PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ayden Gaines (ranked 3177 p4p, 3379 weight class) and River Waters (ranked 391 p4p, 415 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Gaines
vs
Waters

180 cm
25
170
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ayden Gaines!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, River Waters!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Waters tries to keep at a distance but Gaines has taken the fight into the clinch.

Gaines has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Waters uses from the top position.
Waters controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Gaines looking for subs off his back but Waters has passed one foot through into half guard.
Gaines works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Waters is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gaines isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Waters stacks Gaines on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Waters!
Waters controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaines is not content to let Waters control the position.
Waters gets to mount! Gaines was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Waters looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gaines wants to hold on but Waters pushes him away.
Gaines slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gaines is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gaines is working hard here to advance position.
Waters content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Gaines looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaines is looking for a sweep. Waters is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gaines trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Waters manages to pass to mount!
Gaines is trying to escape the mount.
Gaines tries to lock up and control but Waters gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaines is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gaines wants to hold on but Waters pushes him away.
Waters wants to control the pace but Gaines is squirming around nicely.
Gaines is working to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Waters content just to control the position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

River Waters dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Waters darts in and clinches Gaines up against the cage.

Gaines gets control of Waters's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gaines will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Gaines working for a triangle but Waters defends it easily.

Gaines throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Waters escapes and throws Gaines's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The referee asks Waters politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Waters prefers to stall for the moment though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaines is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gaines is letting Waters control him for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaines struggling a bit here.
Gaines definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Waters happy to just control the position for now.
Waters tries to advance to mount but can't.
You can see the frustration on Gaines's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gaines is looking for a sweep.
Gaines tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Waters easily slips into full mount!
Gaines tries to hold on but Waters postures up.
Gaines really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Waters thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waters prevents Gaines from getting the reversal.
Waters avoids the attempt from Gaines to control.
Waters controlling the pace for now.
Poor strikes thrown by Waters there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Waters looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Waters can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gaines is looking to escape.
Waters controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gaines is wriggling around trying to escape.
Waters trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

River Waters 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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gaines moves into the clinch.

Gaines manages to pull guard.

Gaines is looking for a triangle but Waters pushes his legs off easily.
Gaines can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Waters controls the pace.
Waters is continuing to stall.
Waters passes Gaines's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaines wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaines looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Waters prevents Gaines from improving his position.
Gaines wants to control but Waters is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gaines has a hand on Waters's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Waters takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Gaines is desperately trying to improve his position but Waters has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waters takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Waters can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gaines is looking to escape.
Gaines manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Waters wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gaines keeps working.
Still in half guard, Waters seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaines is looking to improve his position.
Waters has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gaines trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Gaines regains half guard.

Gaines looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Waters pushes past his half guard into mount!
Gaines is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waters is trying to control here but Gaines has managed to regain half guard.

Gaines looking for a kimura from the bottom but Waters passes into side control!
Gaines seems a little lost for a moment, as Waters dominates the positioning.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Waters wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gaines keeps working.
Ayden Gaines has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
River Waters is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gaines manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to River Waters.
I've got Waters winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... River Waters!