PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke Withers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Iverson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Withers comes to the cage accompanied by Snap your fingers snap your neck. Luke Withers had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Withers
vs
Iverson

184 cm
20
187 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

165 cm
23
173 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Divine - Drugs (158 products)
Divine - Drugs (158 products)

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luke Withers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Iverson!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Franklyn Lucas and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Withers moves forwards but Iverson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Withers fails to land the takedown.
Iverson connects with a jab.
Withers pivots, looking for a leg kick but Iverson is out of range and Withers settles back down.
Iverson shoots in but Withers avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Withers throws out a leg kick but Iverson moves out of range and Withers only half commits.
Withers tries to clinch up.

Iverson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Withers was covering up waiting for the punch and Iverson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Iverson wants to pass the guard but Withers is keeping the position.
Iverson controlling from the top position.
Iverson stands and throws Withers's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Withers struggling a bit here.
Withers bucks up and tries to throw Iverson off but instead Iverson has got his back!

Iverson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Iverson lands a shot to the body.
Withers wants to get back to his feet.

Iverson working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Withers is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Iverson.
Iverson lands strikes to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Withers wants to control his opponent's hands but Iverson gets his hands free.
Iverson wants to control but Withers is keeping busy.
Withers trying to control the hands but Iverson won't let him.
Withers is holding onto Iverson's left hand, preventing any choke attempts.
Iverson trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Withers preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Iverson.
Withers is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Withers looking very determined here, making life difficult for Iverson.
Iverson gets his hands free as Withers looks to control.
Iverson missing with punches from the back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Iverson lands punches and elbows.
Withers is keeping busy.

Withers preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Iverson.
Iverson is trying to stick to Withers's back but Withers is turning into Iverson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Iverson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Withers.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Iverson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Withers doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Withers manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Iverson working for a triangle but Withers defends it easily.

Iverson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Withers is aware though and is defending well.
Iverson looks gassed!
Withers chips away with some ground and pound.
Withers throws and elbow that misses. Iverson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Withers's guard. Nice move by Iverson!
Withers keeping moving, preventing Iverson from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Iverson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Withers tries a low kick but Iverson avoids it.
Withers misses with a low kick.
Withers is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Withers looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A slow jab from Iverson misses its intended target.
Withers stuffs the takedown.
Withers misses with a low kick.
Luke Withers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Iverson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Withers!
Iverson is landing with some decent strikes but Withers is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Withers is squirming around, avoiding Iverson's attempts to control the action.
Iverson lands a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Iverson working for a submission but Withers is keeping him at bay.
Iverson wants to control the pace but Withers is squirming around nicely.
Withers tries to buck Iverson off but he can't manage it.
Withers working to try and regain half guard.
Iverson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Iverson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Iverson with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iverson lands a heavy elbow.
John Iverson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Iverson landing punches.

Iverson goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Withers is on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Iverson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Withers is one step ahead there.
Withers will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Iverson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Iverson looking for a sweep. Not yet Iverson, not yet.

Iverson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Withers defends well.
Iverson keeping full guard, as Withers tries to pass.
Iverson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Iverson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Withers trying to control but Iverson is working from the bottom.
Iverson trying to keep a closed guard but Withers is proving a slippery customer.

Iverson is looking for a triangle but Withers pushes his legs off easily.
Withers lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Withers has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Withers advances position into side control!
Withers grinds an elbow into Iverson's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iverson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Withers is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Iverson is trying to control but can't.
Withers blocks the strikes from Iverson.
Iverson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Withers.
Iverson missing with punches from the bottom.
Iverson manages to get to full guard.
Withers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Iverson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Donk. Iverson catches Withers right on the button with a cross.
Iverson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Withers swivels and escapes.
Withers tries a head kick but it misses.
Iverson checks a leg kick.
Withers throws out a leg kick but Iverson moves out of range and Withers only half commits.
Iverson lands a glancing blow to the side of Withers's head.
Withers misses with a low kick.
Withers goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Withers throws a leg kick but Iverson sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Iverson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Iverson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Iverson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Iverson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Withers wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Iverson manages to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Withers is staying active underneath Iverson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Iverson is working for a submission of some sort.

Iverson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Withers is defending against the submission attempts here by Iverson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Iverson wants to control but Withers is keeping him busy.
Withers slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Withers is looking to stand up but Iverson isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Iverson tries to free his leg and advance position but Withers is retaining full guard.
Iverson preventing the sweep.
Iverson trying to control but Withers is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Iverson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Iverson lands in his opponent's guard.
Iverson trying to control but Withers is working from the bottom.
Iverson won't allow Withers to get back to his feet.
Iverson stands up over Withers, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Withers looking to control.
Iverson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Withers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
John Iverson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Iverson wants to control from the top but Withers keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Withers is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Iverson is aware though and is defending well.
Iverson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Withers on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Withers tries to get out of the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Iverson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Withers as he jumps to the side.
Withers tries to move into range but Iverson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Luke Withers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Withers finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice straight punches there by Iverson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Iverson.
Withers displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Iverson.
Luke Withers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Iverson.
A leg kick checked by Iverson.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Iverson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Iverson 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

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