PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bayani De Guzman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phoenix is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Oh la!!. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

De Guzman
vs
Phoenix

180 cm
21
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
182 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bayani De Guzman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Simon Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Phoenix thows a leg kick but De Guzman checks it

and De Guzman counters with a single leg into guard. Phoenix didn't expect that.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Phoenix working a defensive guard here.
De Guzman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Phoenix is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Phoenix throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
De Guzman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix keeping full guard, as De Guzman tries to pass.

Phoenix throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
De Guzman tries to free his leg and advance position but Phoenix is retaining full guard.
Phoenix avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
De Guzman stands and throws Phoenix's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Guzman working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
De Guzman throws an elbow but Phoenix slips to the side and avoids it well.
De Guzman postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

De Guzman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

De Guzman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Phoenix, who protects the arm well.
Phoenix manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix avoiding damage under a succession of punches from De Guzman.
De Guzman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
De Guzman throwing shots but Phoenix is blocking nicely.
De Guzman throwing shots but Phoenix is blocking nicely.
Phoenix trying to control but De Guzman postures up.
De Guzman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Phoenix tries to kick De Guzman off but De Guzman keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Phoenix moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
De Guzman throws a strike but Phoenix rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix wants to control from the top but De Guzman keeps moving.
De Guzman wants to stand but Phoenix is controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Phoenix slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bayani De Guzman dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Phoenix throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
De Guzman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Phoenix moves away.
Phoenix tries to bum rush De Guzman with a series of wild strikes but De Guzman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
De Guzman looks to throw the jab but Phoenix is out of range.
De Guzman stuns Phoenix with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Phoenix tries a head kick but it misses.
A right-left combo lands from De Guzman.
Simon Phoenix is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De Guzman is looking to chop away at Phoenix's legs.
Phoenix doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Guzman shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Phoenix manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Phoenix controls De Guzman momentarily but De Guzman frees himself.
Phoenix looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but De Guzman puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
De Guzman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Well, if De Guzman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Phoenix tries to get to full guard but De Guzman has control of the leg.
De Guzman not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix is trying to control but can't.
Phoenix wants to improve his position but De Guzman is controlling well.
De Guzman not landing any meaningful shots this time.
De Guzman takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

De Guzman is looking for a kimura but Phoenix is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for De Guzman to get the leverage.
Phoenix makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Phoenix.
De Guzman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
De Guzman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Guzman is looking to work some ground and pound but Phoenix has wrist control.
Phoenix avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
De Guzman chips away with some ground and pound.

De Guzman drops back, looking for a kneebar! Phoenix looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Phoenix looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Phoenix!
De Guzman wants to get back to his feet but Phoenix drags him back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix wants to control but De Guzman is keeping him busy.

Phoenix is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, De Guzman has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Guzman is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Phoenix has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bayani De Guzman dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Phoenix on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by De Guzman. De Guzman obviously looking to wear him down.
De Guzman scores with a body shot.
Bayani De Guzman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the liver by De Guzman. Beautiful body shot.
Phoenix displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from De Guzman.
Phoenix wants to land a leg kick but De Guzman is out of range.
Phoenix tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Phoenix throws a sloppy head kick and De Guzman moves out of range easily.
De Guzman pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Phoenix fakes high and swings low for a body shot but De Guzman manages to avoid it.
De Guzman pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Guzman lands a slapping body shot.
De Guzman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Phoenix is fending him off so far but De Guzman persists. Nope, Phoenix circles away and we're back to standing.
Phoenix swings for the body but De Guzman moves out of range.
De Guzman misses with a body kick.
Phoenix tries a head kick but it misses.
Phoenix blocks a head kick by De Guzman.
Phoenix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
De Guzman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Phoenix moves away.
Phoenix blocks a head kick by De Guzman.
Decent striking displayed by De Guzman there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix lands with a kick to the ribs.
De Guzman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
De Guzman fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Phoenix looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Phoenix's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Phoenix duly obliges.
De Guzman checks the leg kick.
De Guzman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Phoenix was well out of range. Poor timing from De Guzman.
De Guzman throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Phoenix throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Phoenix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Guzman thows a body shot but no joy.
Phoenix throws a low kick but De Guzman moves out of range easily.
De Guzman digs a good body shot into Phoenix's ribs.
Bayani De Guzman is winning the standup battle so far.
De Guzman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Some bone on bone action there as De Guzman checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Simon Phoenix has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Phoenix throws a sloppy head kick and De Guzman moves out of range easily.
Phoenix doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from De Guzman.
De Guzman misses with a few strikes there.
De Guzman ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Guzman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Phoenix moves away.
De Guzman goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Phoenix checks a leg kick nicely.
De Guzman lands with a shot to the body.

Phoenix gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows De Guzman to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bayani De Guzman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
De Guzman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Phoenix working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. De Guzman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. De Guzman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bayani De Guzman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well De Guzman 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bayani De Guzman!