PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rob Elsworth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Briscoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Elsworth
vs
Briscoe

190 cm
18
209 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Elsworth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Briscoe!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elsworth tries to clinch but Briscoe is having none of it.

Elsworth clinches up against the cage.
Elsworth lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Tom Briscoe has been cut.
Elsworth is pressed up against the cage. Briscoe has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Elsworth down to the mat. Elsworth avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Elsworth closes the distance and clinches up with Briscoe, looking for a takedown. Elsworth pushes Briscoe against the cage but Briscoe circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Briscoe tries to keep at a distance but Elsworth has taken the fight into the clinch.
Elsworth trying to land knees to the body.
Briscoe stalling in the clinch but Elsworth improves position.
Elsworth with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Briscoe has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Elsworth is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Briscoe dodges an elbow strike from Elsworth.
Elsworth misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Briscoe.
Elsworth misses with a knee strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Elsworth.
Briscoe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Elsworth blocks it with crossed arms.
Elsworth misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Briscoe.
Elsworth tries to land knees in the clinch but Briscoe avoids the damage to the body.
Knees to the body from Elsworth.
Briscoe tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Elsworth stops a takedown attempt from Briscoe.
Rob Elsworth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Briscoe.
Briscoe is trying to maintain a safe position but Elsworth gets an underhook and turns Briscoe into the cage.
Briscoe looks gassed!
Elsworth landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nice elbow from Elsworth.
Elsworth scores with a knee to the head.
Elsworth lands a nice knee to the body.
Elsworth connects with a nasty looking knee right to Briscoe's face.
Elsworth lands a knee to the body.
Briscoe avoiding damage as Elsworth throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briscoe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The referee calls for Briscoe to work.
Elsworth throws an elbow that misses.
Briscoe blocks the elbow strike.
Briscoe tries for a takedown but Elsworth manages to get underhooks.
Elsworth tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Elsworth prevents a takedown attempt there.
Briscoe trying to land knees to the body.
Briscoe has Elsworth pressed against the cage.
Elsworth trying to land knees to the body.
Briscoe tries to pull guard but Elsworth won't allow it.
Elsworth prevents the takedown attempt.
Briscoe leaning against his opponent.
Briscoe drops down looking for an ankle pick but Elsworth pulls his leg out and moves away.
Briscoe should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Briscoe shoots in but no luck this time.

Briscoe shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Briscoe was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Elsworth slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Elsworth is doing well to control the position and prevent Briscoe from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Elsworth has one foot on Briscoe's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Elsworth tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Briscoe paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Elsworth closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Elsworth missing with knees to the body.

Briscoe gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Elsworth looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Elsworth has his feet on Briscoe's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Elsworth is looking to clinch but Briscoe is avoiding it.
Briscoe looks to clinch

and Elsworth counters by clinching up.
Elsworth unloads a knee to the mid-section. Briscoe lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Elsworth is pressed up against the cage. Briscoe has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Elsworth down to the mat. Elsworth avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Elsworth looks to clinch

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briscoe tries for a takedown. No joy.
Elsworth connects with a knee to the head.
Elsworth lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Elsworth trying to land knees to the body.
Elsworth using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Briscoe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Briscoe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Briscoe managing to block the knees to the body from Elsworth.
Knees in the clinch landing for Elsworth.
Elsworth tries a knee to the head but Briscoe blocks it.

Briscoe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Briscoe tries for a takedown but Elsworth sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Briscoe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Briscoe thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Briscoe controlling the pace for now.
Elsworth tries to hold on but Briscoe postures up.
Elsworth is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elsworth can't escape the position.
Elsworth wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Elsworth wants to control but Briscoe is having none of it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Elsworth is squirming around, avoiding Briscoe's attempts to control the action.
Elsworth can't escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Elsworth wants to hold on but Briscoe pushes him away.
Briscoe lands a heavy elbow.
Elsworth is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Elsworth dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Briscoe's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Elsworth fails with the takedown.
Elsworth closes the distance looking to clinch

and Briscoe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Briscoe.
Briscoe is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Elsworth will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Briscoe won't allow Elsworth to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elsworth is trying to keep Briscoe in close.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briscoe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Briscoe is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Briscoe wants to control from the top but Elsworth keeps moving.
Briscoe looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Briscoe looks to clinch

and Elsworth counters by clinching up.
Elsworth connects with a knee to the head.
Elsworth landing knees to the body.
Elsworth lands a damaging elbow.
A knee to the head by Elsworth.
Briscoe is trying to stall.
Briscoe lands a body shot.
Briscoe managing to block the knees to the body from Elsworth.

