PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Phil Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jens Pulver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Davis has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Davis
vs
Pulver

193 cm
28
210 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

184 cm
26
208 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Phil Davis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jens Pulver!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pulver tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Davis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Davis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pulver as he avoids it easily.

Pulver shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Davis's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Pulver engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Davis keeping moving, preventing Pulver from controlling successfully.
Pulver not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Jens Pulver has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Davis tests Pulver's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pulver lands a jab to the head.
Phil Davis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis fails to land the takedown.

Davis tries to keep at a distance but Pulver has taken the fight into the clinch.
Davis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pulver walks away with a smile on his face. Davis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Davis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pulver will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pulver keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Davis with a poor takedown
and Pulver counters with a one-two to the body.

Pulver drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Pulver slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Davis tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Davis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pulver wants to control from the top but Davis keeps moving.
Davis being controlled here, momentarily.
Davis wants to sweep but no luck.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jens Pulver hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Pulver scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pulver leaves Davis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pulver keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis closes the distance and clinches up with Pulver, looking for a takedown. Davis pushes Pulver against the cage but Pulver circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Davis is breathing heavily.

Pulver closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pulver lands in his opponent's guard.
Pulver must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pulver has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Davis is proving hard to escape from.

Pulver stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Davis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Davis shoots in for a takedown but Pulver shows good takedown defense.
Davis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pulver's waist but Pulver gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Davis off to one side.

Davis gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Pulver to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pulver working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pulver is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Pulver stands and steps away. Davis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Davis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pulver as he avoids it easily.

Pulver scores a takedown into full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pulver tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jens Pulver dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pulver lands with a slapping head kick.
Davis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pulver is fending him off so far but Davis persists. Nope, Pulver circles away and we're back to standing.

Pulver shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Davis manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Pulver gets to his feet. Davis looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Pulver looking to score a takedown here. Davis is defending well but Pulver drives through and ends up in Davis's guard.
Pulver controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Davis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pulver.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pulver sitting in guard here, content to control.
Davis controls Pulver momentarily but Pulver frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pulver gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Davis shoots in for a takedown but Pulver shows good takedown defense.

Davis shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pulver's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pulver looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Davis has picked Pulver up and slammed him! Pulver can't keep hold of the triangle and Davis manages to pass to side control!

Davis goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Pulver rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Davis's guard! Nice work there by Pulver!
Pulver trying to control but Davis is working from the bottom.

Davis working for a triangle but Pulver defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pulver is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Pulver gets to his feet. Davis looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Davis looks for a takedown but Pulver sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Davis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pulver tries to clinch but Davis moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Pulver dives in and scores a takedown into Davis's guard.
Pulver seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Pulver wants to stand but Davis is controlling his posture from full guard.
Pulver postures up in Davis's guard and throws a big left but Davis blocks it.
Davis 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.
Pulver slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jens Pulver wasn't active enough on the ground.
Pulver slaps away a takedown attempt from Davis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pulver throws a nice outside leg kick.
Davis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pulver counters with a series of strikes. Davis will be more careful next time no doubt.
Davis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pulver defends it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Davis gets caught flat footed, as Pulver shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jens Pulver 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!

Pulver scores with a takedown into Davis's guard.
Pulver wants to get up but he can't break Davis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Davis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pulver wants to stand but Davis is controlling his posture from full guard.

Davis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pulver pushes down on Davis's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pulver is working away from the top position though.
Davis moves into full guard.
Davis looking to control.
Pulver passes Davis's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Davis wants to stand back up but Pulver manages to pass into side control.
Pulver is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Davis will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pulver wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Pulver stands up and beckons Davis to his feet.
Phil Davis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Davis enables Pulver to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Davis manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Davis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Davis has a closed guard, preventing Pulver from standing up.
Davis has his hands on Pulver's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Phil Davis has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Davis shoots in looking for a takedown. Pulver tries to sprawl out of it but Davis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pulver manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pulver moves in looking to clinch but Davis pushes him off.

Pulver drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Davis has a closed guard, preventing Pulver from standing up.
Pulver pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Davis is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pulver stays in close to Davis's body and controls the position.
Pulver won't allow Davis to sweep him here.

Pulver gets to his feet - Davis follows without any prompting.
Davis dives in and grabs Pulver's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pulver pushes down on Davis's head and hops out.
Pulver digs a good body shot into Davis's ribs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pulver darts in and clinches Davis up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Pulver successfully pulls guard.
Phil Davis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jens Pulver is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Davis throwing strikes from guard but Pulver blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jens Pulver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pulver 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jens Pulver!