PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andy Bartsch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Beam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bartsch
vs
Beam

185 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

193 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andy Bartsch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Beam!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Beam moves into range and clinches up with Bartsch.

Beam turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Beam controlling the position.

Beam has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

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

Beam wants the takedown. Bartsch is fighting it off but Beam persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Bartsch's guard against the cage.
Beam tries to free his leg and advance position but Bartsch is retaining full guard.
Beam controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bartsch working for a triangle but Beam defends it easily.
Bartsch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beam tries to free his leg and advance position but Bartsch is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Beam wants to control from the top but Bartsch keeps moving.
Beam looking to pass the guard.
Beam trying to control the position from guard on top but Bartsch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bartsch looking for a guillotine here but Beam defends easily.
Beam seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Beam postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bartsch fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Beam closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bartsch lands a left hand that snaps the head of Beam backwards.

Beam breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Beam swats away the attempt to clinch by Bartsch.
Beam shoots in and drives through. Bartsch sprawls well.
Bartsch fails with the takedown

and Beam counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bartsch trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Bartsch looking for a guillotine here but Beam defends easily.
Bartsch is breathing heavily.
Beam slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bartsch keeping full guard, as Beam tries to pass.

Bartsch had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Beam is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Bartsch Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Beam's back instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bartsch avoiding Beam 's attempts to control his hands.
Bartsch doesn't have the hooks in and Beam manages to turn into his guard.
Beam sitting in guard here, content to control.
Beam passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Beam moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Despite being in the dominant position, James Beam just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bartsch fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartsch fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Bartsch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A choreographed right hand from Bartsch misses the target.
Bartsch tries for a takedown but Beam circles away easily

and Beam counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bartsch's guard now.
Beam preventing the sweep.
Bartsch lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Beam!
Bartsch wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Bartsch lands a big shot there that rocks Beam but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bartsch controlling the pace for now.
Bartsch scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Beam dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Beam closes the distance but Bartsch moves to the side

and Bartsch holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Beam wants a takedown.

Bartsch pulls guard.
Bartsch looking for a sweep. Not yet Bartsch, not yet.

Bartsch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Beam can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bartsch can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Beam controls the pace.
Beam trying to control the position from guard on top but Bartsch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bartsch wants to stand and escape but Beam is having none of it.
Beam slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Beam avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beam trying to control the position from guard on top but Bartsch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bartsch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Beam doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Beam manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Beam content to stall in guard here.
Bartsch trying to keep a closed guard but Beam is proving a slippery customer.
Beam is stalling in the full guard.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, James Beam just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bartsch shoots and misses

and Beam counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bartsch!
Bartsch is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Beam wants to control the pace but Bartsch is squirming around nicely.
Bartsch is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bartsch prevents Beam from taking his back.
Bartsch wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartsch trying to control but not successfully.
Beam doesn't have the hooks in and Bartsch manages to turn into his guard.

Beam had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Bartsch is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Beam Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Bartsch's back instead.
Beam is not going to allow Bartsch to sit and survive in this position.
Beam tries to get the hooks in deep but Bartsch pushed the leg off.
Bartsch turns into Beam and is now in his guard.
Beam working a defensive guard but Bartsch passes into half guard.
Beam slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Beam has Bartsch pulled in close to control his posture.

Beam is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Beam is pulling down on Bartsch's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beam wants to sweep but no luck.
Beam lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bartsch!
Bartsch tries to reverse the position but Beam maintains control.
Beam takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Beam biding his time, controlling Bartsch.
Beam controlling well, preventing Bartsch from escaping the position.
Beam controlling the position well here. Bartsch rolled but Beam kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Beam's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Beam showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Beam moves into range and clinches up with Bartsch.

Beam manages to pull guard.
Beam managing to control the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, James Beam just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Beam misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Andy Bartsch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Beam circles away from the clinch attempt

and Beam moves into the clinch.

Beam has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Bartsch is trying to keep an underhook but Beam manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Bartsch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Beam seems to be looking for submissions.
Bartsch misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bartsch wants to get back to full guard.
James Beam has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartsch wants to get back to his feet.
Still in half guard, Beam seems content to control.
Bartsch wants to get back to full guard.
Bartsch is working hard here to advance position.

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

Bartsch feints and as Beam raises his hands in defense, Bartsch changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Beam keeping full guard, as Bartsch tries to pass.
Beam manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Beam sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bartsch wants to control but Beam is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beam controlling from mount.
Bartsch slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Beam prevents Bartsch from improving his position.
Beam takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Let's hope that Beam has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Despite being in the dominant position, James Beam just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Beam moves into the clinch.
Beam is pressed up against the cage. Bartsch has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Beam down to the mat. Beam avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bartsch gets a takedown into half guard.
Bartsch looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bartsch wants to stand but Beam has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Beam is looking to control Bartsch's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Beam avoid being mounted?

Bartsch seems to be looking for submissions.
Bartsch is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Beam!
Beam is working to get back to half guard.
Bartsch controlling from the full mount.
Bartsch avoids the attempt from Beam to control.

Bartsch is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Beam has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beam is looking to improve his position but Bartsch isn't that keen on the idea.
Andy Bartsch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bartsch landing strikes from the mount and Beam is in trouble!
Bartsch lands a big shot there that rocks Beam but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
A nice elbow there by Bartsch.
Bartsch prevents Beam from getting the reversal.
Bartsch putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Beam wants to hold on but Bartsch pushes him away.
Beam is working to get back to half guard.
Beam sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Beam keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Beam is controlling Bartsch's trapped leg to prevent Bartsch from advancing to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Beam.
Well Beam has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Beam!