PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Werdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taylor Andrews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Werdum's entrance music is Danza Kuduro- Don Omar ft Lucenzo. A fine choice. Andrews is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Born to be somebody. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Werdum
vs
Andrews

180 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thiago Werdum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Taylor Andrews!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Andrews misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Werdum displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Andrews.
Werdum moves in looking to clinch but Andrews pushes him off.
Werdum tries to clinch up.

Werdum shoots in and bounces Andrews off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Andrews pulls Werdum in to control the position.
Werdum might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Andrews wants to get back to his feet but Werdum is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Andrews really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Werdum. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Werdum throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Andrews is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Werdum is controlling him.
Werdum slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Werdum fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Andrews shoots in and drives through. Werdum sprawls well.
Thiago Werdum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taylor Andrews.

Andrews rushes Werdum and presses him up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Werdum landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Werdum's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Andrews is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Andrews tries to clinch there but Werdum circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andrews tries to clinch up

and Werdum counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Werdum stays in close to Andrews's body and controls the position.
Werdum trying to control the position from guard on top but Andrews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Andrews looking to hit a scissor sweep but Werdum is one step ahead there.
Andrews utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Werdum wants to control from the top but Andrews keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Andrews is pulling down on Werdum's head. It's preventing any offense from Werdum, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thiago Werdum wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Werdum is looking to clinch.
Andrews slaps away a takedown attempt from Werdum, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Andrews misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Andrews looks gassed!
Andrews throws a head kick but Werdum moves out of range.
Andrews stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Andrews wants it to stay on the feet.
Andrews slips a jab and a cross from Werdum.
Werdum slaps away a takedown attempt from Andrews, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum tries for a takedown but Andrews sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
No luck for Andrews with that takedown attempt.
Werdum wants to clinch.
Andrews shoots and misses

and Werdum counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Werdum is controlling the pace.
Werdum passes to full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Werdum takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Werdum dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Werdum gets tackled into the cage by Andrews. Andrews maintains the clinch.
Werdum crunches a lovely knee into Andrews's ribcage.
Andrews stalling against the cage.
Werdum is looking for a takedown.
Werdum tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Andrews prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Werdum. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Werdum just misses with a elbow thrown towards Andrews's brow.
Werdum tries to score a body lock takedown but Andrews shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Andrews tries to pull guard but Werdum won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Andrews has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Werdum uses from the top position.
Werdum trying to control the position from guard on top but Andrews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Andrews pulls Werdum in close to his closed guard and prevents Werdum from doing any damage or advancing position.
Werdum trying to control the position from guard on top but Andrews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Thiago Werdum wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Werdum fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Andrews, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werdum stalling in the clinch but Andrews improves position.
Andrews avoiding damage as Werdum throws knees to the body.
Werdum looking to slow down the pace here.
Andrews is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Andrews is trying to pull guard but Werdum has him pressed against the cage.
Werdum throws an elbow but it misses.
Andrews trying to stall but Werdum improves his position.

Werdum gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Andrews regains guard.
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!
Andrews is trying to control the position but Werdum postures up.
Thiago Werdum overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andrews is breathing heavily.
Werdum wants to control from the top but Andrews keeps moving.
Andrews looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Werdum tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Andrews paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thiago Werdum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Werdum.

Andrews clinches.
Andrews is looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum wants a takedown.
Andrews is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Werdum to keep the fight standing.
Werdum tries to pull guard but Andrews won't allow it.
Andrews looking for a takedown.
Werdum is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Andrews pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Werdum trying to land knees to the body.
Andrews is trying to break free.
Werdum is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Andrews is trying to pull guard but Werdum has him pressed against the cage.
Andrews is trying to pull guard but Werdum has him pressed against the cage.
Werdum is looking to control Andrews's arms but Andrews gets an underhook and turns him. Now Werdum has his back to the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thiago Werdum will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Andrews throws a sloppy head kick and Werdum moves out of range easily.
Werdum closes the distance looking to clinch

and Andrews moves into the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Andrews creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Andrews slows down the pace here.

Werdum lands a takedown into guard.
Werdum prevents Andrews from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Andrews keeping full guard, as Werdum tries to pass.
Andrews takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andrews wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Werdum manages to pass to side control.
Werdum is looking to take a break and control but Andrews is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Andrews is trying to get back to full guard.
Werdum wants to take a breather but Andrews is having none of it.
Werdum wants to pass to mount but Andrews is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thiago Werdum wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Andrews closes the distance but Werdum moves to the side
and Andrews takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Andrews throws a sloppy head kick

and Werdum counters with a takedown into side control.
Werdum is looking to take a break and control but Andrews is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Werdum looks up at the clock and then as Andrews takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Werdum smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Werdum is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Andrews is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Werdum has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Andrews is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Werdum yanks on the arm and Andrews is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Werdum.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Thiago Werdum!
In his post fight interview, Thiago Werdum started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.