PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Booker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Garcie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Booker
vs
Garcie

160 cm
21
135 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

178 cm
27
135 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Booker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Royce Garcie!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Booker tries to clinch up

and Garcie counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Booker!

Garcie goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Booker is on top in guard.
Garcie wants to sweep but no luck.
Booker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Garcie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Garcie trying to keep a closed guard but Booker is proving a slippery customer.
Garcie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Booker is one step ahead there.
Booker wants to control from the top but Garcie keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcie is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Booker wants to clinch up but Garcie keeps it at a distance.
Garcie slips a jab from Booker.
Booker doesn't manage to clinch there - Garcie circles away.
Booker tries to clinch but Garcie moves away

and Garcie counters with a single leg into guard. Booker didn't expect that.
Booker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Garcie is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Booker is on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker stopping the sweep attempt from Garcie.
Booker wants to control from the top but Garcie keeps moving.
Garcie is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Booker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garcie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Garcie is trying to work for a kimura but Booker is defending well.
Booker gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Garcie manages to get himself to full guard.
Booker won't allow Garcie to sweep him here.
Garcie looks gassed!
Booker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Booker is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Garcie keeping full guard, as Booker tries to pass.
Booker preventing the sweep.
Booker sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Garcie's guard.
Garcie is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Booker jumps into side control!
Booker wants to control but Garcie is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Booker is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Garcie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Booker tries for a kimura but Garcie is defending well.

Booker is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Garcie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garcie struggling a bit here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Booker has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Garcie!
Garcie can't escape the position.
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 Michael Booker will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Booker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Garcie paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Booker shoots in and gets a takedown into Garcie's guard.
Garcie wants to control the position but Booker says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Garcie tries to get to full guard but Booker has control of the leg.

Booker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Garcie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Booker.
Booker seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Garcie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Booker content to control rather than advance.

Booker seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Booker is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Booker wants to work for an arm triangle but Garcie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Garcie trying to control but Booker postures up.
Garcie gets back to full guard.
Garcie being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker wants to control from the top but Garcie keeps moving.
Booker tries to free his leg and advance position but Garcie is retaining full guard.
Garcie trying to keep a closed guard but Booker is proving a slippery customer.
Booker advances to half guard.

Booker is working for a submission of some sort.
Garcie is not content to let Booker control the position.

Booker seems to be working for a kimura but Garcie defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Garcie moves into full guard.
Garcie is breathing heavily.
Garcie keeping moving, preventing Booker from controlling successfully.
Garcie is trying to control the position but Booker postures up.
Booker working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Garcie's head.
Booker trying to control but Garcie is working from the bottom.
Booker won't allow Garcie to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcie throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Booker stopping the sweep attempt from Garcie.
Garcie is striking from the bottom but Booker uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Booker perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Booker's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Garcie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Booker is working away from the top position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Garcie is trying to get back to full guard.
Booker content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Booker dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Booker wants to clinch up but Garcie keeps it at a distance.
Booker tries to clinch up

and Garcie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Garcie looking to pass the guard.
Booker is trying to control the position but Garcie postures up.

Booker has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Garcie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Garcie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker looking to control.
Booker looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Garcie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Booker is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Booker has escaped and now he's on top!
Garcie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Booker wants to control from the top but Garcie keeps moving.
Booker chips away with some ground and pound.
Garcie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Garcie has momentary wrist control but Booker slips an elbow through the middle.
Booker advances to half guard.
Booker is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcie is looking to improve his position.

Booker is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Garcie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Michael Booker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Booker looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Booker is trying to work for a kimura but Garcie is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garcie is staying active underneath Booker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Garcie is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Booker is really struggling to control Garcie but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Garcie wants to get back to full guard.
Booker passes the guard and advances to mount!
Garcie is trying to escape the mount but Booker keeps good control and instead manages to take Garcie's back.
Booker trying to control momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Booker is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Booker keeps control of the position as Garcie tries to break free.

Booker is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Garcie defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Garcie is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Booker off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garcie is keeping busy.

Booker has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Garcie has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
I really don't envy Garcie right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Booker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Booker has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Booker!