driver's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Driver down.

Weaver closes the distance and clinches.
Weaver misses with some punches.
Weaver blocks an elbow strike.
Driver blocks an uppercut.
The referee calls for Weaver to work.
Weaver fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Weaver dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alex Driver'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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Weaver throws a body punch but Driver moves out of range.
Driver tries to land a front kick but Weaver steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Weaver scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Driver throws a sloppy head kick and Weaver moves out of range easily.
Driver uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Weaver.
Weaver connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Good leg kick by Weaver.
Weaver motions for Driver to come forward. Weaver throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Driver feints a counter leg kick.
Driver throws a head kick that misses.
A big right from Weaver misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Driver showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Weaver.
Driver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Driver shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Weaver wants to clinch up but Driver keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Weaver gets a clinch.
Weaver stalling in the clinch but Driver improves position.
Driver misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Weaver works on Driver's body with a couple of short punches.
Weaver tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Weaver misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Driver pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Weaver tries to clinch but Driver moves out of range.
Driver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Driver has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Weaver finds it's way round the side to connect with Driver's head.
Weaver shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Weaver fails in his attempt to clinch.
Driver appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Weaver avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Driver with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Driver tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Weaver avoids it.
Driver tries to work over Weaver's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Driver breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Weaver slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A punch combination from Weaver misses.
Driver unleashes a big counter combination but Weaver bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Weaver throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Weaver avoids the head kick by Driver.
Weaver looks to land a right hand but Driver moved out of range.
Driver on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Weaver. Weaver obviously looking to wear him down.
Weaver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Weaver misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weaver throws a sloppy head kick and Driver moves out of range easily.
The fighters circling - Weaver throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Driver lands a head kick. Weaver smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Alex Driver is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Weaver throws a chopping leg kick but Driver manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Weaver misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Driver motions for Weaver to come forward. Driver throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Weaver is looking for a counter combo.
Weaver throws a leg kick that misses.
Driver is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Weaver tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Driver manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Driver misses with an attempted mid kick.

Weaver clinches with his opponent.
Driver pushes off an throws an elbow but Weaver leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Driver misses with a body punch.
Weaver dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Driver misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weaver misses with a punch to the body.
Weaver lands a hook that snaps the head of Driver backwards.
Weaver doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Joseph Weaver is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Driver pushes off an throws an elbow but Weaver leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Driver is looking to control Weaver's arms but Weaver gets an underhook and turns him. Now Driver has his back to the cage.
Weaver dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Weaver lands with a light punch inside.
Weaver avoids a wild elbow strike from Driver.
Alex Driver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Driver throws a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Weaver showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Weaver has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Weaver!