PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake Phoenix (ranked 441 p4p, 62 weight class) and Jab Brown (ranked 1239 p4p, 173 weight class). Brown has chosen Lützenkirchen - German Kiss as his entrance music. The key to victory for Blake Phoenix has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Phoenix
vs
Brown

194 cm
28
205 lbs
24 - 9 - 0

193 cm
28
214 lbs
11 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Threads of HARDCORE

Urban Fighter
Hardcore Nutrition 160Q ($150)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Phoenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Jab Brown!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix lands with a cross.
Blake Phoenix seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phoenix misses with a double jab.
A jab from Phoenix misses.
Phoenix throws a jab when Brown was well out of range.
Phoenix throws a looping overhand right but Brown ducks down to avoid it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Brown 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.
Phoenix misses with a straight left.
Brown fails to land the takedown.
Phoenix misses with a straight left.
Phoenix clobbers Brown with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Phoenix pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Brown with the counter takedown but Phoenix avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Phoenix closes the distance and clinches.
Phoenix swings wildly with an uppercut but Brown uses good head movement to avoid it.

Phoenix is fighting off a takedown attempt but Brown is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Phoenix to the mat. Phoenix regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Brown drops back, looking for a kneebar! Phoenix looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Phoenix looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Phoenix!

Brown is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix controlling the position.
Phoenix is looking to take a break and control but Brown is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Brown is looking to regain half guard here but Phoenix keeps moving and retains side control.
Brown is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Phoenix stands up.
Brown fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Phoenix avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Phoenix lands an impressive looking overhand right. Brown doesn't seem phased though.
Brown slips under a jab.
Brown slips a jab from Phoenix.
Brown has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Brown there as he acknowledges the shot.
Brown dives in for a single leg takedown but Phoenix sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Blake Phoenix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jab Brown.
Phoenix jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Phoenix swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Brown is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Brown takes one to the chin there.
Phoenix misses with a hook

and Brown counters with a single leg into guard. Phoenix didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Brown thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix controlling the position.
Brown pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phoenix is keeping the position for now.
Phoenix has control of Brown's left arm, preventing Brown from doing any damage.

Phoenix manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Phoenix softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Brown can't get the takedown.
Phoenix misses with a hook from the clinch.
Brown is working for takedown but Phoenix is calmly controlling the position for now.
Phoenix struggles to land a body shot inside as Brown controls his hands.
Phoenix scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Phoenix lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Brown turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Brown tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Brown has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Phoenix is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Brown is controlling him well.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Brown looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Phoenix wants to control but Brown postures up.
Phoenix tries to buck Brown off but Brown is having none of it.
Phoenix wants to control but Brown postures up.
Phoenix wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Brown is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Phoenix has escaped the position, nice work there.

Brown is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Phoenix knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Brown shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Phoenix defends it nicely.
Brown shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Phoenix but Phoenix pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Brown staying out of range there.
Phoenix misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Phoenix. Brown does a little dance to reset his feet.
Phoenix misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix lands with a shot to the body.
Phoenix lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Phoenix lands a nice looking body shot.
Nice straight punches there by Phoenix. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Phoenix.
Brown avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Good standup being displayed there by Phoenix as he connects with a hook.
Phoenix is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Phoenix with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Blake Phoenix is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Phoenix throws a lazy right hand but Brown sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Phoenix lands with a hook. Brown tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Brown is looking to clinch.
Phoenix lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Brown ducks under a wild hook from Phoenix.
Brown fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Phoenix avoids it really well and circles away.
Blake Phoenix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jab Brown.
Phoenix pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Blake Phoenix is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix lands with a right hand.
Phoenix throws a jab but it's blocked by Brown.
Brown shoots in but no luck this time.
Phoenix takes a swing at Brown's ribcage but misses.
Brown tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Phoenix loads up on a big right hand but Brown slips the punch.
Phoenix swings and misses with a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phoenix throws a lazy right hand but Brown sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Phoenix fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Brown tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Phoenix swivels and escapes.
Nice shot lands for Phoenix.
Phoenix lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Brown at a distance.
Brown shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Phoenix throws a lazy right hand but Brown sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phoenix fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Brown, pushing him back against the cage.
Brown changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Phoenix fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Brown tries to move into range but Phoenix moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Brown tries for a takedown but Phoenix sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Phoenix misses with a looping right.

Phoenix rushes Brown and presses him up against the cage.
I was talking to Phoenix's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Brown is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Brown has Phoenix pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Phoenix manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Phoenix with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Brown's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with a punch to the body.
Brown wants to take the fight to the mat but Phoenix manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown looking for a takedown.
Phoenix scores with a nice hook to the head.
Brown drops down looking for an ankle pick but Phoenix pulls his leg out and moves away.
Brown is breathing heavily.
Brown takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Phoenix lands a jab to the head.
Brown avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Phoenix loads up on a big right hand but Brown slips the punch.
Brown changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Phoenix loads up on a big right hand but Brown slips the punch.
Phoenix lands a nice shot to the body.
Brown steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Phoenix.
Brown with the counter takedown but Phoenix avoids it easily.
Phoenix connects with a crisp jab.
Phoenix throws a looping overhand right but Brown ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Phoenix dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Phoenix throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jab from Phoenix.
Brown uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Phoenix.
Phoenix looks to land a right hand but Brown moved out of range.
Brown feints the counter takedown.
Phoenix lands with a nice body punch.
Phoenix misses with a wild body shot.
Phoenix throws a jab but it's blocked by Brown.
Phoenix lands a jab to the head.
Brown slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix throws out a loose jab but Brown uses good head movement to avoid it.
A left lands for Phoenix.
Brown staying out of range there.
Brown staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix throws out a loose jab but Brown uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phoenix throws a hook but Brown avoids it easily.
Phoenix throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Brown with the counter takedown but Phoenix avoids it easily.
Phoenix waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Brown.
Brown is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Phoenix keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Phoenix wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Phoenix throws a hook but Brown blocks it.
Phoenix throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nice uppercut lands for Phoenix. That snapped Brown's head back.
Jab from Phoenix.
Phoenix jabs at Brown's body.
Brown shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Phoenix as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brown misses with a takedown attempt
and Phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Blake Phoenix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jab Brown.
Phoenix throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Phoenix.
Brown slips a jab from Phoenix.
Brown needs to keep his hands up - Phoenix had a free shot at his head there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brown shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Brown takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Brown walks into a straight right hand from Phoenix.
Brown on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Phoenix cracks Brown with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Brown is rocked!
Phoenix throws a hook to the side of Brown's head but Brown sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix throws a good cross that connects.
Brown slips a straight right by Phoenix.
Brown ducks under a wild hook from Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Brown.
And Brown tries to counter it with a takedown but Phoenix pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Phoenix fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Brown shoots and misses
and Brown takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice jab there from Phoenix.
Brown is still on wobbly legs! Can Phoenix finish him?

Phoenix drives through and clinches with Brown against the cage.
Phoenix is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Brown can do to turn this around?
Brown is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Phoenix pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Brown seems to have recovered his senses.
Phoenix working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Phoenix drops Brown onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Brown is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Phoenix lands a body punch.
Brown takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Brown drops down looking for an ankle pick but Phoenix pulls his leg out and moves away.
Brown has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Phoenix ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix stuns Brown with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Phoenix lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Brown walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Phoenix throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Brown sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Phoenix cracks Brown with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Brown tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Phoenix pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Brown is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Blake Phoenix!
After winning the bout, Blake Phoenix thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.