PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Happy Hands (ranked 5337 p4p, 4336 weight class) and Gerald Phoenix (ranked 425 p4p, 382 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Gerald Phoenix enters the cage!

Hands
vs
Phoenix

169 cm
18
154
0 - 1 - 0

167 cm
18
152
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Happy Hands!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gerald Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hands tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phoenix throws a body shot but no joy.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Phoenix lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hands has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hands and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hands fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Phoenix.
Hands checks the leg kick.
Hands connects with a body shot that sends Phoenix's belly button to the back.
Phoenix throws a chopping leg kick but Hands manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Hands throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Phoenix sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hands throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Phoenix checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Phoenix fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix dips to his left and cracks Hands with an uppercut!
Hands fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Phoenix manages to avoid it.
Phoenix now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hands takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hands wants to slow Phoenix down by chopping away at his legs.

Phoenix drives through and clinches with Hands against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix stalling in the clinch.
Phoenix scores with a shoulder strike.
Phoenix lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hands swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Phoenix cracks Hands with a nice body shot.
Hands misses with a short punch on the inside.
Phoenix lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Happy Hands has been cut.
Phoenix tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Stalling in the clinch from Phoenix.
The crowd are getting on Phoenix's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Phoenix pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hands working hard to break the clinch.
Phoenix throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hands tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hands taking a breather.
Hands trying to stall but Phoenix improves his position.
Phoenix just leaning against Hands, taking a breather.
Hands is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Phoenix stalling in the clinch.
Phoenix controlling the action here for a moment.
Phoenix tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gerald Phoenix.
Hands digs a good body shot into Phoenix's ribs.
Phoenix throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hands sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hands digs a good body shot into Phoenix's ribs.
Hands looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Phoenix just misses with a punch to the body.
Hands throws a head kick but Phoenix moves out of range.
Hands misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Phoenix.
Phoenix throws the kick towards the body but Hands avoids it.
Hands misses with a low kick.
Hands moves away from the strike by Phoenix.
Hands swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Phoenix counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Phoenix.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix tries to land knees in the clinch but Hands avoids the damage to the body.
Hands blocks an elbow strike.
Phoenix tries to throw a body punch but Hands avoids it by throwing Phoenix back against the cage.
Hands blocks an elbow strike.
Hands is looking to control Phoenix's arms but Phoenix gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hands has his back to the cage.
Come on Phoenix - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Hands avoiding damage as Phoenix throws knees to the body.
Phoenix lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Phoenix working aggressively here.
Phoenix scores with a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hands is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Phoenix works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gerald Phoenix dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Happy Hands's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hands misses with a body punch

and Phoenix counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Phoenix.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hands.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hands blocks an elbow strike from Phoenix.
Phoenix scores with a shoulder strike.
Hands has a couple of punches blocked by Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with an elbow over the top.
Phoenix throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Handss head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hands on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hands is trying to maintain a safe position but Phoenix gets an underhook and turns Hands into the cage.
Hands on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Phoenix holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hands misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hands lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Phoenix stalling.
Phoenix using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hands has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Phoenix slowing the pace effectively.
Phoenix lands a nice uppercut.
Hands dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hands is pushing Phoenix up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Phoenix misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Phoenix has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hands avoids the elbow strike from Phoenix, against the cage.
Phoenix has Hands pushed against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hands misses with a punch to the body.
Nice elbow from Phoenix.
Phoenix is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Phoenix has Hands pressed against the cage, preventing Hands from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hands fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gerald Phoenix seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Phoenix working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Phoenix lands a right hand.
Hands blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hands blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hands takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hands blocks an elbow strike.
Hands looking to stall.
Hands wants to stall.
Hands seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Phoenix is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hands on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The referee calls for Phoenix to work.
Phoenix misses with a body punch.
Hands avoids the elbow strike from Phoenix, against the cage.
Hands has had enough of the clinch but Phoenix keeps him there for the moment.
A short left from Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with a knee strike.
Phoenix pushes off an throws an elbow but Hands leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phoenix is struggling to control the position.
Phoenix stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gerald Phoenix showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Happy Hands'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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A swing and a miss from Hands.
Hands tries to score with a low kick but Phoenix moves his leg out of the way.
Hands tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phoenix takes a swing at Hands's ribcage but misses.
Hands swings for the body but Phoenix moves out of range.
Hands misses with a looping left.
Phoenix misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hands.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Phoenix, as that shot connected.
Hands looks to score with a jab to the body but Phoenix is just out of range.
Phoenix checks a low kick from Hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hands digs a good hook to Phoenix's body.
Hands ducks under a wild hook from Phoenix.
Phoenix uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hands.
Hands is looking to wear down Phoenix with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Phoenix throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A quick step to the side and Hands tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Happy Hands seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hands throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Phoenix counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix cracks Hands with an open hand slap.
Hands thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Phoenix if he has to take too many more of those.
Phoenix avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Phoenix takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Happy Hands is winning the standup battle so far.
Phoenix scores with a punch to the head.
Hands keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phoenix looks to score with a jab to the body but Hands is just out of range.
Hands keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Phoenix.
Phoenix takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hands lands with a nice combination. Phoenix backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Gerald Phoenix has been cut.
Hands blocks a jab.
Hands throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hands throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix takes one to the side of the head.
The crowd cheers as Hands lands an impressive looking overhand right. Phoenix doesn't seem phased though.
Hands misses the shot to the body.
Hands lands a jab to the nose.
Phoenix throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
It looked like Hands was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Phoenix.

Phoenix moves into the clinch.
Phoenix taking a breather.
Phoenix can't find room to land a body shot as Hands controls the action.
Phoenix is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hands tries to work over Phoenix's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix throws a punch but it's blocked by Hands.
Phoenix cracks Hands with a nice body shot.
A right hand to the body from Phoenix.
Hands managing to block the knees to the body from Phoenix.
Phoenix connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hands's face.
Phoenix tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hands will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Phoenix up against the cage.
Hands misses with a punch on the inside.
Phoenix is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hands being controlled against the cage.
Hands looking to slow down the pace here.
Still in the clinch, Phoenix scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hands being controlled against the cage.
Phoenix doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Happy Hands.
I think Phoenix 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 Ian Loll scores the fight for Gerald Phoenix!
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight for Gerald Phoenix!
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight for Gerald Phoenix!

Gerald Phoenix wins by unanimous decision!
Gerald Phoenix took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Looks like my hands were happier.'.
In defeat, Happy Hands stepped up to the mic, saying 'This won't phase me, King's an incredible opponent! I still got my hands, I'm good, I'm happy!'.