PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Delphine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Delphine is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Cowboys From Hell. Danny Delphine is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Paul
vs
Delphine

190 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
19
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 Tokyo, John Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Danny Delphine!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paul tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Paul shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Delphine pinned against the cage. Delphine gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Paul fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Paul misses with a head kick.
Delphine has a takedown stuffed.
Paul looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Delphine looks for a takedown but Paul sprawls well.

Delphine throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Paul was covering up waiting for the punch and Delphine finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Delphine loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delphine wants to control from the top but Paul keeps moving.
Delphine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paul is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Delphine wants to control from the top but Paul keeps moving.
Delphine trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Paul manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Delphine working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Paul doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Paul manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Paul wants to get up but he can't break Delphine's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Delphine working for a triangle but Paul defends it easily.
Paul throws a strike but Delphine rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Delphine chips away with some ground and pound.
Paul might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Delphine stops Paul from standing up.
Delphine trying to control but Paul is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Delphine controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delphine wants to pass the guard but Paul is keeping the position.

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

Delphine feints and as Paul raises his hands in defense, Delphine changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Paul keeping moving, preventing Delphine from controlling successfully.
Paul is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Delphine drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Paul dives on top into guard.
Paul trying to control but Delphine is working from the bottom.
Delphine is trying to control the position but Paul postures up.
Paul won't allow Delphine to sweep him here.
Paul thows a big elbow that misses.
Paul trying to control the position from guard on top but Delphine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Paul misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Delphine dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Paul leaves Delphine with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Delphine tries to clinch but Paul is having none of it.
Paul tries for a takedown but Delphine circles away easily

so Delphine counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Delphine tries to free his leg and advance position but Paul is retaining full guard.
Delphine sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Paul's guard.
Delphine stops Paul from getting back to his feet.
Delphine trying to pass the guard but Paul defending well.
Delphine sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul is staying active underneath Delphine, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Delphine is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

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

Delphine seems to be working for a kimura but Paul defends the submission attempt.
Delphine seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paul does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Delphine throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Delphine trying to control the action but Paul is working from the bottom.
Delphine works his way into side control.
Delphine sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Paul is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delphine creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Delphine is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Paul knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Delphine works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Delphine is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Paul has escaped the position, nice work there.
Paul is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Delphine is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Delphine is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Paul has escaped the position, nice work there.
Paul is not content to let Delphine control the position.

Delphine is trying to get an arm triangle but Paul is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Delphine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Paul's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Delphine moves out of range as Paul throws a body kick.
Delphine showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Paul.
Delphine shoots in but no luck this time.

Delphine gets the takedown into side control.
Paul prevents Delphine from moving into mount.

Delphine tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Delphine throws an elbow but Paul slips to the side and avoids it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Delphine is looking to take a break and control but Paul is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Paul is trying to escape the position but Delphine is controlling the position.

That's two 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.

Delphine is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Paul has escaped the position, nice work there.
Delphine tries to move into full mount but can't pass Paul's legs.
Danny Delphine has got the better of the ground game so far.
Delphine is looking to take a break and control but Paul is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Delphine misses with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Paul throws a sloppy head kick and Delphine moves out of range easily.

Delphine shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Delphine was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Paul wants to control but Delphine is having none of it.

Delphine looking to secure an arm triangle but Paul defends it well.
Delphine is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Paul can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul tries to hold on but Delphine postures up.

Delphine looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Delphine goes for an armbar but Paul turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Paul.
Danny Delphine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paul trying to control the position from guard on top but Delphine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
John Paul has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paul has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Delphine bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Paul's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Delphine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Delphine winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Delphine!