PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steve Dave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and knukcle head (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.

Dave
vs
head

185 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Dave!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, knukcle head!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dave closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
head moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
head is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dave wants to stand and escape but instead head has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
head tries to stand but Dave is controlling from the bottom.
Dave tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dave wants to get back to his feet but head is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dave will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
head trying to control the position from guard on top but Dave is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dave knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for head on the ground.
head tries to free his leg and advance position but Dave is retaining full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
head uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dave.

Dave closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming head to the mat! head manages to get full guard.

head working for a triangle but Dave defends it easily.
head trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
head wants to stand and escape but Dave is having none of it.
Dave sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dave working some strikes from top position.
head throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
head looking for a sweep. Not yet head, not yet.
head throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Dave is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
head has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
head is looking to stand up but Dave isn't so interested in that idea.
head working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dave stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. head swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dave looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Dave is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. head doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dave.
head wants to control but Dave is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dave wants to pass to mount but head is defending the position.
head wants to control but Dave is keeping busy.
head tries to get to full guard but Dave has control of the leg.
Dave is thwarting head's attempts to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dave wants to advance to full mount but head doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dave closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
head is looking to regain half guard here but Dave keeps moving and retains side control.
Dave working away.
head tries to strike but it doesn't land.
head is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Dave's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
head has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dave is working away from the top position though.
Dave prevents head from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dave thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed head's head.
head keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Dave closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dave lands in his opponent's guard.
head not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dave tries to free his leg and advance position but head is retaining full guard.
Dave stopping the sweep attempt from head.
head is breathing heavily.
Dave wanted to stand there but head had control of the position.
Dave has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

head is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dave defends well.
head can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dave controls the pace.
Dave is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dave is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! head is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! head has escaped and now he's on top!
Dave might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
head wants to control from the top but Dave keeps moving.
head advances to half guard.

head is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dave has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. head is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dave scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but head manages to mount him!
Dave wants to hold on but head pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dave is squirming around, avoiding head's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Dave dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

head takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Dave decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
head regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Dave.
head is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Dave stopping the sweep attempt from head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
head is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dave's corner is telling him to maintain position.
head wants to stand but Dave is controlling the position.
head takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dave working some strikes from top position.
head controls Dave momentarily but Dave frees himself.
head wants to stand but Dave is controlling the position.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Dave clinches.
Dave changes levels and goes for a takedown here. head fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Dave gets the takedown into side control.
Dave controls the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Dave.
Dave tries to stand but head is controlling his head.
head struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
head is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Dave's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Steve Dave overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
head trying to control but Dave postures up.
head is trying to stand back up but Dave is controlling him
head wants to control but Dave is keeping busy.
Dave missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
head tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Dave counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dave.

Dave has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics head uses from the top position.
head trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dave 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.
Dave trying to control the position.
head wants to control from the top but Dave keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dave has an active guard here but head has managed to pass into half guard.
knukcle head has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steve Dave is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
head landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Dave showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dave 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Dave!