PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samual Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Powers comes to the cage accompanied by Saved by the Bell. Swanson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Damian Marley-Road to Zion. Samual Powers could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joe Swanson's chin.

Powers
vs
Swanson

179 cm
24
192 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
27
195 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Samual Powers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powers lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Powers fails to land the takedown.
Swanson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Swanson thows a body shot but no joy.
Powers closes the distance and clinches up with Swanson, looking for a takedown. Powers pushes Swanson against the cage but Swanson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Swanson thows a leg kick but Powers checks it
and Powers counters with a nice body kick.
Samual Powers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Powers connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Swanson throws the left hand but Powers avoids the punch easily.
Powers fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Swanson.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Powers is defended easily by Swanson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samual Powers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swanson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Powers shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Swanson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Swanson striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Powers wants to control from the top but Swanson keeps moving.
Swanson striking off his back but it's not causing Powers any problems.
Swanson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Swanson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Powers doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Powers manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powers pushing down on Swanson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Powers not doing much here.
Powers prevents Swanson from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Powers perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Powers is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Swanson is in all sorts of trouble here.

Powers is working for a guillotine from mount but Swanson frees his head quite easily.
Powers looking to control and managing it successfully.
Swanson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Swanson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers wants to take Swanson's back here but Swanson is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Powers controlling his opponent.
Swanson is squirming around, avoiding Powers's attempts to control the action.
Powers is really struggling to control Swanson but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Swanson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Powers looking to control but Swanson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Swanson is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Powers is working for a guillotine from mount but Swanson frees his head quite easily.

Powers is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Swanson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Swanson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Swanson is squirming around, avoiding Powers's attempts to control the action.
Swanson is desperately trying to improve his position but Powers has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samual Powers 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.

Swanson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Powers.
Powers plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Powers looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Powers moves out of range as Swanson throws a body kick.
Powers dives in and grabs Swanson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Swanson pushes down on Powers's head and hops out.
Powers throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

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

Swanson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Powers passes into half guard.
Powers uses his free foot to push down on Swanson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Swanson.
Swanson flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Swanson is squirming around, avoiding Powers's attempts to control the action.
Swanson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Swanson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Swanson is breathing heavily.
Swanson is not content to let Powers control the position.
Swanson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Powers trying to control from half guard but Swanson is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Powers passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Swanson!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powers controlling his opponent.
Powers manages to capitalize on a mistake by Swanson to take his back!
Powers is hanging on to Swanson's back as he tries to escape.
Swanson breaks Powers's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Powers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swanson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Powers is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Powers is working hard here to advance position.
Powers is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Swanson stopping the sweep attempt from Powers.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Swanson slaps away a takedown attempt from Powers, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samual Powers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Swanson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Swanson throwing shots but Powers is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson thows a huge punch but Powers dodges it nicely.
Powers moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Swanson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Powers managing to control the position.
Powers lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Swanson!
Swanson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Samual Powers will probably get the nod.
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!

Swanson misses with a takedown

and Powers counters with a single leg into guard. Swanson didn't expect that.
Powers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Swanson is keeping the position for now.
Powers looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Swanson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Powers doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Powers manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Powers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Swanson is keeping the position for now.
Swanson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Powers thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Swanson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Powers.
Swanson is looking to reverse the position.
Powers blocks the strikes from Swanson.
Powers wants to take a breather but Swanson manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Powers.
Swanson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Joe Swanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Samual Powers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Swanson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Powers scores with a leg kick.
Swanson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Joe Swanson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Powers gets the takedown into side control.
Swanson throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Swanson is trying to escape the position but Powers is controlling the position.
Swanson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers controlling the position from side mount.
Powers trying to control the position but Swanson is working away.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Samual Powers just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Powers throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Swanson's waist but Swanson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Powers off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Powers misses with a takedown attempt

and Swanson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Powers's guard now.
Powers working a defensive guard here.
Powers pulls Swanson in close to prevent any damage.
Swanson is working Powers over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Powers trying to keep a closed guard but Swanson is proving a slippery customer.

Swanson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Powers manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Swanson has Powers in his guard.
Powers wants to control from the top but Swanson keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samual Powers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Powers 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samual Powers!