PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jean Valjean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Weston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Weston has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Valjean
vs
Weston

180 cm
19
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
24
162 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jean Valjean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Weston!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Phil Schofield and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Valjean. Those never looked like landing.
Valjean misses with a two punch combination.
Sloppy strikes from Valjean. Those never looked like landing.
Weston shoots in but no luck this time.
Weston looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Valjean stuffs the takedown attempt from Weston. Weston gets slowly back to his feet.
Jean Valjean has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Weston.
Weston will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A cross from Valjean lands.
Valjean throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Weston.
Jean Valjean seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Weston fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Weston avoids a punch combination nicely.
Valjean throws a leg kick

and Weston counters with a single leg into guard. Valjean didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Weston loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Valjean keeping moving, preventing Weston from controlling successfully.
Weston is fighting to break Valjean's control of his arms but Valjean is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Weston trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Valjean trying to keep a closed guard but Weston is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jean Valjean wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Valjean throws a nice looking combination but Weston bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Valjean moves into range and clinches up with Weston.

Weston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Weston shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Valjean as he avoids it easily.
Weston is trying hard to land a takedown here. Valjean sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Valjean wants to clinch.
Valjean throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weston takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Valjean throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Valjean misses with a combination
and Weston counters with a body kick that stops Valjean in his tracks momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Weston throws a lazy right hand but Valjean sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Weston throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Valjean's waist but Valjean gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Weston off to one side.

Weston closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Weston lands in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Weston accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Valjean looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Weston passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weston trying to control the pace.
Valjean wants to get back to his feet.
Valjean is looking to control Weston's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Valjean avoid being mounted?
Weston passes the guard and advances to mount!
Valjean tries to hold on but Weston pushes him away.
Valjean is wriggling around trying to escape.
The referee warns Valjean that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Weston cracks Valjean with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Weston looking to control but Valjean is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weston with a couple of short strikes.
Valjean is looking to improve his position but Weston isn't that keen on the idea.
Weston looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Weston looking to control but Valjean is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Weston jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Valjean is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Valjean and Weston has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Weston controls the position.
Valjean on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Valjean tries to get out of the position.
Weston's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Valjean tries to bench press Weston off him but Weston keeps the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Weston is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Valjean knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Valjean is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Weston dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Weston looks for a takedown but Valjean sprawls well.
Some wild striking there from Valjean.

Valjean has taken the fight to the clinch.
Valjean is trying to break free.
Weston wants a takedown.
Valjean has had enough of the clinch but Weston keeps him there for the moment.
Valjean wants to break free but Weston has control.
Valjean misses with a hook from the clinch.
Weston jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Valjean walks away with a smile on his face. Weston gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jean Valjean has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Weston.
Valjean moves in looking to clinch but Weston pushes him off.
Valjean swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weston shoots in and drives through. Valjean sprawls well.
Valjean throws a jab but it's blocked by Weston.

Weston shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Weston was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Michael Weston has got the better of the ground game so far.
Weston tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Weston working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Weston lands an elbow.
Weston misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Weston has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Weston working away.
Weston lands a nice forearm strike.
Weston trying to control the position but Valjean is working away.
Valjean can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

Weston tries for a kimura but Valjean is defending well.
Valjean is trying to improve his position.
Valjean can't do much from the bottom here.
Weston wants to lay and pray for a moment but Valjean keeps working.
Valjean prevents Weston from improving position.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weston is looking to take a break and control but Valjean is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Valjean is working to avoid the ground and pound but Weston connects with a decent elbow.
Who's going to make the next move?
Weston happy to just control the position for now.
Check out the look on Weston's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
You can see the frustration on Valjean's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Weston passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Valjean!
Valjean knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Weston on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valjean tries to hold on but Weston pushes him away.
Valjean is squirming around, avoiding Weston's attempts to control the action.
Weston raining down shots from the mount!
Weston lands a big shot there that rocks Valjean but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Valjean tries to get back to half guard but can't.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Weston landing strikes from the mount and Valjean is in trouble!
Weston avoids the attempt from Valjean to control.
Weston tries to control but Valjean wriggling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Weston lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Weston looking to finish Valjean with some ground and pound. This is bad for Valjean!
Valjean tries to hold on but Weston postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Weston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Valjean fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Weston doesn't manage to clinch there - Valjean circles away.
Nice uppercut there from Valjean.
Weston keeps the fight on the outside.
Valjean lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Weston circles away quickly and effectively.
Weston shoots for a double leg takedown but Valjean sprawls well. He's pushed Weston's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Valjean fails to land with a series of punches.
Valjean throws out a loose jab but Weston uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jean Valjean is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown by Weston or perhaps it was just good defense by Valjean which made him look bad.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Valjean enables Weston to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Valjean manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Weston preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weston trying to control but Valjean is working from the bottom.
Weston won't allow Valjean to get back to his feet.
Valjean working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Weston.
Valjean trying to keep a closed guard but Weston is proving a slippery customer.
Valjean keeping moving, preventing Weston from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Weston working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Weston makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Valjean is trying to keep Weston in close.
Valjean avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Weston wants to control from the top but Valjean keeps moving.
Weston postures up.
Michael Weston is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weston trying to control but Valjean is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Michael Weston wasn't active enough on the ground.
Valjean misses the shot to the body.
Jean Valjean is winning the standup battle so far.
Weston wants to clinch up but Valjean keeps it at a distance.
Weston tries to clinch but Valjean is having none of it.
Some wild striking there from Valjean.
Jean Valjean has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Weston moves in looking to clinch but Valjean pushes him off.
Valjean displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Weston.
Jean Valjean has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Weston.
Weston shoots in for a takedown but Valjean shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valjean throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Valjean throws a nice looking combination but Weston bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Weston.
Weston has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Valjean!
Valjean wants to hold on but Weston pushes him away.
Valjean is in a horrible position here. Weston smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Weston avoids the attempt from Valjean to control.
Weston in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Valjean tries to hold on but Weston postures up.
Valjean wants to get back to his feet.
Valjean is squirming around, avoiding Weston's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weston controlling from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valjean is in a horrible position here. Weston smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Weston trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Weston controlling his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Weston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Weston 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Weston!
During a confident post fight interview, Michael Weston thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.