PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marc Anthony (ranked 255 p4p, 513 weight class) and Luke Neil (ranked 38 p4p, 80 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Anthony
vs
Neil

185 cm
28
182
11 - 1 - 0

182 cm
30
184
14 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Apothecary

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marc Anthony!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luke Neil!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Darius Henderson and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neil steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Anthony.
Neil swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Anthony cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Luke Neil has been cut.
Anthony throws a sloppy head kick and Neil moves out of range easily.
Anthony takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Anthony looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Anthony throws a combination that misses
and Neil counters with a one-two to the body.
Neil takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Anthony misses with a jab to the body
and Neil counters with a straight right hand.
Anthony on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd cheers as Neil lands an impressive looking overhand right. Anthony doesn't seem phased though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anthony takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Neil darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Anthony has hold of Neil's hands but Neil slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony tries to get to full guard but Neil has control of the leg.
Anthony is trying to maintain the position but Neil is very close to passing his half guard.
Neil scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Anthony manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Neil wants to control from the top but Anthony keeps moving.
Anthony looking for a sweep. Not yet Anthony, not yet.
Neil is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Anthony wants to sweep here but Neil controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Anthony is trying to control the position but Neil postures up.
Neil working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Neil's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Neil trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Neil throws a big right hand that misses.
Neil throws a big right hand that misses.
Neil passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Neil looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Anthony is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neil works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Neil controls the position from side control.
Neil lands an elbow.
Anthony struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neil tries to move to mount but Anthony blocks the move with his legs.
Anthony manages to work his way to half guard, despite Neil's best efforts.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Neil connects with a nice short shot to Anthony's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neil thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Neil connects with a nice short shot to Anthony's temple.

Neil seems to be working for a kimura but Anthony defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Anthony manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Neil stopping the sweep attempt from Anthony.
Neil slips nicely into half guard.
Anthony looks like he's trying to stand up.
Neil throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Anthony tries to get to full guard but Neil has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Neil dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Luke Neil's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Anthony lands a jab-cross combination.
Anthony missing with a left hand there. Neil was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Neil misses with an attempted mid kick.
Anthony throws a big counter combination but Neil scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Neil avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jab by Anthony.
Neil shoots in and drives through. Anthony sprawls well.
Anthony misses with a jab, cross combination.
Anthony throws a right and a left that Neil avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anthony lands with a nice body kick.
Anthony fails to land with a series of punches.
It seemed like Neil was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Neil slips a jab and a cross from Anthony.
Neil throws a counter combo.
Anthony misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neil fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Anthony has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Anthony lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Anthony lands with an overhand left.
Marc Anthony is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anthony swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anthony misses with a hook
and Neil counters with a low kick, right behind Anthony 's knee.
Marc Anthony is winning the standup battle so far.
Anthony throws a nice looking combination but Neil bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Anthony checks a low kick from Neil.

Neil decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Neil scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Neil wants to lay and pray for a moment but Anthony keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anthony pushes Neil off looking to stand but Neil dives back in and keeps control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Neil controlling the action here.
Anthony is staying active underneath Neil, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Neil is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Neil is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Anthony trying to control but Neil postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neil is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Anthony is staying active underneath Neil, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anthony is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Neil scores with a couple of nice shots.
Anthony trying to control but Neil postures up.
Anthony is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Neil is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Neil is keen to just control but Anthony is a slippery customer.
Anthony moves into full guard.
Neil has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Anthony is trying to control the position but Neil postures up.
Neil in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Anthony preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Anthony throws a hook but Neil blocks it.
Neil throws a counter combo.
Marc Anthony is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Neil fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Anthony misses with a straight right.
Anthony misses with a combination
letting Neil counter with a right hand.
Nice straight punches there by Anthony. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Anthony.
Anthony throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Neil counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marc Anthony dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Luke Neil's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Neil bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Anthony is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Neil asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Anthony striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Neil is looking to take a break and control but Anthony is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A lull in the action here as Neil stalls from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neil wants to control but Anthony is keeping him busy.
Neil working the ground and pound but Anthony is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neil working the ground and pound.
Anthony wants to get back to his feet but Neil drags him back down.
Luke Neil has got the better of the ground game so far.
Neil is looking to take a break and control but Anthony is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Neil.
Neil staying calm.
Neil laying and praying for a moment but Anthony takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Neil looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Anthony with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Still in half guard, Neil seems content to control.
Nice strikes from Neil there.
Neil wants to take a breather but Anthony is having none of it.
Neil thows a huge punch but Anthony dodges it nicely.
Neil is nestled in close to Anthony, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Neil working the head and body with strikes.
Anthony is concentrating on defense, preventing Neil from advancing position.
Neil is keen to just control but Anthony is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anthony pushes Neil off and gets back to his feet.
Marc Anthony seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anthony ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Neil moves away.
It seemed like Neil was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Neil stalks Anthony and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Anthony's face. Anthony staggers backwards, shaken.
Anthony misses with an uppercut. Neil saw that one coming.
Neil moves away from the strike by Anthony.

