PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Kingston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Del Phonics (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kingston
vs
Phonics

191 cm
22
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Drago's Choice

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Kingston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Del Phonics!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Damien Edna and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phonics throws a right and a left that Kingston avoids nicely.
Kingston shoots in but Phonics avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kingston tries to close the distance and clinch but Phonics swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kingston fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Phonics gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kingston blocks a body shot from Phonics.
Phonics lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Phonics leaning against his opponent.
Kingston managing to block the knees to the body from Phonics.
Phonics doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kingston fails to pull guard.
Phonics keeps control of Kingston as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Phonics escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kingston throws a sloppy head kick and Phonics moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kingston throws a series of punches but Phonics moves out of range.
Kingston clinches but Phonics breaks the clinch

and Phonics counters by clinching up.
Kingston dodges an elbow strike from Phonics.
Phonics landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Phonics has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kingston is trying to keep an underhook but Phonics manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Phonics seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kingston does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phonics trying to pass the guard but Kingston defending well.
Phonics missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Phonics stalling.
Kingston gets full guard.
Phonics must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kingston trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kingston wants to sweep here but Phonics controlling him for the moment.
Phonics trying to control the position from guard on top but Kingston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kingston controlling the position.
Phonics scoring with punches to the head and body.
Phonics trying to control the position from guard on top but Kingston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phonics landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kingston looking for a guillotine here but Phonics defends easily.
Kingston looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Phonics content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kingston trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Phonics trying to control but Kingston is working from the bottom.
Phonics pushes down on Kingston's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Phonics prevents Kingston from improving his position.
Phonics wants to control but Kingston is keeping him busy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kingston gets full guard.
Phonics with a nice head shot there.

Kingston escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Phonics gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kingston is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kingston is on top in guard.
Phonics wants to control the position but Kingston says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Phonics tries to get to full guard but Kingston has control of the leg.
Kingston is thwarting Phonics's attempts to control the position.
Phonics wants to control the action here but instead Kingston manages to pass to full mount!

Kingston has hold of Phonics's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Phonics manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Phonics sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kingston lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Phonics is controlling Kingston's trapped leg to prevent Kingston from advancing to side control.
Phonics is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phonics blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kingston.
Kingston thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Phonics's head.

Phonics actively working from the bottom here.
Kingston is tying to control. Phonics wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Phonics trying to control from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kingston tries to work over Phonics's front leg with a kick but Phonics checks it.
Kingston tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kingston wants to clinch but Phonics slips to the side
and Phonics counters with a low kick, right behind Kingston 's knee.

Phonics has Kingston up against the cage in a clinch.
Phonics wants a takedown.
Phonics tries to pull guard but Kingston holds him up against the cage and eventually Phonics drops back down to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kingston tries to pull guard but Phonics won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Kingston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phonics missing with knees to the body.
Kingston takes an elbow to the temple.
Phonics missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Del Phonics dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kingston closes the distance and clinches.
Phonics throws a knee to the head but misses.

Phonics breaks from the clinch.
Phonics tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Phonics throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kingston fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kingston will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kingston connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Phonics momentarily.
A big left from Phonics misses.
Phonics dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kingston. That did some damage!

Kingston clinches up against the cage.
Phonics landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Phonics pushes off an throws an elbow but Kingston leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Phonics throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Phonics just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kingston's brow.
Kingston stops a takedown attempt from Phonics.
Kingston has Phonics pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Phonics manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Phonics just leaning against Kingston, taking a breather.
Knees to the body from Phonics.
Knees to the body from Phonics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kingston jumps guard but Phonics stands there with Kingston around his waist. Kingston gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Phonics landing some nice looking knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Phonics throws an elbow but misses.
Kingston wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Phonics wants to stall.
Kingston is looking to break free of the clinch but Phonics has double underhooks.
Phonics misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kingston.
Kingston jumps guard but Phonics stands there with Kingston around his waist. Kingston gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Kingston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kingston tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Phonics just stands there and leans against the cage.
Phonics tries to land knees in the clinch but Kingston avoids the damage to the body.
Kingston tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Phonics smiles and moves away.

