PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Dark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stuart Bridgeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dark
vs
Bridgeman

180 cm
19
186 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

193 cm
23
189 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan Dark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Stuart Bridgeman!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dark showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bridgeman.
Dark swats away the attempt to clinch by Bridgeman.
Bridgeman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dark was well out of range. Poor timing from Bridgeman.
Dark gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bridgeman.
Dark slips a jab and a cross from Bridgeman.
Bridgeman looks to land a left hand but Dark moved out of range nicely.
Bridgeman swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dark bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dark avoids the head kick by Bridgeman.
Bridgeman tries to clinch but Dark is having none of it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Bridgeman.

Dark closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Dark decides to stand and escape the position.
Bridgeman throws a shot from downtown. Dark moves away and avoids it.

Dark looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Dark postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bridgeman is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dark, into his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bridgeman gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Bridgeman connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Dark blocks a low kick nicely.
Dark checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Bridgeman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bridgeman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bridgeman wants to clinch.
Dark takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bridgeman wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Bridgeman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Bridgeman.
Bridgeman goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Dark slips a jab and a cross from Bridgeman.
Dark moves out of range of the strikes.

Dark throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bridgeman was covering up waiting for the punch and Dark finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bridgeman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dark.
Dark wants to control from the top but Bridgeman keeps moving.
Bridgeman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dark stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Dark scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Dark stands up and beckons Bridgeman to his feet.
Bridgeman looks to land a combination but Dark avoids it well.
Bridgeman misses with a hook. Dark ducked under it nicely.
Dark avoids the head kick by Bridgeman.
Dark bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dark checks a low kick from Bridgeman.
Bridgeman wants to clinch up but Dark keeps it at a distance.
Bridgeman tries to clinch but Dark is having none of it.
Bridgeman is looking to clinch.

Dark changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bridgeman looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Dark decides to stand back up. Dark steps back and let's Bridgeman get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridgeman misses with a kick to the body.

Dark closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Dark knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bridgeman on the ground.
Dark not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bridgeman pushes Dark off looking to stand but Dark dives back in and keeps control.

Dark escapes and gets back to his feet.
Dark uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bridgeman.
Bridgeman lands with a slapping head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bridgeman wants to clinch.
Bridgeman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dark scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bridgeman is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Dark has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Dark dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dark shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Dark throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nathan Dark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bridgeman is trying to stand back up but Dark is controlling him

Bridgeman has one foot on Dark's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nice straight punches there by Bridgeman. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Bridgeman.
Nathan Dark is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bridgeman throws a right and a left that Dark avoids nicely.
Bridgeman throws a right and a left that Dark avoids nicely.
A bone on bone clash there as Dark blocks the leg kick.
Bridgeman tries to clinch there but Dark circles away.
Bridgeman tries to clinch but Dark is having none of it.
Bridgeman misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dark avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No joy there for Bridgeman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bridgeman tries to clinch up but Dark circles away and keeps his distance.
Bridgeman throws a nice looking combination but Dark bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bridgeman is breathing heavily.

Dark moves into range and clinches up with Bridgeman.
Dark drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bridgeman pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bridgeman cracks Dark with an open hand slap.
Dark ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bridgeman misses with a straight right.

Dark drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Dark stands up.
Bridgeman throws a series of punches but Dark moves out of range.
Stuart Bridgeman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridgeman throws a right and a left that Dark avoids nicely.
Bridgeman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dark circles away quickly and effectively.

Dark closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bridgeman did well to prevent Dark getting side control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dark connects with a nice short shot to Bridgeman's temple.
Dark works his way into full mount!
Dark with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Dark postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Bridgeman looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dark looking to control but Bridgeman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bridgeman is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Dark with the ground and pound from mount.
Dark content just to control the position here.
You get the feeling that Bridgeman really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dark throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Dark goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Bridgeman turns into him and now he's in Dark's guard.

Bridgeman stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Bridgeman misses with a wild combination.
A shot to the body from Bridgeman misses

and Dark counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bridgeman!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bridgeman's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Dark controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Dark dominated that second round.
That's time! Dark's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice shot lands for Bridgeman.
Bridgeman misses with a double jab

and Dark counters with a single leg into guard. Bridgeman didn't expect that.
Bridgeman wants to stand up but Dark is controlling him.
Dark trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bridgeman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dark is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bridgeman is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Bridgeman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dark drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dark is working for takedown but Bridgeman is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dark is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bridgeman gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Dark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bridgeman is looking to break free of the clinch but Dark has double underhooks.
Dark drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bridgeman pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bridgeman looks to throw the jab but Dark is out of range.
Bridgeman throws a lazy head kick
and Dark makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridgeman misses with a double jab

and Dark counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dark.

Dark gets to his feet. Bridgeman looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Bridgeman lands a head shot.
Bridgeman lands a with a good body shot.
Good exchange - Bridgeman coming out on top.
Bridgeman closes the distance looking to clinch

and Dark counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dark.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dark won't allow Bridgeman to get back to his feet.

Bridgeman kicks Dark off and gets to his feet.
Bridgeman misses the jab.

Dark throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bridgeman was covering up waiting for the punch and Dark finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridgeman wants to stand but Dark is controlling the position.
Dark postures up in Bridgeman's guard and throws a big left but Bridgeman blocks it.
Stuart Bridgeman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dark looking to pass the guard.

That's four 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.
Bridgeman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dark.
Dark tries to free his leg and advance position but Bridgeman is retaining full guard.
Nathan Dark is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Bridgeman wriggles free and stands up.
Bridgeman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bridgeman tries to clinch up

and Dark counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Bridgeman working for a triangle but Dark defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathan Dark showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dark, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Dark!