PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Simon Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vince Wellwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Phoenix might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Good, Bad and the Ugly. Simon Phoenix has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Phoenix
vs
Wellwood

185 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Simon Phoenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vince Wellwood!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wellwood closes this distance looking for a takedown but Phoenix circles away.
Wellwood shoots in but Phoenix avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wellwood is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Phoenix shoots in for a double leg but Wellwood sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Phoenix looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Phoenix looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wellwood is fending him off so far but Phoenix persists. Nope, Wellwood circles away and we're back to standing.
Wellwood gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Phoenix counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Phoenix.
Simon Phoenix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vince Wellwood.

Phoenix drags the fight down to the ground.
Wellwood scoring with punches to the head and body.
Wellwood is fighting to break Phoenix's control of his arms but Phoenix is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Wellwood preventing the sweep.
Phoenix not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phoenix is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Wellwood is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Wellwood stands up over Phoenix, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Phoenix preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wellwood is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wellwood lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix is trying to control the position but Wellwood postures up.
Wellwood in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wellwood is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Phoenix working a defensive guard here.
Wellwood missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Phoenix throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Wellwood postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Phoenix fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Phoenix is breathing heavily.
Wellwood shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Phoenix counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wellwood is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Phoenix taking some punishment here, with Wellwood in his half guard.
Wellwood lands strikes from half guard.
Phoenix controlling the position for now.
Wellwood takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wellwood takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Wellwood landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Wellwood is thwarting Phoenix's attempts to control the position.
Phoenix is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Wellwood lands a nice short elbow.
Phoenix has hold of Wellwood's hands but Wellwood slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Phoenix has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Wellwood is working away from the top position though.
Phoenix taking some punishment here, with Wellwood in his half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Phoenix or perhaps it was just good defense by Wellwood which made him look bad.
Wellwood fails with the takedown

and Phoenix counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wellwood won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phoenix throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Wellwood regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wellwood wants to improve his position but Phoenix is controlling well.
Wellwood landing a few short strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Wellwood is not content to let Phoenix control the position.
Wellwood slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Wellwood manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Wellwood is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Wellwood postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Phoenix looks a forlorn figure.
Phoenix tries to lock up and control but Wellwood gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Phoenix tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wellwood is landing with some decent strikes but Phoenix is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Phoenix wants to hold on but Wellwood pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Phoenix slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Phoenix keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Phoenix has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Wellwood is working away from the top position though.
Wellwood has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wellwood is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Phoenix!
Phoenix can't escape the position.
Phoenix takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Phoenix is looking to get to half guard.
Wellwood scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Phoenix?
BOOM! Wellwood connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Wellwood working Phoenix over with strikes here.
Phoenix wants to hold on but Wellwood pushes him away.
The referee warns Phoenix that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Simon Phoenix will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Phoenix looks for a takedown but Wellwood sprawls well.

Wellwood shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Wellwood was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Phoenix is in all sorts of trouble here.
BOOM! Wellwood connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Phoenix tries to hold on but Wellwood postures up.
BOOM! Wellwood connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Phoenix is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wellwood lands a nice shot to the head.
Vince Wellwood has got the better of the ground game so far.
Phoenix in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Phoenix is desperately trying to improve his position but Wellwood has a good base and remains in mount.
Wellwood avoids the attempt from Phoenix to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wellwood landing shots from mount.
Wellwood working the ground and pound effectively.
Wellwood punishing his opponent with strikes.
Phoenix taking shots to the head.
Wellwood putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Wellwood punishing his opponent with strikes.
Feeble punches landing from Phoenix - he's mounted - they can't hurt.
Wellwood is landing with some decent strikes but Phoenix is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Wellwood lands a heavy elbow.
Phoenix throwing hammer fists to the chest of Wellwood. What's that going to do exactly?
Phoenix tries to hold on but Wellwood pushes him away.
Wellwood connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Wellwood working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Wellwood landing shots from mount.
Phoenix tries to lock up and control but Wellwood gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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.
Phoenix is looking to get to half guard.
Wellwood dominating with strikes here.
Phoenix tries to hold on but Wellwood postures up.
Phoenix is bucking up trying to escape but Wellwood cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Phoenix tries to hold on but Wellwood postures up.
Wellwood with the ground and pound from mount.
Wellwood lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Phoenix hang on?
Phoenix tries to hold on but Wellwood pushes him away.
Wellwood lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Phoenix is looking to improve his position but Wellwood isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Wellwood unloading with bombs!
Wellwood lands with some strikes.
Wellwood lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Phoenix is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wellwood avoids the attempt from Phoenix to control.
Phoenix is working to get back to half guard.
Wellwood breaks from Phoenix's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Phoenix is in all sorts of trouble here.
Wellwood working the ground and pound effectively.

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.
Wellwood avoids the attempt from Phoenix to control.
The referee warns Phoenix that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Wellwood landing strikes from the mount.
Phoenix is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Phoenix is working hard here to advance position.
Phoenix flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Phoenix working to try and regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wellwood breaks from Phoenix's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Wellwood working Phoenix over with strikes here.
Wellwood with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vince Wellwood showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Wellwood has his takedown stuffed

and Phoenix holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Phoenix changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Wellwood fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Phoenix swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wellwood avoids a punch combination nicely.

Wellwood decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wellwood winds up and cracks Phoenix with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Wellwood is thwarting Phoenix's attempts to control the position.
Wellwood passes to side control.
Phoenix taking punishment in the form of punches.
Phoenix throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Phoenix is looking to regain half guard here but Wellwood keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Phoenix's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wellwood grinds an elbow into Phoenix's temple.
Phoenix is looking for a sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Wellwood closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wellwood seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Wellwood is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Phoenix moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Wellwood is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Wellwood distracts Phoenix with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Phoenix trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wellwood loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Phoenix not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Phoenix can't keep his opponent in guard - Wellwood advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Phoenix trying to control but Wellwood postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Wellwood stuffs the takedown.
Simon Phoenix is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Phoenix gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Phoenix looking to control.
Wellwood is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Phoenix wants to sweep here but Wellwood controlling him for the moment.
Wellwood distracts Phoenix with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Phoenix trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wellwood preventing the sweep.
Wellwood thows a big elbow that misses.
Phoenix is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Phoenix shoots in but Wellwood avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Phoenix. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wellwood doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Phoenix counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wellwood won't be happy with that.
Phoenix cracks Wellwood with a big right hand but Wellwood just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Phoenix lands an elbow.
Wellwood is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Phoenix off and has taken his back!
Wellwood punishes Phoenix with strikes from the back mount.
Wellwood softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Phoenix trying to control the action but Wellwood just sinks the hooks in.
Phoenix manages to reverse the position and now he's in Wellwood's guard. Nice work there by Phoenix.
Phoenix trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wellwood manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Phoenix manages to get himself to full guard.
Phoenix will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Wellwood trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wellwood throws a big right hand that misses.
Wellwood lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Wellwood postures up in Phoenix's guard and throws a big left but Phoenix blocks it.
Phoenix wants to sweep here but Wellwood controlling him for the moment.
Phoenix trying to control the position.
Wellwood won't allow Phoenix to sweep him here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Wellwood shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Wellwood showed some decent athleticism there.
Wellwood scoring with strikes to the body and head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vince Wellwood comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wellwood 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vince Wellwood!