PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Walter Flanagan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Weber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Flanagan comes to the cage accompanied by The Wizard . Weber comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Hamburg Anthem kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Flanagan
vs
Weber

171 cm
27
147 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

169 cm
21
142 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Walter Flanagan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Leon Weber!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flanagan misses with a wild body shot.
Weber is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Weber misses with a body shot.
Flanagan connects with a crisp jab.
Flanagan throws an off balance right hand
and Weber counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Weber throws a head kick but Flanagan moves out of range.
Flanagan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Weber was well out of range. Poor timing from Flanagan.
Weber moves out of range of the strikes.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Weber has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flanagan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Weber feints the counter takedown.
Flanagan misses with a few strikes there.
Flanagan misses with a wild combination.
Weber changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weber blocks a jab.
Weber unleashes a big counter combination but Flanagan bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Walter Flanagan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Weber moves out of range as Flanagan strikes.
As Flanagan backs off Weber throws a huge counter combo but Flanagan manages to avoid it all.
Weber fails with the takedown.
Flanagan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Flanagan backs off Weber throws a huge counter combo but Flanagan manages to avoid it all.
Flanagan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Weber is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Flanagan misses with a hook.
Weber now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Weber fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Flanagan to the ground. Weber is now in Flanagan's guard.
Weber wants to control from the top but Flanagan keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Weber thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Flanagan keeping moving, preventing Weber from controlling successfully.
Weber slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Flanagan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Weber controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Weber is looking to work some ground and pound but Flanagan has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weber pushes down on Flanagan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Weber looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Weber not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Weber thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Weber content to control rather than advance.

Weber is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Flanagan is not content to let Weber control the position.
Weber stops Flanagan from getting back to his feet.
Flanagan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Flanagan tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weber wants to control but Flanagan is keeping him busy.

Weber is working for a submission of some sort.

Weber is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Flanagan sees it coming and defends easily.
Weber controlling the pace.
Flanagan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Weber.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Weber trying to control the action but Flanagan is working from the bottom.
Flanagan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Weber on the ground.
Weber throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Leon Weber will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Flanagan throws a right and a left that Weber avoids nicely.
Weber changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Flanagan misses with a low kick.
Leon Weber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Flanagan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Weber.
Weber takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Weber displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Flanagan throws out the jab.
Flanagan misses with a straight left.
Despite the aggression on Weber's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Walter Flanagan is winning the standup battle so far.
Flanagan scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flanagan throws a body punch but Weber moves out of range.
Flanagan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Weber counters with a one-two to the body.
Weber keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Flanagan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weber blocks a head kick by Flanagan.
Weber feints the counter takedown.
Flanagan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Weber counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Flanagan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Weber is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Weber slips a jab and a cross from Flanagan.
Weber lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Weber shoots for a double leg takedown but Flanagan sprawls well. He's pushed Weber's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Flanagan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Weber uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Flanagan.
Weber is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Flanagan misses the jab.
A jab lands there for Weber.
Flanagan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Despite the aggression on Weber's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weber is trying hard to land a takedown here. Flanagan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Weber throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Flanagan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sloppy strikes from Weber. Those never looked like landing.
Flanagan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Weber.
Weber is looking for the big counter here.
Flanagan loads up on a big right hand but Weber slips the punch.
Weber drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Flanagan defends it well.
Flanagan misses the shot to the body.
Walter Flanagan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Flanagan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Weber counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Flanagan definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Flanagan throws an overhand right that lands on Weber's shoulder, as Weber tries to avoid the shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Flanagan misses with a hook.
Weber tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Weber shoots in looking for a takedown. Flanagan tries to sprawl out of it but Weber keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Flanagan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Walter Flanagan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Weber.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weber lands with a nice combination. Flanagan backs away looking to recover.
Flanagan just misses with a punch to the body.
Weber with the counter takedown but Flanagan avoids it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Flanagan lands with a nice combination. Weber backs away looking to recover.
Flanagan throws a poor cross that misses
and Weber counters with a straight right hand.
Weber fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Weber counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Flanagan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Flanagan throws a right hand that misses

and Weber counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flanagan dodges the ground and pound from Weber.
Weber content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Weber tries to advance to mount but can't.

Weber is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Flanagan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
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 Walter Flanagan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Flanagan lands with a straight right. Weber didn't see that one coming.
A jab lands there for Flanagan.
Flanagan clobbers Weber with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Weber misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Flanagan.
Weber goes for a double leg but Flanagan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Flanagan continues to drive forward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flanagan lands a jab-cross combination.
Weber lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Flanagan backs up against the cage.
A combination from Flanagan does no damage.
A nice side step and Weber releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Weber is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Flanagan rather than just go for the knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weber swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Flanagan misses with a looping left.
Flanagan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Flanagan takes a swing at Weber's ribcage but misses.
Weber swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Weber misses with a straight right.
Flanagan fails to land with a series of punches.
Weber misses with a double jab.
Flanagan was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Flanagan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Flanagan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weber gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Flanagan counter with a right hand.
Jab from Flanagan.
Flanagan lands a head shot.
Flanagan misses with a hook. Weber ducked under it nicely.
Flanagan misses the shot to the body.
Weber changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Weber ducks under a wild hook from Flanagan.
Weber is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Flanagan swings for the body but Weber moves out of range.
Weber unleashes a big counter combination but Flanagan bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Weber ducks under a wild hook from Flanagan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weber avoids the body shot from Flanagan.
Weber with the counter takedown but Flanagan avoids it easily.
Weber staying out of range there.
Flanagan misses with the combination.
Flanagan lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Flanagan.
Flanagan takes a swing at Weber's ribcage but misses.
Weber changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Flanagan throws a left and a right that both miss

and Weber counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Weber perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan is not content to let Weber control the position.

Weber is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Weber missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Weber thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Flanagan's head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Weber in particular looking to stall.
Weber is trying to control the action in half guard but Flanagan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Weber is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Flanagan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Weber.

And that's the end of the fight!
Walter Flanagan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Flanagan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Walter Flanagan!
Walter Flanagan decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Leon Weber spoke after the fight, saying 'I knew this day would come. Concrats to Flanagan. He's a really tough opponent and a deserved champion now. I will lean from this loss and come back stronger!'.