PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jean LeSac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

LeSac
vs
Phoenix

176 cm
22
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jean LeSac!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around LeSac's waist but LeSac gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Phoenix off to one side.
Phoenix shoots in for a takedown but LeSac shows good takedown defense.
Phoenix misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jean LeSac has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Phoenix.

LeSac 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.
LeSac is looking to work some ground and pound but Phoenix has wrist control.
LeSac tries to free his leg and advance position but Phoenix is retaining full guard.
LeSac has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
LeSac not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
LeSac tries to free his leg and advance position but Phoenix is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LeSac wants to control from the top but Phoenix keeps moving.

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

LeSac closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Phoenix to the mat! Phoenix manages to get full guard.
LeSac controlling from the top position.
Phoenix working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix keeping moving, preventing LeSac from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
LeSac is fighting to break Phoenix's control of his arms but Phoenix is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Phoenix keeping moving, preventing LeSac from controlling successfully.
Phoenix controls LeSac momentarily but LeSac frees himself.
LeSac wants to control from the top but Phoenix keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Phoenix fails with the takedown

and LeSac counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by LeSac.
LeSac sitting in guard here, content to control.
LeSac wants to pass the guard but Phoenix is keeping the position.
LeSac would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
LeSac is breathing heavily.
LeSac wants to control from the top but Phoenix keeps moving.

Phoenix throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LeSac controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Phoenix keeping full guard, as LeSac tries to pass.
LeSac looking to sit in guard and control but Phoenix gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Phoenix pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. LeSac is keeping the position for now.
LeSac bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Phoenix's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean LeSac dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

LeSac darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
LeSac keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
LeSac wants to take a breather but Phoenix is having none of it.
LeSac content to control rather than advance.
LeSac trying to pass the guard but Phoenix defending well.
LeSac is looking to stall here but Phoenix recovers full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phoenix is looking for a triangle but LeSac pushes his legs off easily.
LeSac trying to control the position from guard on top but Phoenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jean LeSac just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Phoenix with a poor takedown

so LeSac counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
LeSac showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
LeSac trying to control but Phoenix is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Phoenix is looking for a triangle but LeSac pushes his legs off easily.
LeSac sitting in guard here, content to control.

LeSac postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Phoenix is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of LeSac, into his guard.
LeSac is trying to control the position but Phoenix postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LeSac looking to hit a scissor sweep but Phoenix is one step ahead there.
Phoenix is fighting to break LeSac's control of his arms but LeSac is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
LeSac controls Phoenix momentarily but Phoenix frees himself.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jean LeSac just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Phoenix misses with a takedown attempt

and LeSac counters with a single leg into guard. Phoenix didn't expect that.
LeSac slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Jean LeSac overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Phoenix looking to hit a scissor sweep but LeSac is one step ahead there.
LeSac sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LeSac looking to sit in guard and control but Phoenix gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
LeSac looking to control.
LeSac looking for a sweep. Not yet LeSac, not yet.
LeSac is trying to control the position but Phoenix postures up.
LeSac wants to sweep here but Phoenix controlling him for the moment.

Phoenix thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean LeSac dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Phoenix fails with the takedown

and LeSac counters with a shoot takedown. Phoenix fights it but they end up in guard.
Phoenix not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
LeSac stays in close to Phoenix's body and controls the position.
Phoenix controls LeSac momentarily but LeSac frees himself.
LeSac passes Phoenix's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

LeSac is looking for submissions but instead, Phoenix has regained full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Phoenix pulls LeSac in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LeSac sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Phoenix's guard.
LeSac seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
LeSac is trying to control the action in half guard but Phoenix is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
LeSac has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
LeSac with good strikes from the mount here!
Phoenix wants to control but LeSac is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LeSac trying to control but Phoenix is having none of it.
LeSac content just to control the position here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jean LeSac just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Phoenix misses with a takedown attempt

and LeSac counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
LeSac trying to control the position from guard on top but Phoenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
LeSac stands and throws Phoenix's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Phoenix stops LeSac from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

LeSac stands up and beckons Phoenix to his feet.

LeSac closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
LeSac trying to control the position but Phoenix is working away.
LeSac in side control, throwing shots but Phoenix defends.
Phoenix is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Phoenix is trying to control LeSac's posture but LeSac avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LeSac wants to take a breather but Phoenix manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for LeSac.
LeSac looking to sit in guard and control but Phoenix gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
LeSac tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Paul Phoenix has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Phoenix throws a predictable looking body shot

and LeSac counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
LeSac is trying to control the action in half guard but Phoenix is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean LeSac showed his dominance in that final round.
Well LeSac 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jean LeSac!