PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sultan Swat (ranked 5161 p4p, 4370 weight class) and Soren Phelps (ranked 425 p4p, 373 weight class). The key to victory for Sultan Swat has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Swat
vs
Phelps

183 cm
18
164
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
157
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sultan Swat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Soren Phelps!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Phelps closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Swat quickly recovers to half guard.
Phelps wants to control but Swat is keeping him busy.
Swat trying to hold on to Phelps's head to control him but Phelps postures up.
Swat manages to get to full guard.
Swat pulls Phelps in close to his closed guard and prevents Phelps from doing any damage or advancing position.
Swat definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Phelps wants to control from the top but Swat keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phelps won't allow Swat to sweep him here.
Swat is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Phelps is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Swat pulls Phelps in to control the position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swat is pulling down on Phelps's head. It's preventing any offense from Phelps, at least for the moment.
Swat wants to sweep but no luck.
Swat has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Swat controls Phelps momentarily but Phelps frees himself.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Swat keeping moving, preventing Phelps from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Phelps rushes Swat and presses him up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Swat's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Swat prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two 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.
Swat wants to break the clinch but can't.
The referee calls for Phelps to work.
Swat misses with the head strike.
Swat working hard to break the clinch.
Swat has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Swat tries to break the clinch but Phelps is controlling the position.
The referee calls for Phelps to work.
Swat working aggressively here.
Phelps misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Swat.
Swat prevents a takedown attempt there.
Phelps has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Swat is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sultan Swat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Soren Phelps.
Phelps drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Swat has had enough of the clinch but Phelps keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phelps blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Phelps prevents Swat from breaking the clinch.

Phelps's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Swat throws out a loose jab but Phelps uses good head movement to avoid it.
Swat looks to score with a jab to the body but Phelps is just out of range.

Phelps has managed to clinch.
Phelps tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Swat smiles and moves away.
Phelps with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Swat counter with a right hand.
Swat throws the left hand but Phelps avoids the punch easily.
Phelps throws a lazy body kick
and Swat counters with a stiff right hand.
Phelps tries for a takedown but Swat circles away easily
and Phelps takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Phelps ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sultan Swat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phelps ducks under a wild hook from Swat.
Swat goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A telegraphed right hand from Swat misses the target.
Swat misses with a few strikes there.
Phelps changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Phelps takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Phelps gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Swat counters with a stiff right hand.
Phelps ducks under a wild hook from Swat.
Jab, jab by Swat - just one landing.
Donk. Swat catches Phelps right on the button with a cross.
Phelps shoots in looking for a takedown. Swat tries to sprawl out of it but Phelps keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Swat manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Phelps instigates a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sultan Swat dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Phelps uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Swat.
Swat is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Phelps can do to turn this around?
Phelps avoids the body shot from Swat.
Swat thuds his right hand into Phelps's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nice defenses there by Phelps.
Phelps now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Phelps gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Swat.
Swat scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A big right from Swat misses.
Phelps doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Swat counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Phelps throws a nice looking combination but Swat bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phelps shoots in for a takedown but Swat shows good takedown defense.
Phelps bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Phelps is looking for the big counter here.
Swat misses with a looping right.
Swat throws a big shot that misses.
Swat is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phelps has a takedown stuffed.
It looked like Swat was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Sultan Swat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Soren Phelps.
Swat looks to throw the jab but Phelps is out of range.
Swat lands a head shot.
Swat missing with a left hand there. Phelps was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Phelps closes the distance but Swat moves to the side
and Phelps takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Phelps shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Phelps showed some decent athleticism there.
Swat is trying to control but can't.
Phelps is looking to take a break and control but Swat is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Swat is looking to improve his position.
Swat is pressing down on Phelps's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swat is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Swat tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Swat has Phelps pulled in close to control his posture.
Swat is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Swat content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Phelps is trying to get back to full guard.
Phelps is trying to stand back up but Swat is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swat takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Soren Phelps has got the better of the ground game so far.
Phelps trying to hold on to Swat's head to control him but Swat postures up.
Swat sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Phelps wants to control but Swat is keeping busy.

Phelps looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Swat seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Swat tries to pass the half guard into mount. Phelps knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Swat controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Phelps looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Swat controlling the action here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Phelps doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Swat to counter with a crisp jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sultan Swat dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Phelps displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Swat throws out the jab.
Swat connects with a crisp jab.

Phelps fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Swat, pushing him back against the cage.

Phelps drags the fight down to the ground.
Swat sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Swat is pushing down on Phelps's leg trying to pass to half guard. Phelps is fighting to maintain full guard but Swat has managed to sneak the leg through.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swat controlling the pace.
Phelps won't allow Swat to pass to mount.

Phelps looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Swat takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swat will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Phelps is looking to escape.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Swat blocks the strikes from Phelps.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Swat stalling.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Phelps clinches up against the cage.
Phelps is struggling to control the position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Phelps.

Phelps gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Swat regains guard.
Swat is looking to sweep but instead, Phelps has passed into half guard.
Swat preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Swat is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Phelps seems to be working for a kimura but Swat defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swat is looking for a sweep. Phelps is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Swat holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Phelps is looking to take a break and control but Swat is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Swat is trying to control but can't.
Swat is looking for a sweep. Phelps is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Swat is trying is best to control the position here.
Swat trying to control but Phelps postures up.
Swat wants to get back to full guard but Phelps has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swat wants to hold on but Phelps pushes him away.
Swat working to try and regain half guard.

Phelps stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Swat misses with a two punch combination.
Swat connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Phelps staying out of range there.
A jab from Swat misses.
Swat throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phelps takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Phelps throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Swat tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Phelps is in Swat's guard.
Soren Phelps has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sultan Swat is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Phelps being controlled here momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Soren Phelps.
I think Swat 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sultan Swat!