PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phil The Phantom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Iverson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The Phantom comes to the cage accompanied by Super Freak. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!John Iverson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Phil The Phantom's chin.

The Phantom
vs
Iverson

160 cm
20
179 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

165 cm
23
173 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Syndicate Drugs
Koffin Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phil The Phantom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Iverson!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Dean Styles and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Phantom looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Iverson is fending him off so far but The Phantom persists. Nope, Iverson circles away and we're back to standing.
The Phantom misses with a hook. Iverson ducked under it nicely.
Iverson misses the jab.

The Phantom gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Iverson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Iverson throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
The Phantom wants to control but Iverson is keeping him busy.
The Phantom is putting a hurting on Iverson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Iverson struggling a bit here.
Iverson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Iverson wants to control but The Phantom postures up.
The Phantom lands a nice forearm strike.
Iverson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Phantom throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The Phantom in side control lands a decent elbow.
Iverson can't do much from the bottom here.
Iverson taking a bit of punishment here - The Phantom scoring with strikes.
Iverson can't do much from the bottom here.
The Phantom lands a few punches from side control.
Iverson is trying to control The Phantom's posture but The Phantom avoids it.
Iverson throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Iverson is looking to regain half guard here but The Phantom keeps moving and retains side control.
The Phantom cracks Iverson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Phantom is working Iverson over with some ground and pound from side control.
Iverson is looking for a sweep.
The Phantom lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Iverson regains half guard, as The Phantom was trying to land strikes.
Iverson is controlling The Phantom's trapped leg to prevent The Phantom from advancing to side control.
Iverson trying to control here.
The Phantom working Iverson over with strikes.
The Phantom not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The Phantom drops an elbow to the side of Iverson's head.
The Phantom missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Iverson looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iverson wants to get back to full guard.
The Phantom looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The Phantom winds up and cracks Iverson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Iverson actively working from the bottom here.
Iverson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Iverson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Iverson stuffs the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Iverson. No joy for The Phantom on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil The Phantom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Iverson as The Phantom shoots in.
Iverson thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nice defenses there by The Phantom.

The Phantom closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The Phantom looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Iverson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The Phantom blocks the strikes from Iverson.
Iverson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Iverson.
The Phantom trying to control but Iverson is working from the bottom.
Iverson trying to strike off his back.
The Phantom postures up.
The Phantom postures up in Iverson's guard and throws a big left but Iverson blocks it.
Iverson trying to control the position.
Iverson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for The Phantom!

The Phantom defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Iverson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil The Phantom dominated that round.
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.

The Phantom drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Iverson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Iverson can't do much from the bottom here.
Iverson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but The Phantom wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Iverson can't do much from the bottom here.
Check out the look on The Phantom's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The strikes coming from The Phantom are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The Phantom is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Iverson's shoulder. That is not cool.
The Phantom landing strikes.
The Phantom trying to control the action but Iverson is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Phantom creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The Phantom lands a decent elbow from side control.
The Phantom lands a decent elbow from side control.
Iverson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on The Phantom's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Iverson is pressing down on The Phantom's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Iverson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells The Phantom's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Iverson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The Phantom is working Iverson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Iverson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and The Phantom defends well.
Iverson is breathing heavily.
The Phantom throwing strikes from guard but Iverson blocks nicely.
Iverson is trying to hold The Phantom in close to prevent damage but The Phantom has managed to pass into half guard.
Iverson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but The Phantom scores with a couple of nice shots.
The Phantom landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Iverson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but The Phantom scores with a couple of nice shots.
The Phantom working over Iverson with some ground and pound. Iverson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The Phantom throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The Phantom wants to lay and pray for a moment but Iverson keeps working.
The Phantom is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Iverson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Phantom working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Iverson blocking the ground and pound attempt from The Phantom.
Iverson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but The Phantom scores with a couple of nice shots.
The Phantom scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The Phantom trying to control the action but Iverson is working from the bottom.

Iverson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The Phantom landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The Phantom thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Iverson's head.
Iverson has hold of The Phantom's hands but The Phantom slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Iverson is looking to control The Phantom's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Iverson avoid being mounted?
Iverson missing with punches from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Iverson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but The Phantom pulls his head out easily.

Iverson looking for submissions off his back.
The Phantom sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The Phantom is looking to take a break and control but Iverson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The Phantom not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Iverson wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil The Phantom dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Iverson with a lazy takedown attempt

and The Phantom counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Iverson's guard now.
The Phantom trying to control but Iverson is working from the bottom.
The Phantom lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Iverson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but The Phantom can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Iverson working a defensive guard here.

Iverson looking for a guillotine here but The Phantom defends easily.
The Phantom trying to control the position from guard on top but Iverson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Iverson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iverson tries to strike from the bottom.
The Phantom throwing strikes from guard but Iverson blocks nicely.
Iverson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

The Phantom feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Iverson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The Phantom postures up in Iverson's guard and throws a big left but Iverson blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as The Phantom accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Iverson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The Phantom trying to control but Iverson is working from the bottom.
Iverson is trying to keep The Phantom in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iverson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Iverson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

The Phantom closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Iverson is trying to maintain the position but The Phantom is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. The Phantom lands a nice short elbow.
Iverson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Iverson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The Phantom postures up in Iverson's guard and throws a big left but Iverson blocks it.
The Phantom has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Iverson trying to control the position.
The Phantom cracks Iverson with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Iverson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The Phantom wants to control from the top but Iverson keeps moving.
The Phantom scoring with punches to the head and body.
Iverson controls The Phantom momentarily but The Phantom frees himself.
The Phantom trying to control the position from guard on top but Iverson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phil The Phantom overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The Phantom working some strikes from top position.
Iverson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Iverson trying to keep a closed guard but The Phantom is proving a slippery customer.
Iverson keeping moving, preventing The Phantom from controlling successfully.
John Iverson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The Phantom throws a big right hand that misses.

Iverson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The Phantom distracts Iverson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Iverson striking off his back but it's not causing The Phantom any problems.
Iverson looking to hit a scissor sweep but The Phantom is one step ahead there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Iverson throws a shot from downtown. The Phantom moves away and avoids it.
Phil The Phantom is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The Phantom closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Iverson to the mat! Iverson manages to get full guard.
The Phantom trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil The Phantom showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for The Phantom, 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight for Phil The Phantom!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Phil The Phantom!
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Phil The Phantom!

Phil The Phantom wins by unanimous decision!