PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Geoffrey King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). King comes into the arena with King of my Castle by Wamdue Project blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

King
vs
Phillips

179 cm
24
205 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
210 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Nemesis Cage Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Geoffrey King!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Skip Squint and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phillips lands a head kick. King smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
King uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Phillips.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from King.
A clash of legs there as Phillips blocks the low kick.
Phillips fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but King is out of range.
Phillips will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Phillips throws a head kick but King moves out of range.
King fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Phillips is out of range.
King takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Phillips scores with a push kick.
King pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Phillips throws a leg kick but King sees it coming and checks it nicely.
King throws a lazy right hand but Phillips sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Phillips is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Phillips looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before King can pounce on him.
King pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
King slips a jab from Phillips.
King looks to throw a body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Phillips takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Phillips throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
King swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Phillips throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.
Phillips misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from King.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Phillips!
Phillips slips a straight right by King.
Phillips looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? King is fending him off so far but Phillips persists. Nope, King circles away and we're back to standing.
Phillips tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Phillips moves into range and clinches up with King.
Phillips creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
King is looking to break free of the clinch but Phillips has double underhooks.
King throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Phillips trying to stall but King improves his position.
King avoiding damage as Phillips throws knees to the body.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Phillips ducks under a wild hook from King.
Phillips tries a low kick but King avoids it.
King jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
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!
Phillips moves forwards but King connects with a nice, crisp jab.
King misses with a wild body shot.
King checks the leg kick.
King swings away with a body shot that misses
and Phillips counters with a nice leg kick.
King dips to his left and cracks Phillips with an uppercut!
Phillips throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as King throws out the jab.
A swing and a miss from King.
King checks the leg kick.
Phillips shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Phillips has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Phillips there as he acknowledges the shot.
Phillips tries to work over King's front leg with a kick but King checks it.
Phillips fails to land with a series of punches.
Phillips fails with the takedown.
King misses with a hook.
King throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Phillips gets cracked with a nice right hand there by King.
A jab from King misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King misses with a body shot.
Phillips throws a head kick that misses.
King tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
King tries to land a body kick
and Phillips counters with a body kick.
King is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Phillips.
King with a jab.
A low kick from King is predictable there
and Phillips counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
A big right from King misses.
King moves out of range as Phillips throws a body kick.
King connects with a looping right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big left from King misses.
Phillips throws a head kick that misses.
Phillips throws a head kick that half lands.
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 Geoffrey King will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Phillips moves out of range of the body kick from King.
King throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Phillips makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Phillips tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but King was well out of range. Poor timing from Phillips.
King misses with a two punch combination.
An inside leg kick lands from Phillips.
Phillips pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Phillips plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
King with a body punch. A glancing blow.
King looks to land a body kick but Phillips moved away.
Geoffrey King is winning the standup battle so far.
King looks to throw a body kick
and Phillips counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
King looks to throw the jab but Phillips is out of range.
Phillips slips under a jab.
King throws a wild body kick that Phillips sees coming a mile off.
King misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phillips lands with a slapping head kick.
Thomas Phillips is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phillips throws a body kick the misses
letting King counter with a right hand.
King throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Phillips ducks under a wild hook from King.
King avoids a kick to the body.
King scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Phillips keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from King.
King chopping away at his opponent's legs.
King throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Phillips sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Phillips throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Phillips pushes King up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short body shot lands from King as the two fighters clinch.
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!
Phillips keeps control of King as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
King can't break the clinch.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by King as Phillips tries to tie him up.
Phillips lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Phillips taking a breather.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Phillips tries a head kick but it misses.
King throws a leg kick but Phillips sees it coming and moves out of range.
King tries to land a body kick
and Phillips counters with a leg kick.
King misses with a combination
and Phillips counters with a two punch combo.
King blocks a low kick nicely.
Phillips on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips dodges the punch combination from King.
King throws a body kick the misses
and Phillips counters with an inside leg kick.
Geoffrey King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phillips misses with a body shot.
King looks to throw a body kick

and Phillips counters by moving into the clinch.

King breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Phillips throws a half hearted mid kick.
Phillips throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Phillips throws a head kick that misses
and King counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Phillips is breathing heavily.
King throws a leg kick that is checked

and Phillips counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Phillips.
King working hard to break the clinch.
Phillips looks to throw an elbow but misses.
King scores with a hook to the body.
King avoiding damage as Phillips throws knees to the body.
Phillips keeps control of King as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
King lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

King breaks from the clinch.
Phillips moves away from the strike by King.
King takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
King throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Phillips throws a body punch but King moves out of range.
Phillips throws a push kick but King slaps the foot to one side.
Good standup being displayed there by King as he connects with a hook.
Phillips lands a high kick!
Phillips looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice inside leg kick there by Phillips. That's going to slow King down.
King takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
King throws a low kick but Phillips avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geoffrey King dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