Briscoe drags the fight down to the ground.
Briscoe controlling Elsworth's posture.
Elsworth stays in close to Briscoe's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Briscoe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Elsworth stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Briscoe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Elsworth not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Briscoe working a defensive guard but Elsworth manages to pass into side control anyway.

Elsworth decides to stand up, so the ref orders Briscoe to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briscoe with a lazy takedown attempt

and Elsworth holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Elsworth unloads a knee to the mid-section. Briscoe lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Briscoe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Elsworth tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Briscoe takes an elbow to the forehead.
Elsworth throws an elbow that misses.
Elsworth using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Briscoe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Briscoe dodges an elbow strike from Elsworth.
Knees to the body from Elsworth.
Briscoe trying to land knees to the body.
Briscoe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Elsworth's face.
Elsworth on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Elsworth missing with knees to the body.
Elsworth with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Briscoe tightens his grip and picks Elsworth up, before dumping him to the ground. Elsworth manages to land in guard.
Briscoe postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Elsworth wants to stand but Briscoe is controlling the position.
Elsworth seems keen to control Briscoe's posture.
Briscoe trying to control the position from guard on top but Elsworth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Elsworth has his feet on Briscoe's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Briscoe looks to clinch

and Elsworth counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Briscoe seems a little lost for a moment, as Elsworth dominates the positioning.
Elsworth seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Briscoe for as long as he can get away with.

Elsworth decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Elsworth scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Briscoe is looking to get back to full guard here but Elsworth has managed to pass to side control instead.
Briscoe is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Briscoe is just holding on here. Elsworth manages to take his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Elsworth dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tom Briscoe's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Briscoe misses with a double jab

and Elsworth counters with a shoot takedown. Briscoe fights it but they end up in guard.
Briscoe trying to keep a closed guard but Elsworth is proving a slippery customer.
Briscoe is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Elsworth stands and throws Briscoe's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Elsworth decides to stand back up.

Elsworth gets a takedown into half guard.
Briscoe keeping control of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Briscoe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elsworth keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Elsworth tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Briscoe is trying to escape back to his feet but Elsworth uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Elsworth stands up.
Elsworth closes the distance but Briscoe moves to the side

and Briscoe counters with a nice double leg into side control. Elsworth won't be happy with that.
Elsworth keeps Briscoe under control for a moment.
Elsworth is trying to control Briscoe's posture but Briscoe avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briscoe trying to control the position but Elsworth is working away.
Elsworth is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
You can see the frustration on Elsworth's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Briscoe is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Elsworth knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Elsworth tries to escape but Briscoe is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briscoe working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Elsworth gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Briscoe counters with a takedown into side control.
Elsworth is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Briscoe stands up.
Elsworth will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Briscoe misses with a takedown

and Elsworth moves into the clinch.
Briscoe'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.
Elsworth with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elsworth gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Elsworth landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees to the body from Elsworth.
Elsworth throws a knee to the head but misses.
Briscoe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Briscoe takes an elbow to the temple.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Elsworth stops a takedown attempt from Briscoe.
Elsworth lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Elsworth avoiding damage as Briscoe throws knees to the body.
Briscoe goes for a takedown in the clinch but Elsworth prevents it.
Rob Elsworth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Briscoe.
Elsworth tries to land knees in the clinch but Briscoe avoids the damage to the body.
Briscoe has Elsworth pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Elsworth manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Elsworth trying to land knees to the body.
Elsworth prevents the takedown attempt.
Briscoe takes an elbow to the forehead.
Knees in the clinch landing for Elsworth.
Elsworth gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Knees to the body from Elsworth.

Briscoe successfully pulls guard.
Elsworth stands and throws Briscoe's legs to the side, diving into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Elsworth tries to advance to mount but can't.
Tom Briscoe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Briscoe manages to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Elsworth showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Elsworth, 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Elsworth!