PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darren Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sebastian Stelter (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.

Phillips
vs
Stelter

180 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Darren Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sebastian Stelter!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stelter gets a clinch.
Nice elbow from Stelter.

It looks like Darren Phillips has been cut.

Stelter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stelter blocks a head kick by Phillips.
Stelter takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Stelter goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Stelter wants to clinch up but Phillips keeps it at a distance.
Phillips misses with a head kick.

Stelter has closed the distance and engaged Phillips in a clinch.
Stelter tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Phillips just stands there and leans against the cage.

Stelter ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stelter no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Phillips throwing strikes from guard but Stelter blocks nicely.
Stelter has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Stelter avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stelter has his hands on Phillips's head, controlling the position.
Phillips in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Phillips postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Stelter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Phillips accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Phillips postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Phillips loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stelter bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Phillips's guard.

Stelter decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Phillips, up you get!
Darren Phillips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stelter gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Phillips to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips wants to control from the top but Stelter keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Phillips accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stelter preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stelter keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phillips won't allow Stelter to sweep him here.
Stelter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stelter keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.
Phillips won't allow Stelter to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Phillips swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Stelter avoids a punch combination nicely.

Stelter darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Phillips gets full guard.
Phillips is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stelter is controlling him.
Phillips is trying to control the position but Stelter postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips wants to sweep but no luck.
Stelter wants to stand and escape but instead Phillips has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Stelter looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stelter looks gassed!
Phillips looking to pass the guard.
Stelter avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Phillips throwing strikes but missing.
Phillips trying to control the position from guard on top but Stelter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastian Stelter dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Darren Phillips's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Phillips pushes Stelter up against the cage in a clinch.
Stelter stops a takedown attempt from Phillips.
Stelter drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Phillips gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stalling in the clinch from Stelter.
Stelter tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Phillips tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stelter tries for a takedown but Phillips manages to get underhooks.
Darren Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastian Stelter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips has Stelter pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stelter manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Stelter drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Phillips gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Stelter is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stelter fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Stelter throws a sloppy head kick and Phillips moves out of range easily.
Phillips has his takedown stuffed

so Stelter counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Phillips wants to sweep but no luck.
Stelter trying to control the position from guard on top but Phillips is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stelter 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.
Stelter wants to pass the guard but Phillips is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stelter wants to control from the top but Phillips keeps moving.
Stelter might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Phillips kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Phillips bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stelter's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stelter keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.
Stelter is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Stelter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Phillips defends well.
Stelter keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.
Phillips thows a big elbow that misses.
Phillips stopping the sweep attempt from Stelter.

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.
Phillips advances position into side control!
Phillips is chipping away with strikes.
Stelter struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stelter is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Stelter wants to control but Phillips postures up.
Stelter tries to bench press Phillips off him but Phillips keeps the position.

Phillips stands up and beckons Stelter to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sebastian Stelter will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Darren Phillips's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Phillips closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Phillips trying to control the action but Stelter is working from the bottom.
Stelter is trying to stand.
Phillips is trying to control. Stelter wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stelter slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stelter keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.
Phillips showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips passes Stelter's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Stelter trying to control from the bottom.
Stelter is looking to improve his position.
Stelter is trying is best to control the position here.
Phillips tries to stand and escape but Stelter is controlling the position.
Stelter is refusing to be controlled, as Phillips sits in half guard.
Stelter is trying to maintain the position but Phillips is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Phillips not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Phillips wants to control but Stelter is keeping him busy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Phillips takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Stelter stuffs the takedown.

Stelter feints and as Phillips raises his hands in defense, Stelter changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Phillips 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.
Stelter trying to control but Phillips is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stelter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phillips is keeping the position for now.
Phillips looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Stelter trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Phillips manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Phillips makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

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.

Phillips gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Phillips shoots and misses
and Stelter counters with a low kick, right behind Phillips 's knee.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Stelter.

Stelter darts in and clinches Phillips up against the cage.

Stelter has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Phillips uses from the top position.
Phillips won't allow Stelter to sweep him here.
Darren Phillips has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stelter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Phillips passes into half guard.
Phillips drops an elbow to the side of Stelter's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sebastian Stelter.
Well Stelter has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sebastian Stelter!