PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anthony J (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernard Bruce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony J could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Bernard Bruce's chin.

J
vs
Bruce

150 cm
22
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
147 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Lightning Fight Gear
Wellness Policy Muscle

Lightning Fight Gear

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony J!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Bernard Bruce!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

J fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bruce, pushing him back against the cage.
J can't break the clinch.
Bruce misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from J.
J can't break the clinch.
J tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Bruce jumps guard and drags J to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bruce wants to sweep here but J controlling him for the moment.
J showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bruce controls J momentarily but J frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
J sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruce is pulling down on J's head to control his posture.
J tries to stand but Bruce is controlling from the bottom.
Bruce keeping moving, preventing J from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bruce wants to stand up but J is controlling him.
Bruce trying to control the position here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bruce can do anything to dispel that myth.
J is looking to stand up but Bruce won't let him.
J slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
J might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
J pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bruce is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
J fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
J shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bruce as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony J. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bruce closes the distance looking to clinch
and J counters with a big head kick but Bruce shrugs it off.
Bruce fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bruce cracks the inside of J's front leg.
J circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bruce tries to clinch but fails miserably

and J counters with a takedown into side control.
J working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruce is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
J is breathing heavily.
Bruce is trying is best to control the position here.
Bruce slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bruce is trying to control the position but J postures up.
Bruce is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bruce is trying to keep J in close.
J thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bruce closes this distance looking for a takedown but J circles away.
Bruce fails with the takedown
letting J counter with a right hand.
A left and a right from J both land. Nice combination.
A nice leg kick lands there from J.

J tries to keep at a distance but Bruce has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bruce prevents the takedown attempt.
J is looking to break free of the clinch but Bruce has double underhooks.

J is fighting off a takedown attempt but Bruce is just too persistent for him and manages to trip J to the mat. J regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Bruce stopping the sweep attempt from J.
J is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bruce is controlling him.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting J here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now J is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
J won't allow Bruce to sweep him here.
J sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bruce's guard.
Bruce is trying to stand up here but J is controlling him well.
Bruce is looking to improve his position.
J perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bruce is trying to control but can't.
Bruce controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
J throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Bruce gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and J counters with a single leg into guard. Bruce didn't expect that.
Anthony J has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bernard Bruce.
J is stalling in the full guard.
J trying to control the position from guard on top but Bruce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
J slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bruce avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
J throws a strike but Bruce rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
J trying to keep a closed guard but Bruce is proving a slippery customer.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now J is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bruce keeping moving, preventing J from controlling successfully.
J throwing strikes from guard but Bruce blocks nicely.
J pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bruce is keeping the position for now.
J slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
J has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony J dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

J darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
J not doing much here.
Bruce is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bruce tries to kick J off but J keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
J is looking to advance position but Bruce won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
J throwing shots but Bruce is blocking nicely.
Bruce is trying to get back to full guard.
Bruce keeping hold of J's head, controlling as best he can.
Bruce takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

J postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Bruce to stand up.
Bruce fails with the takedown

and J counters with a single leg into guard. Bruce didn't expect that.
J slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
J tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
J cracks Bruce with an elbow. That is naaassty.

J stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Bruce is looking to clinch but J is avoiding it.
J could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

J scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
J is looking to take a break and control but Bruce is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bruce is being controlled here.
Bruce gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

J postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Bruce to stand up.

J scores a takedown into full mount!
J connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

J jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Bruce is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Bruce and J has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
J is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Bruce's shoulder. That is not cool.
J prevents Bruce from escaping the position.
J works to advance to full mount. Bruce defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
J tries to control but Bruce wriggling away.
Bruce is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bruce flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Bernard Bruce has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
J avoids the attempt from Bruce to control.
Bruce is desperately trying to improve his position but J has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
J looking to control but Bruce is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
J tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony J showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for J, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight for Anthony J!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Anthony J!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Anthony J!

Anthony J wins by unanimous decision!