PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Bridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabricio Elber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Bridge has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bridge
vs
Elber

175 cm
24
185 lbs
13 - 10 - 1

190 cm
20
195 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, John Bridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fabricio Elber!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Bridge does no damage.
Elber lands a glancing blow to the side of Bridge's head.
Elber thuds a left hand into Bridge's body.
Elber throws a hook but Bridge avoids it easily.
Bridge fails to land the takedown.
Elber circles away from the clinch attempt.
Elber takes a swing at Bridge's ribcage but misses.
Good exchange - Elber coming out on top.
Elber tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bridge was well out of range. Poor timing from Elber.
Bridge ducks under a wild hook from Elber.
Elber looks to land a left hand but Bridge moved out of range nicely.
Elber misses the shot to the body.
Elber ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bridge moves away.
Fabricio Elber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Elber throws a shot from downtown. Bridge moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Elber tries to sprawl but Bridge drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Elber keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bridge stops Elber from getting back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Elber wants to control but Bridge is keeping busy.
Bridge looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bridge 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elber tries to roll over but Bridge keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bridge missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bridge throwing shots but Elber is blocking nicely.
Elber trying to control from the bottom.
Bridge trying to control the action but Elber is working from the bottom.
Bridge performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice defenses there by Bridge.
Elber lands a jab to Bridge's midsection.
Bridge shoots for a takedown but Elber saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bridge slips under a jab.
The fighters circling - Elber throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Elber thuds a left hand into Bridge's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridge scores with a leg kick.
Elber darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Bridge pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bridge tries to land a front kick but Elber steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bridge has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Elber finds it's way round the side to connect with Bridge's head.
Fabricio Elber is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Elber swings for the body but Bridge moves out of range.
Elber changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Elber takes a swing at Bridge's ribcage but misses.
Donk. Elber catches Bridge right on the button with a cross.
Elber throws a lazy right hand but Bridge sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Elber throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Elber takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Bridge moves away from the strike by Elber.
Bridge avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Elber listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Elber is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Bridge ducks under a wild hook from Elber.
Bridge uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Elber.
Bridge takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elber misses with a body shot.
Elber throws a lazy right hand but Bridge sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Elber lands a jab to the nose.
Elber throws a body punch but Bridge moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bridge is defended easily by Elber.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Bridge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bridge takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A swing and a miss from Elber.
Elber scores with a decent looking hook.
Bridge keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Elber does it's job there.
Elber looks to land a left hand but Bridge moved out of range nicely.
Elber lands a slapping body shot.
Elber thows a body shot but no joy.
Elber lands a nice shot to the body.

Bridge darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bridge looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Elber can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridge controlling the pace.
Bridge missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Elber wants to improve his position but Bridge is controlling well.
Still in half guard, Bridge seems content to control.
Elber wants to control but Bridge is keeping busy.

