PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Peter Beardsley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bull Bantum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Bantum's choice of entrance music: England belongs to me. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Beardsley
vs
Bantum

170 cm
24
145 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

160 cm
32
147 lbs
11 - 17 - 1

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Golden Supplements [O.R.G]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Peter Beardsley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Bull Bantum!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bantum tries to bum rush Beardsley with a series of wild strikes but Beardsley uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bantum connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like Peter Beardsley has been cut.
Beardsley scores with a nice right hand.

Beardsley looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Beardsley is working for a submission of some sort.

Bantum is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Beardsley pulls his head out easily.

Bantum is defending against the submission attempts here by Beardsley.

Beardsley is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Beardsley 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.

Bantum looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beardsley stops Bantum from getting back to his feet.

Beardsley is working for a kimura but Bantum is defending it quite comfortably.

Bantum has one foot on Beardsley's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Bantum lands a left and a right that send Beardsley crashing to the mat, dazed. Bantum thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Beardsley is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bantum wants to clinch up but Beardsley keeps it at a distance.
Beardsley tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bantum misses with a combination
and Beardsley counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bantum thinking.
A combination from Bantum does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bantum misses with a double jab
and Beardsley counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bantum misses with a series of wild punches.
Bantum swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Beardsley counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Beardsley drops back looking for a leg! Bantum is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bantum manages to kick Beardsley off! Beardsley jumps back into Bantum's guard.

Beardsley thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bantum manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Bull Bantum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bantum misses with the combination.
Some wild striking there from Bantum.

Bantum drives through and clinches with Beardsley against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bantum doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Beardsley looking to slow down the pace here.

Bantum gets control of Beardsley's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bantum will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Beardsley drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bantum manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Beardsley has Bantum in his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Beardsley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Beardsley controls Bantum momentarily but Bantum frees himself.
Beardsley pulls Bantum in close to his closed guard and prevents Bantum from doing any damage or advancing position.
Beardsley bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bantum's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Beardsley postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bantum is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Beardsley, into his guard.
Beardsley wants to improve his position but instead Bantum has moved into half guard.
Beardsley trying to control here.
Beardsley is pressing down on Bantum's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bantum missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Bantum decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Beardsley, up you get!
Bantum keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bantum tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Beardsley paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bull Bantum dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Peter Beardsley's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bantum misses with a double jab
and Beardsley counters with a stiff right hand.
Beardsley lands a jab.

Bantum clinches up with Beardsley and pushes him back against the cage.
Bantum lands an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Bantum.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bantum.

Bantum ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bantum no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Beardsley drops back looking for a leg! Bantum is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bantum manages to kick Beardsley off! Beardsley jumps back into Bantum's guard.
Bantum keeping full guard, as Beardsley tries to pass.

Bantum manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Bantum. Those never looked like landing.
Beardsley avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bantum falls off balance throwing a combination

and Beardsley decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bantum's guard.

Beardsley drops back looking for a leg! Bantum is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bantum manages to kick Beardsley off! Beardsley jumps back into Bantum's guard.

Beardsley thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Bantum is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Beardsley defends well.
Beardsley slips nicely into half guard.
Bantum manages to get to full guard.

Beardsley thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bantum wants to stand up but Beardsley is controlling him.
Peter Beardsley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bantum lands some strikes from the bottom.

Beardsley is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Beardsley is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bantum is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bantum has escaped and now he's on top!
Bantum has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Beardsley is proving hard to escape from.
Bantum postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Beardsley working for a triangle but Bantum defends it easily.
Beardsley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Bantum drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bantum jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Beardsley manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bantum tries to hold on but Beardsley pushes him away.

Beardsley goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Bantum turns into him and now he's in Beardsley's guard.
Beardsley working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bantum postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Beardsley is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bantum, into his guard.

Beardsley is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bantum is looking to stand up but Beardsley isn't so interested in that idea.

Beardsley is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Beardsley drops back looking for a leg! Bantum is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bantum manages to kick Beardsley off! Beardsley jumps back into Bantum's guard.

Bantum is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Peter Beardsley will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Peter Beardsley's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Bantum looks to land a combination but Beardsley avoids it well.
Bantum misses with a wild combination.
Bantum scores with a three punch combo!
Bull Bantum seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Beardsley shoots in and drives through. Bantum sprawls well.
Some wild striking there from Bantum.
Beardsley blocks a jab.
Bantum throws a right hand that Beardsley ducks under and follows up with a left that Beardsley also avoids with ease.
Bantum changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bantum connects with a crisp jab.
Beardsley moves out of range as Bantum strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Beardsley changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bantum looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Beardsley goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Bantum has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Beardsley but great work by Bantum.
Beardsley is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Bantum is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Beardsley sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Beardsley wants to control but Bantum is keeping busy.

Bantum is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Beardsley tries to get to full guard but Bantum has control of the leg.
Beardsley desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beardsley moves into full guard.
Bantum must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bantum wants to get up but he can't break Beardsley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bantum wants to stand and escape but instead Beardsley has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Beardsley drops back looking for a leg! Bantum is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bantum manages to kick Beardsley off! Beardsley jumps back into Bantum's guard.

Bantum is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Beardsley is aware though and is defending well.

Beardsley drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Beardsley jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Bantum looking for a guillotine here but Beardsley defends easily.

Beardsley drops back looking for a leg! Bantum is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bantum manages to kick Beardsley off! Beardsley jumps back into Bantum's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beardsley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Beardsley slips nicely into half guard.
Bantum wants to get back to his feet.

Beardsley is trying to work for a kimura but Bantum is defending well.

Bantum looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bantum actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Beardsley is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bantum is just riding it out for now. Beardsley eventually gives up the hold.

Beardsley is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bantum sees it coming and defends easily.

Beardsley is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Beardsley is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bantum is trying to stand up here but Beardsley is controlling him well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Beardsley is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Beardsley is trying to work for a kimura but Bantum is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Peter Beardsley.
I think Beardsley has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Peter Beardsley!
Peter Beardsley thanked the fans post fight for their support.