PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris Reaper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Head (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.

Reaper
vs
Head

173 cm
22
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Chris Reaper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, TJ Head!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Head tries to clinch up but Reaper circles away and keeps his distance.
Reaper throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Head is defended easily by Reaper.
Head doesn't manage to clinch there - Reaper circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Head scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Chris Reaper has been cut.

Reaper drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Head wants to get back to his feet but Reaper drags him back down.
Head is trying to escape the position but Reaper is controlling the position.
Head is trying to control Reaper's posture but Reaper avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head trying to remain calm as Reaper controls from the top position.
Head is not content to let Reaper control the position.
Head tries to escape but Reaper is in control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Head is looking to clinch but Reaper is avoiding it.
Head moves in looking to clinch but Reaper pushes him off.
Head tries to clinch but Reaper moves out of range.
Head fails with an attempt to clinch.
Head throws a one two combo.
Reaper is breathing heavily.
Reaper throws an overhand right that lands on Head's shoulder, as Head tries to avoid the shot.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reaper throwing shots but Head is blocking nicely.
Reaper prevents Head from improving his position.
Reaper trying to control from Head's half guard. Head has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Reaper trying to control but Head is working from the bottom.

Head uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Head tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Reaper paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Head wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Head tries to close the distance and clinch up but Reaper swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Head tries to clinch up but Reaper circles away and keeps his distance.
Head doesn't manage to clinch there - Reaper circles away.
Head wants to clinch.
Head is looking to clinch.
Head avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Head misses with a takedown

and Reaper counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Head wants to get back to his feet.
Reaper is trying to control. Head wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Reaper prevents Head from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Head has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Reaper is working away from the top position though.
Head wants to get back to full guard.
Reaper trying to control the action but Head is working from the bottom.

Head actively working from the bottom here.
Head is trying to stand up here but Reaper is controlling him well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Reaper circles away from the clinch attempt

and Reaper counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but TJ Head will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Chris Reaper's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Head shoots and misses

and Reaper counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Head's guard now.
Head throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Head is wriggling around but Reaper manages to pass to half guard.
Reaper not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Head is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Head is trying to stand up here but Reaper is controlling him well.
Reaper perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Reaper tries to pass the half guard into mount. Head knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reaper prevents Head from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper is trying to control. Head wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Reaper circles away from the clinch attempt

and Reaper counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Head is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Head wants to stand but Reaper is controlling the position.
Reaper's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Reaper prevents Head from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Head not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Head is wriggling around but Reaper manages to pass to half guard.
Head is looking to get back to is feet but Reaper passes into side control.
Head managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Reaper.
Head is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Reaper's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Head wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reaper wants to control but Head is keeping him busy.
Head is trying to stand.
Head moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Reaper trying to control the position from guard on top but Head is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reaper is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Head is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Head wants to stand and escape but Reaper is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Head is trying to control the position but Reaper postures up.

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

Head forces Reaper back against the cage and clinches.
Head with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Reaper tries a knee to the head but Head blocks it.
Head tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Reaper tries a knee to the head but Head blocks it.
Head throws a knee to the head but misses.
Reaper misses with a knee to the head.
Reaper tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Reaper on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Head tries to land a knee to the head but Reaper blocks with his arms.
Reaper looking to throw knees to the head but Head is blocking nicely.
Reaper tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Reaper throws a knee to the head but misses.
Head throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Reaper blocks it with crossed arms.
Head tries a knee to the head but Reaper blocks it.
Reaper throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Head blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Reaper on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Head jumps guard but Reaper stands there with Head around his waist. Head gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Reaper breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Reaper dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chris Reaper's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Head is looking to clinch but Reaper is avoiding it.
Head wants to clinch

and Reaper decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Head's guard.

Head has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Reaper can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Reaper sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reaper trying to control but Head is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Head keeping moving, preventing Reaper from controlling successfully.
Head looking to hit a scissor sweep but Reaper is one step ahead there.
Head looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Head wants to clinch

and Reaper counters with a shoot takedown. Head fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reaper won't allow Head to get back to his feet.
Head throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Head throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Reaper trying to control the position from guard on top but Head is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Head will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Head holds on and takes a little breather.
Head wants to stand and escape but Reaper is having none of it.
Reaper trying to control but Head is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Head doesn't manage to clinch there - Reaper circles away.
Head fails in his attempt to clinch.
Head tries to clinch up but Reaper circles away and keeps his distance.
Head tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Reaper paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Head is looking to clinch but Reaper is avoiding it.

Reaper shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Reaper showed some decent athleticism there.
Head is trying to stand back up but Reaper is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reaper controlling the pace.
Reaper is just content to waste time from the top position. Head takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Head wants to stand up but Reaper is controlling him.
Reaper trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Reaper showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Reaper has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Reaper!