PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Freddy Medina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Lighting (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Medina comes to the cage accompanied by La bamba. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Medina
vs
Lighting

175 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
29
145 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry
Valhalla Fight Wear

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Freddy Medina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, George Lighting!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Medina throws a head kick that half lands.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Medina.
Lighting throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Medina slips under a jab from Lighting.
Medina shoots in and drives through. Lighting sprawls well.
Lighting shoots in looking for a takedown but Medina manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lighting's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Medina fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lighting shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice takedown defense from Medina. No joy for Lighting on that attempt.
Freddy Medina has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Lighting.

Medina tries to sprawl but Lighting drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Medina moves into full guard.

Medina working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lighting doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lighting manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Medina trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lighting pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Medina is keeping the position for now.

Medina has his foot on Lighting's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lighting works his way back into a safe position though.
Lighting trying to control but Medina is working from the bottom.
Medina trying to control the position.
Medina is wriggling around but Lighting manages to pass to half guard.
Medina wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lighting looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Medina slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Medina is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Medina looking to control.
Lighting throws an elbow that misses. Medina uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lighting's guard. Nice move by Medina!

Lighting is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Medina is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Medina wants to get up but he can't break Lighting's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Lighting working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Medina has passed into half guard!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lighting tries to get to full guard but Medina has control of the leg.
Medina thows a huge punch but Lighting dodges it nicely.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Medina in particular looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Medina wants to work for an arm triangle but Lighting is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Lighting is trying to stand back up but Medina is controlling him
Medina is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Lighting looking for submissions off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Medina escapes and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Medina 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.

Medina keeps the fight on the outside.
Medina shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lighting as he avoids it easily.
Medina fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lighting shoots in looking for a takedown but Medina manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lighting's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Medina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lighting wants to clinch
and Medina counters with a head kick.
Medina throws a sloppy head kick and Lighting moves out of range easily.
Lighting looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A head kick from Medina lands but Lighting takes it in his stride.
Medina tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lighting swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Medina misses with a takedown

and Lighting counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Medina tries to get to full guard but Lighting has control of the leg.
Medina tries to kick Lighting off but Lighting keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lighting seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Medina does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Medina is looking to control Lighting's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Medina avoid being mounted?
Lighting trying to control from half guard but Medina is working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Medina throws a sloppy head kick and Lighting moves out of range easily.
Freddy Medina is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lighting throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Medina moves in looking to clinch but Lighting pushes him off.
Lighting tries to clinch up
and Medina counters with a three punch combo that has Lighting backing up. Lighting nods at Medina to acknowledge the strikes.
Medina throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Lighting.
Lighting takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Lighting scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lighting prevents Medina from improving his position.
Medina tries to kick Lighting off but Lighting keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Medina is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lighting wants to stand but Medina has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Lighting wants to control but Medina is keeping him busy.
Lighting wants to pass the guard but Medina is defending well.
Medina really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Medina tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Lighting manages to move to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lighting controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lighting looking to control but Medina is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lighting won't let Medina get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Lighting tries to control but Medina wriggling away.
Lighting putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lighting looking to control but Medina is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Lighting is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Medina has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Medina!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but George Lighting will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lighting shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lighting moves in looking to clinch but Medina pushes him off.
Danga de danga de dang - Lighting scores with a four punch combination!
Lighting stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lighting wants it to stay on the feet.
Lighting doesn't manage to clinch there - Medina circles away.

Medina has managed to clinch.

Medina manages to break the clinch.
Lighting fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Medina avoids it really well and circles away.
Medina throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Medina avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Medina fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Medina takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Medina closes the distance and clinches.
Lighting swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lighting has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Medina avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Freddy Medina has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Lighting.
Medina prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lighting takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Lighting jumps into guard, dragging Medina to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lighting is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Medina defends well.
Medina has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Medina postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Medina gets to his feet - Lighting follows without any prompting.
George Lighting seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Medina throws a right hand that Lighting ducks under and follows up with a left that Lighting also avoids with ease.
Lighting throws a nice looking combination but Medina bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Medina closes the distance and clinches up with Lighting, looking for a takedown. Medina pushes Lighting against the cage but Lighting circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lighting leaves Medina with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lighting tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Medina swivels and escapes.
Lighting looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Medina is fending him off so far but Lighting persists. Nope, Medina circles away and we're back to standing.
Medina rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lighting moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lighting misses with a takedown attempt - Medina sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Medina closes the distance and clinches up with Lighting, looking for a takedown. Medina pushes Lighting against the cage but Lighting circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Medina!
No luck for Medina with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lighting drives through with a takedown into Medina's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lighting trying to stand up but can't free himself from Medina's guard.
Medina controls Lighting momentarily but Lighting frees himself.
Medina 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Medina controlling the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lighting trying to control but Medina is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to George Lighting.
I think Lighting has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:28

The fight is ruled a draw!