Neil shoots in and gets a takedown into Anthony's guard.
Neil stops Anthony from standing up.
Neil tries to free his leg and advance position but Anthony is retaining full guard.
Anthony has momentary wrist control but Neil slips an elbow through the middle.
Neil postures up.
Neil controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anthony wriggles free and stands up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Neil needs to keep his hands up - Anthony had a free shot at his head there.
Anthony misses with the combination.
Anthony misses with a right hand

and Neil counters with a single leg into guard. Anthony didn't expect that.
Neil controlling from the top position.
Anthony is trying to control the position but Neil postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Luke Neil just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Luke Neil's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Neil throws a nice inside leg kick.

Neil gets a takedown into half guard.
Neil prevents Anthony from standing back up.
Anthony is not content to let Neil control the position.
Anthony makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Anthony.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anthony keeping full guard, as Neil tries to pass.
Neil won't allow Anthony to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neil controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Anthony can't keep his opponent in guard - Neil advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Neil is nestled in close to Anthony, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Anthony has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Neil is working away from the top position though.
Neil prevents Anthony from improving his position.
Neil is nestled in close to Anthony, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neil is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Anthony has managed to free his arm - good work.
Neil looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Neil is pressing down on Anthony's thigh, looking to free his foot. Anthony is holding on for now.
Anthony tries to get to full guard but Neil has control of the leg.
Neil controlling the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neil lands with a punch from half guard.
Neil thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Anthony's head.
Anthony is trying to stand up here but Neil is controlling him well.

Anthony is defending against the submission attempts here by Neil.
Neil trying to control the pace.
Anthony wants to stand back up but Neil manages to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Neil tries to advance position but instead Anthony slips a leg back in to half guard.
Anthony is not content to let Neil control the position.

Neil seems to be looking for submissions.
Anthony is not content to let Neil control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Neil looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Anthony with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Anthony is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Neil dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Luke Neil's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Anthony throws a hook but Neil avoids it easily.
Anthony throws a right and a left that Neil avoids nicely.
Anthony is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Anthony misses with an uppercut
and Neil counters with a straight right hand.
Neil throws out a powerful jab.
Neil blocks a jab.
Neil looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Anthony gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Anthony tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neil working some strikes from top position.
Anthony is pulling down on Neil's head. It's preventing any offense from Neil, at least for the moment.
Neil trying to control the position from guard on top but Anthony is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neil might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Anthony haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Neil won't allow Anthony to sweep him here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Neil's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Neil's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Neil is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Neil slips under a jab from Anthony.
Neil is looking for the big counter here.
Anthony scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Neil doesn't seem bothered though.
A jab lands there for Anthony.
A jab from Anthony misses.
Neil showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Anthony.
Neil uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Anthony.
Neil throws a counter combo.
Anthony takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony throws a jab when Neil was well out of range.
Anthony lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Neil slips under a jab.
Anthony lands a jab to Neil's midsection.
Neil uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Anthony.
Anthony jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sloppy strikes from Anthony. Those never looked like landing.
Neil flicks out a counter leg kick but Anthony steps away.
Anthony misses with a combination
and Neil counters with a nice uppercut.
Neil shoots for a double leg takedown but Anthony sprawls well. He's pushed Neil's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Anthony is looking for a counter combo.
Anthony throws a jab when Neil was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthony pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Anthony swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Neil counters with a leg kick.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Anthony looks to land a combination. Neil sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anthony throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Anthony throws a lazy head kick
and Neil counters with a nice uppercut.

Neil looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Neil pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Anthony is keeping the position for now.
Marc Anthony has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Neil won't allow Anthony to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marc Anthony showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Neil has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 47:48
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 47:48
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Neil!
Luke Neil is the new welterweight champion!
After winning the bout, Luke Neil thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.