PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cassius Boran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony White looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

White
vs
Boran

187 cm
20
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

191 cm
23
198 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 New York, Anthony White!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cassius Boran!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Steve Montenegro and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A leg kick checked by White.
Boran circles away from the clinch attempt

and Boran counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Boran works a leg free and moves into half guard.
White wants to control but Boran is keeping busy.
White is refusing to be controlled, as Boran sits in half guard.
Boran throwing shots but White is blocking nicely.
White is staying active underneath Boran, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Boran trying to mount his opponent but White defends it.

White is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Boran pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boran tries to pass the half guard into mount. White knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Boran stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Boran is looking for a kimura but White is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Boran to get the leverage.
White is refusing to be controlled, as Boran sits in half guard.
Boran is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two 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.
Boran prevents White from improving his position.
White is in trouble now - Boran has advanced to mount!
White knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Boran on the ground.
Boran content just to control the position here.
Boran throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boran misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Boran throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Boran thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Boran throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for White because Boran loaded up on that one.
Boran sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Boran jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but White manages to avoid the submission attempt.
White is breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Boran tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Boran.
White regains half guard there - taking advantage of Boran's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Boran moves into full mount! White won't be happy about that!
Boran with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cassius Boran dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

White throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Boran counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Boran looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
White moves in looking to clinch but Boran pushes him off.
White thows a leg kick but Boran checks it

and Boran counters with a shoot takedown. White fights it but they end up in guard.
Boran looking to pass the guard.
White wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Boran manages to pass to side control.
Boran keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boran looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Boran has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White is looking for a sweep. Boran is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boran is controlling the pace.
White on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if White tries to get out of the position.
Boran is thwarting White's attempts to control the position.
Boran wants to pass to mount but White is defending the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
White tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

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

Boran bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Boran throws a strike aimed at the side of White's head but White avoids it well.
Boran tries to move to mount but White blocks the move with his legs.
Boran wants to lay and pray for a moment but White keeps working.
White struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boran trying to control the position but White is working away.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Boran. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
White prevents Boran from improving position.
White is trying to control Boran's posture but Boran avoids it.
White is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on White's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Boran trying to control the position but White is working away.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck for Boran with that takedown attempt.
Boran tries for a takedown but White sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
White doesn't manage to clinch there - Boran circles away.
Boran shoots in looking for a takedown but White manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Boran's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Anthony White has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cassius Boran.
Boran bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

White gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Boran to score an easy takedown into full guard.
White is pulling down on Boran's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cassius Boran showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

White misses the body punch

and Boran counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Boran is keen to just control but White is a slippery customer.
Boran not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cassius Boran hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
White takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
White tries to clinch there but Boran circles away.
White throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Boran sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Boran fails with the takedown

and White moves into the clinch.
White just leaning against Boran, taking a breather.
White prevents the takedown attempt.
The referee calls for White to work.
Boran is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Boran is trying to drag White to the mat but White just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Anthony White has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cassius Boran.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Boran gets control of White's arms and successfully pulls guard. Boran will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
White has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Boran is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. White is aware though and is defending well.

Boran throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Boran takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Boran strikes from his own guard.

Boran has his foot on White's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. White works his way back into a safe position though.
Boran throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Boran thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boran keeping moving, preventing White from controlling successfully.
Boran is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Boran moves nicely into side control.
White is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Boran has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cassius Boran has got the better of the ground game so far.

Boran tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Boran has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Boran wants to lay and pray for a moment but White keeps working.
Cassius Boran is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White is looking for a sweep.
Boran wants to control but White is keeping him busy.
White is being controlled here.
Anthony White has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
White is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Boran is controlling him well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cassius Boran comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Boran winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cassius Boran!