PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Corleone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vincent Christmas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Christmas has chosen Doomsday Was Written in an Alien Bible as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Corleone
vs
Christmas

181 cm
21
185 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

185 cm
23
176 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Corleone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vincent Christmas!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Corleone connects with a jab.
Christmas scores with a hook.
Christmas scores with a hook to the body. Corleone takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Christmas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Christmas misses with a straight left.
Corleone gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Christmas.
Christmas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Corleone was well out of range. Poor timing from Christmas.
Christmas thows a body shot but no joy.
Christmas misses with a hook. Corleone ducked under it nicely.
Christmas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Christmas misses with a looping left.
Corleone uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Christmas.
Christmas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Christmas takes a swing at Corleone's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corleone tries to score a power double leg takedown but Christmas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Corleone somewhat.
Christmas misses with a wild body shot.
Christmas lands a glancing blow to the side of Corleone's head.
Corleone uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Christmas.
Corleone tries for a takedown but Christmas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Christmas misses its intended target.
Christmas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Corleone counters with a head kick.
Corleone fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Christmas manages to avoid it.
Christmas slips a straight right by Corleone.
Corleone shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Christmas counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Corleone. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Christmas feints and as Corleone raises his hands in defense, Christmas changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Corleone is pulling down on Christmas's head to control his posture.
Christmas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Corleone is keeping the position for now.
Christmas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Christmas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Christmas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Christmas preventing the sweep.
Christmas trying to control but Corleone is working from the bottom.
Christmas is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Christmas looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A swing and a miss from Christmas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christmas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Christmas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Corleone counters with a nice double leg into side control. Christmas won't be happy with that.

Corleone goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Christmas has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Corleone but great work by Christmas.
Corleone is not content to let Christmas control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Corleone is looking for a sweep.
Christmas trying to control the position but Corleone is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christmas landing strikes.

Christmas is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Corleone is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Corleone manages to work his way to half guard, despite Christmas's best efforts.
Corleone is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Christmas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Christmas's back!

Corleone patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Corleone punches the canvas rather than the man.

Corleone is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Corleone will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Christmas with a poor takedown
and Corleone counters with a straight right hand.
Christmas with a poor takedown

and Corleone counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Christmas!
Corleone takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Corleone is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Christmas has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Christmas!
Christmas scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Corleone had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Christmas defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Corleone wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Christmas is now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christmas trying to control the action but Corleone is working from the bottom.

Corleone actively working from the bottom here.
Corleone wants to improve his position but Christmas is controlling well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Corleone stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Corleone wants it to stay on the feet.
Michael Corleone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vincent Christmas.
Horrible takedown by Christmas or perhaps it was just good defense by Corleone which made him look bad.
Corleone tries for a takedown but Christmas circles away easily
and Christmas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two 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.
Corleone avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A good leg kick by Corleone.
Corleone swings for the body but Christmas moves out of range.

Corleone gets caught flat footed, as Christmas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Corleone 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.
Christmas content to stall in guard here.
Christmas trying to control but Corleone is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corleone utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Christmas postures up in Corleone's guard and throws a big left but Corleone blocks it.
Christmas preventing the sweep.
Christmas postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Corleone keeping moving, preventing Christmas from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Corleone lands a body shot.
Corleone defending well as Christmas loads up on a big left hand.
Christmas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Corleone.
Corleone gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Christmas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

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.

Corleone fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Christmas sprawls well initially but Corleone persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Christmas is positioning himself well to prevent Corleone advancing to mount.
Christmas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Christmas has a hand on Corleone's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Corleone takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Corleone trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Corleone dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Corleone fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Christmas checks it well.
Christmas misses with a takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Christmas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Corleone closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Christmas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Corleone counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Corleone is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Corleone is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christmas wants to improve his position but Corleone is controlling well.
Christmas trying to control but Corleone postures up.

Christmas is defending against the submission attempts here by Corleone.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Corleone is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Corleone is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Christmas is trying to control but can't.
Vincent Christmas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Christmas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Corleone uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Christmas.
Christmas scores with a jab to the head.

Corleone is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Christmas's half guard.
Corleone is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Christmas reverses the position - he's now on top in Corleone's guard.
Corleone is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Corleone is on top in guard.

Corleone drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Christmas manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Corleone has Christmas in his guard.
Christmas stays in close to Corleone's body and controls the position.
Christmas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Michael Corleone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Christmas working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Corleone's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Corleone showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Corleone, 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Corleone!