King misses with a leg kick
and Phillips counters with a slapping leg kick.
Phillips jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Phillips throws a jab when King was well out of range.
King takes a swing at Phillips's ribcage but misses.
Phillips slips under a jab.
King throws the kick towards the body but Phillips avoids it.
King displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Phillips throws out the jab.
King throws a leg kick
and Phillips counters with a head kick.
King throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King throws a wild body kick that Phillips sees coming a mile off.
Phillips feints and then cracks King's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow King down.
King takes a swing at Phillips's ribcage but misses.
Phillips scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
King misses the body punch
and Phillips counters with a left and a right that stings King.
Danga de danga de dang - Phillips scores with a four punch combination!
A lazy body kick from King
and Phillips counters with a solid body kick.
Phillips throws a head kick that misses.
King throws a hook but Phillips avoids it easily.
Phillips swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and King counters with a left to the body.
Phillips is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
King throws a looping overhand right but Phillips ducks down to avoid it.
A nice combination there by King.
King throws a jab when Phillips was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Phillips.
King will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
King scoring well with a low kick there.
Phillips throws a head kick but King moves out of range.
Phillips throws a quick head kick that skims the top of King's head.
King blocks a head kick by Phillips.
Phillips throws a head kick that misses.
Phillips checks a leg kick nicely.
King comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Phillips takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phillips takes one to the side of the head.
King throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Phillips counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Phillips tries a head kick but it misses.
King ducks right into an uppercut from Phillips.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips throws a jab when King was well out of range.
Phillips walks into a stiff left hand from King.

Phillips is rocked!
King misses with a jab, cross combination.
Phillips ducks under a wild hook from King.
Phillips lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
King lands with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - King throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
King lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Phillips at a distance.
Decent striking displayed by King there.
Phillips moves out of range of the body kick.
King throws the left hand but Phillips avoids the punch easily.
King misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King scores with a jab to the jaw.
King misses with a body shot.
King misses with a straight left.
Phillips fakes a jab and throws a low kick but King checks it well.
Phillips throws a series of punches but King moves out of range.
King misses with a looping right.
King lands a slapping body shot.
Phillips stalks King and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into King's face. King staggers backwards, shaken.
King just misses with a punch to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Phillips has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by King.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Phillips walks into a jab.
King checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geoffrey King clearly takes that round.
That's time! King's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

King throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Phillips moves out of range as King throws a body kick.
Phillips uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from King.
King tries to land a body kick
and Phillips counters with a low kick, right behind King 's knee.
King jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Phillips moves away from the strike by King.
King lands a jab to the nose.
King missing with a left hand there. Phillips was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
King bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Phillips's head backwards.
Phillips blocks a jab.
Phillips tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King throws a leg kick that is checked

and Phillips counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Phillips.
King effectively controlling the action here.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
King throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Phillips staying out of range there.
A cross from King lands.
King throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
King lands a nice leg kick that just misses Phillips's sensitive parts.
Phillips is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
King throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
King connects with a good right hand that stumbles Phillips. Phillips circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Phillips is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips misses with a leg kick
and King counters with a right hand to the body.
King misses with a body kick.
King misses with a body shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for King.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
King connects with a single shot there.
Phillips slips under a jab.
Phillips checks a leg kick.
Phillips avoids the body shot from King.
A slow jab from King misses its intended target.
Phillips takes a swing at King's ribcage but misses.
King scores with a push kick.
King looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Phillips has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips moves in looking to clinch but King pushes him off.
Phillips throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Phillips is looking to slow King down with leg kicks.
King just misses with a punch to the body.
King lands a lovely overhand right.
Phillips fails in his attempt to clinch.
King tries to land a front kick but Phillips steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
King digs a good hook to Phillips's body.
King will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
King waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Phillips.
King takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.
Phillips takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Phillips throws a head kick but King moves out of range.
King misses with a kick to the body
and Phillips counters with a nice kick to the body.
Phillips doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
King throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Phillips counters with a nice body kick.
King scores with a hook to the body. Phillips takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
King throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Phillips moves out of range of the strikes.
Phillips plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geoffrey King had his way with Thomas Phillips in that round.
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!

King throws a right and a left that Phillips avoids nicely.
Phillips moves out of range of the body kick from King.
Phillips moves out of range as King strikes.
King swings and misses with a hook to the body.
King misses with a straight right.
Phillips thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on King if he has to take too many more of those.
King throws out a loose jab but Phillips uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phillips wants to clinch but King slips to the side
and King counters with a straight right hand.
King is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King avoids the head kick by Phillips.
Phillips throws a leg kick which misses King's front leg but catches the back leg as King tries to avoid it.
Phillips keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
King takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King misses with a body kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Phillips darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Phillips explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Phillips pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Phillips takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Phillips misses with a kick to the body
and King connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Phillips takes one to the side of the head.
Phillips tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Phillips is looking to score with low kicks.
Phillips throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
King misses the jab.
King takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Geoffrey King is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips blocks the body kick.
King swings away with a leg kick that misses.
King throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Phillips counters with a low kick, right behind King 's knee.
King misses with an attempted mid kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Phillips.
King looks to score with a jab to the body but Phillips is just out of range.
Phillips throws a wild body kick that King sees coming a mile off.
King misses with an uppercut.
King takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Nice defenses there by Phillips.
Phillips looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King gets off balance looking for a body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Phillips thows a leg kick but King checks it
and King counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
King avoids the head kick by Phillips.
King keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phillips misses the shot to the body.
Phillips scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Jab by King.
King catches Phillips with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
King looks to land a combination but Phillips avoids it well.
King misses with a wild body shot.
King fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch lands to the side of Phillips 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
King throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thomas Phillips has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Phillips tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
King blocks a head kick by Phillips.
Phillips throws a body punch but King moves out of range.
King misses with a body kick.
King misses with a body shot.
Phillips moves out of range as King throws a body kick.
Crunch! King slams his shin into Phillips's torso.
King swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Phillips finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
King ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Phillips moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Phillips comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well King has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 49:46
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 49:46
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Geoffrey King!
Geoffrey King retains his light heavyweight title!