PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mitchell Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joseph is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. The key to victory for Mitchell Joseph has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Joseph
vs
Powers

178 cm
26
210 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Cage Wars Nutrition
Cage Wars Nutrition

Cage Wars Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mitchell Joseph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Powers!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powers shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Joseph defends it nicely.
Joseph is breathing heavily.

Powers shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Powers looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Joseph is not content to let Powers control the position.
Powers is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Powers wants to pass to mount but Joseph is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph is staying active underneath Powers, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Joseph looks like he's trying to stand up.
Powers keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Powers.

Powers is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Joseph's half guard.
Joseph is trying to stand up here but Powers is controlling him well.
Powers wants to control but Joseph is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Max Powers.
Powers changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Joseph tries to avoid it but Powers manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Joseph to the ground. Joseph escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mitchell Joseph has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Powers.
Powers shoots in but no luck this time.
Joseph feints and then cracks Powers's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Powers down.
Joseph misses with a head kick.

Powers bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Joseph struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph sneaks back into half guard.
Powers thows a huge punch but Joseph dodges it nicely.
Powers wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joseph keeps working.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Powers is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Joseph still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Joseph has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

Joseph looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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.
Joseph working away.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Powers is not content to let Joseph control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Joseph stuffs the takedown attempt from Powers. Powers gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joseph goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Powers dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Powers shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Joseph pinned against the cage. Joseph gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mitchell Joseph seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joseph throws a chopping leg kick but Powers manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Powers fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Powers fails to land the takedown.
Mitchell Joseph has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Powers.
Powers blocks a head kick by Joseph.
Powers fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Powers misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Joseph lands a slapping body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joseph lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Powers fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Joseph throws a hook to the side of Powers's head but Powers sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Powers shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Joseph as he avoids it easily.
Joseph thuds his right hand into Powers's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers throws a right hand that Joseph ducks under and follows up with a left that Joseph also avoids with ease.
Nice shot lands for Joseph.
Joseph is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Powers avoids the body shot from Joseph.
Powers shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Joseph throws a leg kick which misses Powers's front leg but catches the back leg as Powers tries to avoid it.

Powers tries to keep at a distance but Joseph has taken the fight into the clinch.
Joseph throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Powerss head.

Joseph breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Joseph keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A right-left combo lands from Joseph.
Joseph misses the shot to the body.
Joseph throws the kick towards the body but Powers avoids it.
Mitchell Joseph is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Powers closes this distance looking for a takedown but Joseph circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph looks to land a combination. Powers sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Powers shoots for a takedown but Joseph saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Joseph connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Powers momentarily.
Powers ducks under a wild hook from Joseph.
Powers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Joseph is fending him off so far but Powers persists. Nope, Joseph circles away and we're back to standing.
Powers looks for a takedown but Joseph sprawls well.
Powers shoots in and drives through. Joseph sprawls well.
Joseph tries to land a leg kick but Powers saw it coming and moves away.
Joseph fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Powers is defended easily by Joseph.

Joseph forces Powers back against the ropes and clinches.

Joseph breaks from the clinch.
Joseph pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Joseph misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph misses with a wild body shot.

Powers drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Powers wants to control but Joseph is keeping him busy.

Powers is trying to get an arm triangle but Joseph is defending well.
Powers trying to control the action but Joseph is working from the bottom.

Powers working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is not content to let Powers control the position.
Joseph gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Well, if Powers is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Powers trying to control the action but Joseph is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Joseph dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Powers avoids a punch combination nicely.
Powers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Joseph is fending him off so far but Powers persists. Nope, Joseph circles away and we're back to standing.

Powers drives through with a takedown into guard.
Joseph avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Powers advances position into side control!
Joseph tries to improve position but can't.
Powers wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joseph keeps working.
Joseph is looking for a sweep.
Joseph is not content to let Powers control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Joseph wants to control but Powers postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Powers fails with the takedown.
A head kick misses from Joseph.
A looping hook to the body misses from Joseph. Powers does a little dance to reset his feet.

Powers is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Joseph's half guard.
Joseph manages to get to full guard.
Joseph keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Joseph kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Powers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joseph swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Joseph has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Powers wants to control from the top but Joseph keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Joseph can't keep his opponent in guard - Powers advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Joseph desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Powers is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's four 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.
Joseph is squirming around, avoiding Powers's attempts to control the action.
Joseph tries to reverse the position but Powers maintains control.
Powers trying to control but Joseph is having none of it.

Powers goes for an armbar but Joseph turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Joseph.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Powers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Joseph is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Powers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Powers has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

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