PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tito Ortizz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). French has chosen MGM Intro as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ortizz
vs
French

188 cm
28
220 lbs
11 - 4 - 1

188 cm
20
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tito Ortizz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve French!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut there from Ortizz.
Ortizz with a jab.
Ortizz slips a jab and a cross from French.
Nice takedown defense from French. No joy for Ortizz on that attempt.
Ortizz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but French avoids it really well and circles away.
Ortizz misses with a hook.
Ortizz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
French swings for the body but Ortizz moves out of range.

Ortizz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
French blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ortizz.
Ortizz wants to pass the guard but French is defending well.
Ortizz throwing shots but French is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortizz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ortizz wants to pass the guard but French is defending well.
French blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ortizz.
Ortizz prevents French from standing back up.
Ortizz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
French keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
French is trying to stand back up but Ortizz is controlling him
Ortizz throwing shots but French is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ortizz winds up and cracks French with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ortizz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ortizz misses with a head shot. French uses the momentum to regain guard.
French utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ortizz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ortizz throws and elbow that misses. French uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ortizz's guard. Nice move by French!
French wants to control from the top but Ortizz keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French controlling from the top position.
Ortizz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
French must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ortizz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ortizz is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
French engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Steve French has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Ortizz shoots for a takedown but French saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tito Ortizz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ortizz fails with the takedown.
No luck for Ortizz with that takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
French misses the shot to the body.
French throws a shot from downtown. Ortizz moves away and avoids it.
Ortizz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. French tries to avoid it but Ortizz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag French to the ground. French escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tito Ortizz dominated that 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.

Ortizz wants to clinch up but French keeps it at a distance.
Ortizz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Steve French is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
French stuns Ortizz with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ortizz with a lazy takedown attempt
and French counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ortizz takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Ortizz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
French is looking to improve his position.
French slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ortizz preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ortizz throwing strikes from guard but French blocks nicely.
Ortizz lands a couple of elbows.
Ortizz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ortizz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ortizz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as French works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ortizz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
French 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.

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.
Ortizz throws a big right hand that misses.
Ortizz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ortizz postures up in French's guard and throws a big left but French blocks it.
French working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ortizz.
French working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ortizz.
Ortizz 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.
Ortizz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
French working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ortizz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortizz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as French works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
French is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ortizz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ortizz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
French working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ortizz.
French preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ortizz is looking to work some ground and pound but French has wrist control.

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.
Ortizz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ortizz throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
French wants to stand but Ortizz is controlling the position.
Ortizz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ortizz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if French can do anything to dispel that myth.
French working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ortizz.
Ortizz throwing strikes but missing.
Ortizz stopping the sweep attempt from French.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tito Ortizz dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ortizz misses with a left hand
and French counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ortizz has a takedown stuffed.
French throws a sloppy body shot

so Ortizz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ortizz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ortizz throwing strikes from guard but French blocks nicely.
Ortizz postures up in French's guard and throws a big left but French blocks it.
Ortizz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ortizz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as French works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
French has momentary wrist control but Ortizz slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortizz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as French works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
French is trying to keep Ortizz in close.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ortizz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ortizz working some strikes from top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ortizz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
French avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ortizz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Steve French has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

French has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ortizz off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
French throws a combination that misses

and Ortizz counters with a shoot takedown. French fights it but they end up in guard.
Ortizz postures up in French's guard and throws a big left but French blocks it.
French avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ortizz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ortizz thows a big elbow that misses.
French wants to sweep but no luck.
Ortizz thows a big elbow that misses.
French preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortizz throws a strike but French rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as French accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
French wants to get up but he can't break Ortizz's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ortizz working a defensive guard here.
French tries to stand but Ortizz is controlling from the bottom.

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.
Ortizz trying to keep a closed guard but French is proving a slippery customer.
French stopping the sweep attempt from Ortizz.
Ortizz controls French momentarily but French frees himself.
Tito Ortizz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ortizz 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tito Ortizz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ortizz, 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tito Ortizz!