Kingston decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Phonics is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kingston's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kingston's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kingston covers up after that shot from Phonics.
Phonics misses with an elbow to the head.
Phonics trying to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kingston is really stuck here.
Phonics is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Phonics gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Phonics gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Phonics apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Phonics checks a low kick from Kingston.
Kingston throws a head kick but Phonics moves out of range.
Kingston misses with a takedown

and Phonics counters by clinching up.
Kingston on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Phonics creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Phonics gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kingston.
Knees to the body from Phonics.
Kingston prevents the takedown attempt.
Phonics taking a breather.
Phonics managing to block the knees to the body from Kingston.
Kingston on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Phonics is pressed up against the cage. Kingston has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Phonics down to the mat. Phonics avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phonics tries to clinch up but Kingston circles away and keeps his distance.
Phonics stuffs the takedown.
Kingston throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kingston throws a right and a left that Phonics avoids nicely.
Good work by Phonics as he checks the leg kick.
Kingston swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Kingston looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kingston winds up and cracks Phonics with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Phonics regains full guard. Nicely done.

Phonics has his foot on Kingston's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kingston works his way back into a safe position though.
Kingston throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Phonics works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Phonics had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Kingston is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Phonics Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Kingston's back instead.
Phonics is landing with strikes from the back.

Kingston is rocked!
Phonics is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Oh Kingston is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Phonics is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Kingston has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Phonics misses with an elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phonics is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Kingston is defending well though. Phonics let's go of the attempt for now.
Kingston seems to have got his legs back now.
Phonics doesn't have the hooks in and Kingston manages to turn into his guard.
Phonics can't keep his opponent in guard - Kingston advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kingston has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kingston looking to control but Phonics is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kingston breaks from Phonics's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kingston fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee warns Phonics that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kingston landing strikes, looking to finish!

Phonics is rocked!
Kingston prevents Phonics from getting the reversal.
Phonics is still in real trouble! Can Kingston finish him?
Phonics wants to hold on but Kingston pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ben Kingston will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Phonics throws a knee to the head but misses.
Phonics gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Phonics seems to have recovered his senses.
Phonics has Kingston pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kingston manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Phonics tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kingston can't break the clinch.
Phonics unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kingston lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kingston is trying to break free.
Phonics stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kingston fails to pull guard.
Phonics tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kingston just stands there and leans against the cage.
Phonics tries to land knees in the clinch but Kingston avoids the damage to the body.
Phonics misses with an elbow strike.
Kingston misses with a punch on the inside.
Kingston fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Phonics tries to land knees in the clinch but Kingston avoids the damage to the body.
Phonics tries to land knees in the clinch but Kingston avoids the damage to the body.
Phonics misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kingston.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Phonics lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kingston tries to pull guard but Phonics won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Kingston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phonics is trying to maintain a safe position but Kingston gets an underhook and turns Phonics into the cage.
Phonics digs a right hand into Kingston's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kingston's gas tank.
Kingston tries to pull guard but Phonics won't allow it.
Kingston blocks an uppercut.

Phonics breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kingston with a lazy takedown attempt
and Phonics counters with a head kick. That will keep Kingston thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Phonics fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kingston jabs Phonics right on the nose. Phonics blinks but takes it well.
Kingston fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Phonics throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Phonics moves out of range of the leg kick from Kingston.
Kingston misses with a takedown

and Phonics holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Phonics unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kingston lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
With the fighters up against the cage, Phonics throws an elbow but misses.
Phonics missing with knees to the body.
Kingston has had enough of the clinch but Phonics keeps him there for the moment.

Kingston breaks from the clinch.
Phonics throws a sloppy head kick and Kingston moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kingston with a lazy takedown attempt

and Phonics counters by moving into the clinch.
Kingston wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Phonics has him pressed against the cage.

Kingston jumps guard and drags Phonics to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kingston is on top in guard.
Kingston passes into half guard.
Phonics tries to roll over but Kingston keeps him under control.
Kingston uses his free foot to push down on Phonics's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Phonics.
Phonics is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kingston wants to control the pace but Phonics is squirming around nicely.
Phonics is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kingston unloading with bombs!

Kingston jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Phonics is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Phonics and Kingston has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Kingston tries to move into full mount but can't pass Phonics's legs.
Phonics manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Phonics is pressing down on Kingston's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Phonics looking for a guillotine here but Kingston defends easily.
Phonics is trying to keep Kingston in close.
Kingston won't allow Phonics to sweep him here.
Phonics manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Phonics in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kingston is bucking up trying to escape but Phonics cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Phonics lands a big elbow - Kingston is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Kingston is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Del Phonics!