PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jens Pulver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Philips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pulver
vs
Philips

170 cm
28
153 lbs
5 - 15 - 0

185 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 5 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jens Pulver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Philips!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pulver looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Philips is fending him off so far but Pulver persists. Nope, Philips circles away and we're back to standing.
Pulver closes the distance but Philips moves to the side

and Philips counters by clinching up.
Philips utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Philips landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pulver using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pulver pushes off an throws an elbow but Philips leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Philips content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Pulver is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Philips gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Pulver tries to break free but Philips pushes him back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Philips.

Philips's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pulver throws a sloppy head kick

and Philips moves into the clinch.
Pulver takes a knee right on the jaw!
Knees in the clinch landing for Philips.
Knees to the body from Philips.
Knees in the clinch landing for Philips.
Pulver is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Philips lands a knee to the head.
Philips lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Philips.
A knee to the head by Philips.
The referee calls for Philips to work.
Philips unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pulver lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Philips controlling the action here for a moment.
Philips with a knee to the head.
Philips scores with a knee to the head.
Philips comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Philips with a knee to the head.
Philips connects with a knee to the head.
Philips lands an elbow inside that Pulver shrugs off.
Philips connects with a knee to the head.
Philips slowing the pace effectively.
Pulver takes a knee to the side of the body.
Philips lands a knee to the head.
Philips with a knee to the head.
Philips gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Pulver swings wildly with an uppercut but Philips uses good head movement to avoid it.
Knees to the body from Philips.
Philips unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pulver lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Philips lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Philips landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Philips pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Philips dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Pulver. That did some damage!
Philips scores with a head kick.

Philips fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pulver, pushing him back against the cage.
The referee calls for Philips to work.
Pulver takes an elbow to the forehead.
Philips is pushing Pulver up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Philips working Pulver over with knees to the body.
Philips content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Philips escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Philips clinches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Philips takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Pulver takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Philips lands a knee to the head.
Philips comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Philips is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Philips's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Philips scores a nice knee to the body.
Philips is struggling to control the position.
Philips with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Philips landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Philips lands a knee to the head.
Philips connects with a nasty looking knee right to Pulver's face.
Philips slows down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Eric Philips.

Philips moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Philips crunches a lovely knee into Pulver's ribcage.
Philips taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Philips using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Philips breaks the clinch.

Philips takes the fight into the clinch.
Pulver takes a knee to the side of the body.
Philips putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Pulver in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Philips's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Philips unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pulver lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Philips manages to break the clinch.

Philips closes the distance and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Philips connects with a knee to the head.

Philips breaks the clinch.

Philips clinches with his opponent.
Philips connects with a nasty looking knee right to Pulver's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Philips dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Philips lets loose with a powerful body kick. Pulver will feel that in the morning.

Philips closes the distance and clinches.

Philips breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pulver wants to clinch but Philips slips to the side
and Philips counters with a series of strikes. Pulver will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pulver shoots in looking for a takedown but Philips manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pulver's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Philips takes the fight into the clinch.
Philips connects with a knee to the head.
Philips lands a knee to the head.
Philips using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Philips content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Philips continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
The crowd are getting on Philips's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Eric Philips.
A nice leg kick lands there from Philips.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Philips has managed to clinch.
Philips landing knees to the body.
Philips landing knees to the body.
Pulver tries to break free but Philips pushes him back against the cage.
Philips connects with a nasty looking knee right to Pulver's face.

Philips manages to break the clinch.

Philips takes the fight into the clinch.
Philips stalling the fight.

Philips breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Philips has closed the distance and engaged Pulver in a clinch.
Philips is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Philips unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pulver lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Philips's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Philips closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Philips unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pulver lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Pulver tries to throw a body punch but Philips avoids it by throwing Pulver back against the cage.
Philips landing knees to the body.
Philips slows down the pace here.
Philips unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pulver lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Philips controlling the action here for a moment.
Philips lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Philips is stalling here.
Philips scores with a knee to the head.
Philips landing knees to the head.
Philips lands a knee to the head.

Philips breaks from the clinch.

Philips closes the distance and pushes Pulver back into the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Philips obliges.
Philips lands a knee to the body.
Pulver tries to circle away but Philips has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Philips putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Pulver in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Eric Philips seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Philips with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Philips escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Philips takes the fight into the clinch.
Philips controlling the action here for a moment.

Philips breaks from the clinch.

Philips gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Philips.
Philips receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Eric Philips.
Philips connects with a leg kick. Pulver looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Philips lands with a nice body kick.
Philips moves in looking to clinch but Pulver pushes him off.

Philips moves into range and clinches up with Pulver.

Philips's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jens Pulver is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Philips rushes Pulver and presses him up against the cage.
Pulver trying to land knees to the body.

Philips breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Philips changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Jens Pulver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Philips plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pulver takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Philips clinches up with Pulver and pushes him back against the cage.
Philips unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pulver lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Philips showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Philips drives through and clinches with Pulver against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Philips - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Philips scores with a knee to the head.
Philips dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Philips escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Philips looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Philips fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pulver.
Philips plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Philips tries to close the distance and clinch but Pulver swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Philips circles away from the clinch attempt

and Philips counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Philips.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Philips scores with a knee to the head.
Pulver has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Philips is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Pulver looking for a takedown.
Philips with a knee to the head.
Philips will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Pulver up against the cage.
Philips crunches a lovely knee into Pulver's ribcage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Philips obliges.

Philips escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Philips is looking to clinch.
Philips thows a body kick. Pulver tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Pulver tries to keep at a distance but Philips has taken the fight into the clinch.
Philips stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Philips breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Philips forces Pulver back against the cage and clinches.
Philips is pushing Pulver up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Philips is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pulver tries to score a body lock takedown but Philips shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jens Pulver. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Philips with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Philips has Pulver pushed against the cage.

Philips manages to break the clinch.
Pulver moves to clinch but Philips breaks away
and Philips counters with a slapping leg kick.
Philips scores with a leg kick.

Philips clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulver takes a knee right on the jaw!
Philips is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Philips with a knee to the head.
Pulver takes an elbow to the temple.
Philips with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Pulver has Philips pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Philips manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Philips.
Philips lands a knee to the head.
Pulver throws a knee to the head but misses.
Philips is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Philips.
Pulver changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Philips fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Philips is looking to clinch but Pulver is avoiding it.

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.

Philips clinches.

Philips breaks the clinch.
Pulver takes a kick to the side of the head.

Philips has Pulver up against the cage in a clinch.
Philips lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Pulver goes for a takedown in the clinch but Philips prevents it.
Philips unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pulver lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Pulver misses with a knee strike.
Philips pressing his opponent against the cage.
Pulver wants to get back to striking at distance but Philips won't allow it.
Philips stops a takedown attempt from Pulver.
Jens Pulver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eric Philips is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Philips connects with a nasty looking knee right to Pulver's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Philips comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Philips has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Philips!