PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Branham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Branham comes to the cage accompanied by You Can Hate Me Now. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Branham
vs
Knight

200 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Las Vegas, Joshua Branham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Knight!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Branham shoots in and bounces Knight off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Knight keeping moving, preventing Branham from controlling successfully.
Branham really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Knight wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Branham seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Knight wriggles free and stands up.
Branham fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Branham clinches up with Knight and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branham has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Knight is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Knight has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Branham is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Branham looking to stall.
Knight tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Knight avoiding damage as Branham throws knees to the body.

Branham works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Branham is breathing heavily.
Knight is trying to control the position but Branham postures up.
Knight working a defensive guard but Branham passes into half guard.
Knight is controlling Branham's trapped leg to prevent Branham from advancing to side control.
Knight trying to control from the bottom.
Knight wants to get back to full guard.
Branham prevents Knight from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight tries to get to full guard but Branham has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from Knight as Branham shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Branham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Branham rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Knight moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Branham shoots in but no luck this time.

Knight changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Branham looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Branham manages to get back to half guard.
Branham moves into full guard.

Branham wriggles free and stands up.
Knight keeps the fight on the outside.

Branham drives through and clinches with Knight against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Branham turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Branham manages to end up in side control.
Branham lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Knight is trying to improve his position.
Branham trying to control the position but Knight is working away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Branham works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Branham wants to control but Knight is keeping him busy.
Branham staying calm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Branham is looking to take a break and control but Knight is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branham working the head and body with strikes.
Knight is trying to get back to half guard.

Branham stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Branham looks to land a combination but Knight avoids it well.

Knight clinches with his opponent.
Branham fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Knight slows down the pace here.
Branham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Knight pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Branham dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Branham misses with a takedown attempt
and Knight counters with a solid body kick.
Branham moves in looking to clinch but Knight pushes him off.
Joshua Branham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Branham tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Knight counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Branham moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Knight pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Branham is keeping the position for now.
Branham wants to stand but Knight is controlling the position.
Branham trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Branham is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Knight is breathing heavily.
Branham working over Knight with some ground and pound. Knight looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Branham is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Branham is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Branham wants to pass to mount but Knight is defending the position.

Branham stands up out of the half guard.
Branham wants to clinch up but Knight keeps it at a distance.

Branham looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Branham throwing strikes but missing.

Branham stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight lands a nice looking body kick.
Branham throws a sloppy head kick
and Knight counters with a nice kick to the body.
Branham throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Knight looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Branham is fending him off so far but Knight persists. Nope, Branham circles away and we're back to standing.
Branham shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Knight as he avoids it easily.
Knight moves away from the strike by Branham.
Good leg kick by Branham there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Joshua Branham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knight looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Branham.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Branham. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Branham fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knight, pushing him back against the cage.
Knight tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Branham just stands there and leans against the cage.
Knight fails to pull guard.
Branham gets underhooks to prevent Knight's takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Branham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Branham lands a knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Branham.

Branham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good exchange - Knight coming out on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branham throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Branham tries to clinch up but Knight circles away and keeps his distance.
A combination from Branham does no damage.
Branham keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown by Branham or perhaps it was just good defense by Knight which made him look bad.
Branham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Knight 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.
Branham looking to control.
Knight has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Branham is proving hard to escape from.
Branham wants to sweep here but Knight controlling him for the moment.

Branham is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Knight gets to his feet. Branham looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Branham clinches up with Knight and pushes him back against the cage.
Branham lands a nice uppercut.

Branham pulls guard.
Knight looking to pass the guard.
Knight won't allow Branham to get back to his feet.

Branham working for a triangle but Knight defends it easily.
Knight lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Branham dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Knight lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Branham closes the distance but Knight moves to the side

and Knight counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Knight controlling the action here.

Knight is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Branham doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Knight.
Knight content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knight seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Branham does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branham regains full guard. Nicely done.

Branham is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Joshua Branham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Knight stands and steps away. Branham gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Knight shoots in and drives through. Branham sprawls well.
Knight shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Branham as he jumps to the side.
Knight shoots in for a takedown but Branham shows good takedown defense.
Joshua Branham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Knight.
Branham throws a right hand that Knight ducks under and follows up with a left that Knight also avoids with ease.
Knight jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A left lands for Branham.
Branham throws a sloppy head kick and Knight moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branham fails with an attempt to clinch.

Knight drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Knight won't allow Branham to sweep him here.
Knight pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Branham is keeping the position for now.
Knight wants to control from the top but Branham keeps moving.
Branham bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Knight's guard.
Knight has momentary wrist control but Branham slips an elbow through the middle.

Branham decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Knight, up you get!
Knight tries to move into range but Branham moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Knight scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knight wants to control but Branham is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight tries to advance to mount but Branham denies him.
Knight happy to just control the position for now.
Branham is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Knight off and has taken his back!
Knight is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Branham has the hooks in. Knight is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Branham punishes Knight with strikes from the back mount.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Branham. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branham lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Branham scores with strikes from the back.
Branham is not going to allow Knight to sit and survive in this position.
Knight turns into Branham and is now in his guard.
Knight stopping the sweep attempt from Branham.
Knight with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Aaron Knight has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knight lands a couple of decent looking shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Knight comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Branham 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joshua Branham!