We're going to have a standup here because John Bridge wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Elber lands a nice shot to the body.
Elber throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Elber digs a good body shot into Bridge's ribs.
Bridge slips a jab from Elber.
Elber throws the left hand but Bridge avoids the punch easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that John Bridge will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Elber misses with a looping right.
Bridge throws a right and a left that both miss.
Elber looks to score with a jab to the body but Bridge is just out of range.
The crowd cheers as Elber lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bridge doesn't seem phased though.
Elber throws a good cross that connects.
Elber fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Elber throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bridge drops his hands momentarily and Elber takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Bridge moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Elber avoids the head kick by Bridge.
Elber misses with a wild body shot.
Bridge fails with the takedown.
Elber throws a jab but it's blocked by Bridge.
A jab from Elber finds it's way through Bridge's defenses.
Elber throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bridge keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bridge throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
John Bridge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bridge takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elber throws a body punch but Bridge moves out of range.
Bridge ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Elber throws a jab but it's blocked by Bridge.
Bridge keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bridge tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Elber paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Elber cracks Bridge with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Elber lands a jab to the head.
Elber lunges at Bridge with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Bridge's hand.
Bridge steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Elber.
Elber throws an overhand right that lands on Bridge's shoulder, as Bridge tries to avoid the shot.
Bridge goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Elber wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bridge uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Elber.
Elber cracks Bridge with a right hand to the side of the head.
Elber moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bridge throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Elber fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Elber connects with a single shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elber misses with a wild body shot.
Bridge looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nice sprawl there from Elber as Bridge shoots in.
Bridge on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Jab by Elber.
Bridge swinging wildly here.
Elber cracks Bridge with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Elber lands a nice shot to the body.
Bridge misses with a two punch combination.
Bridge slips under a jab from Elber.
Elber lands a lovely overhand right.
Elber cracks Bridge with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Bridge needs to keep his hands up - Elber had a free shot at his head there.
Elber misses with a body shot.
Bridge throws a wild body kick that Elber sees coming a mile off.
Bridge avoids the body shot from Elber.
Bridge slips a jab from Elber.
Bridge pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Elber connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elber throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bridge connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Elber connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bridge. Bridge circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Elber swings for the body but Bridge moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Elber.
Bridge tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Elber paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Elber lands with a straight right. Bridge didn't see that one coming.
Elber jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Elber misses with an uppercut.
A big right from Elber misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Elber misses the target.
Elber missing with a left hand there. Bridge was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bridge keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Elber takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A decent looking cross lands there for Elber.
Bridge takes one to the chin there.
Bridge throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Elber.
Elber scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridge looks to land a combination but Elber avoids it well.
Elber tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bridge was well out of range. Poor timing from Elber.
Elber lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Elber cracks Bridge with a good jab.
Bridge uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Elber.
Elber swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bridge.
Elber misses with a body shot.
Elber lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Elber lands with a shot to the body.

Bridge shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Elber wants to control but Bridge is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bridge tries to stand and escape but Elber is controlling the position.
Bridge stops Elber from getting back to his feet.

Bridge postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Elber to stand up.
Elber moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Elber showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Elber lands with an overhand left.
Bridge looks to land a combination but Elber avoids it well.
Elber missing with a left hand there. Bridge was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Elber misses with a body shot.
Elber misses the jab.
Elber misses the shot to the body.
Elber changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fabricio Elber seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bridge throws a right and a left that Elber avoids nicely.
Elber dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Elber misses with a looping left.
Elber connects with a body shot.
Elber slaps away a takedown attempt from Bridge, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elber sizes up Bridge with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Elber stuns Bridge with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Bridge throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Elber tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bridge is in Elber's guard.
Bridge trying to control the position from guard on top but Elber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bridge is really struggling to control Elber but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridge content to stall in guard here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Bridge is looking to work some ground and pound but Elber has wrist control.
Elber wants to sweep but no luck.
Elber is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up because John Bridge just wasn't active enough.
Elber connects with a right hand. Bridge shakes it off.
Elber cracks Bridge with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Bridge misses with a head kick.
Nice body punch from Elber.
Elber misses the shot to the body.
Elber has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Elber cracks Bridge with a right hand to the side of the head.
Elber misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Elber lands a nice looking body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bridge looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bridge shoots in for a takedown but Elber shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bridge takes one on the button.
Bridge throws a head kick that misses.
Elber lands a lovely overhand right.
Elber throws a hook to the side of Bridge's head but Bridge sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bridge takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bridge tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Elber misses with a body shot.
Elber paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bridge tries to move into range but Elber moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Elber jabs at Bridge's body.
Elber lands with a shot to the body.
Elber misses with a wild body shot.
Elber tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bridge was well out of range. Poor timing from Elber.
Elber with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elber stuffs the takedown attempt from Bridge. Bridge gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Bridge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice shot lands for Elber.
Elber looks to throw the jab but Bridge is out of range.
Elber misses with a straight right.
Elber misses with a straight left.

Bridge shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Bridge looking to finish Elber with some ground and pound. This is bad for Elber!
Elber is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Elber really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bridge scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Elber?
Bridge is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Elber wants to control but Bridge is having none of it.
Bridge misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bridge looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Elber really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bridge. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Bridge with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Elber wants to control but Bridge is having none of it.
Bridge with shots to the head and body - Elber looks very uncomfortable down there.
A nice elbow there by Bridge.
Elber is in all sorts of trouble here.
John Bridge overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bridge scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Elber?
Elber is bucking up trying to escape but Bridge cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Bridge working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Elber is working to get back to half guard.
Elber tries to hold on but Bridge postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Bridge showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bridge has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... John Bridge!