PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brucey Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Barreta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phillips comes to the cage accompanied by In the air tonight-nonpoint. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Phillips
vs
Barreta

185 cm
23
176 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

181 cm
22
170 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Syndicate Nutrition

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brucey Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Max Barreta!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Hugh Johnson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barreta has Phillips up against the cage in a clinch.
Barreta gets underhooks to prevent Phillips's takedown attempt.
Phillips is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Barreta gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Barreta lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Brucey Phillips has been cut.

Barreta has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Phillips uses from the top position.
Phillips being controlled here momentarily.
Phillips stops Barreta from standing up.
Phillips stopping the sweep attempt from Barreta.

Barreta had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Phillips defends it easily.
Phillips postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barreta tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barreta utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barreta is on top in guard.
Barreta works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Barreta lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Phillips kicks Barreta off and gets back to his feet.

Barreta gets a double leg takedown into Phillips's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barreta trying to control but Phillips is working from the bottom.
Phillips utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barreta slips nicely into half guard.
Barreta throws a strike but Phillips avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Phillips controls Barreta momentarily but Barreta frees himself.
Phillips is breathing heavily.
Barreta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Phillips swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barreta is looking to pass into half guard but Phillips pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Phillips is in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barreta wants to stand and escape but Phillips is having none of it.

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

Barreta has his foot on Phillips's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Phillips works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phillips stands up over Barreta, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Phillips wants to control from the top but Barreta keeps moving.
Phillips scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Barreta is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Phillips is controlling him.
Phillips trying to control but Barreta is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barreta can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barreta is trying to keep Phillips in close.
Phillips throwing strikes from guard but Barreta blocks nicely.
Barreta working a defensive guard here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Max Barreta hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Barreta displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Phillips.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brucey Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some wild striking there from Phillips.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Barreta dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brucey Phillips's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Phillips enables Barreta to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Phillips manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Barreta throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Phillips works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Phillips had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barreta defends it easily.
Barreta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barreta wants to control from the top but Phillips keeps moving.
Phillips is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Barreta dives into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barreta grinds an elbow into Phillips's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barreta looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Barreta is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Barreta stands up and beckons Phillips to his feet.
Phillips lands a jab.

Barreta darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips is trying to escape back to his feet but Barreta uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Barreta really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Phillips. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Phillips throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Phillips tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Phillips is not content to let Barreta control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barreta taking a breather here.
Barreta is looking to take a break and control but Phillips is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Barreta has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Barreta decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barreta with the ground and pound but Phillips uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Barreta is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Phillips looking for a sweep. Not yet Phillips, not yet.
Barreta controlling from the top position.
Barreta lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barreta wants to control from the top but Phillips keeps moving.
Max Barreta has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barreta landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Barreta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brucey Phillips's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Phillips looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Barreta tries to clinch but Phillips is having none of it.
Barreta tries a head kick but it misses.

Barreta shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Barreta showed some decent athleticism there.
Barreta is trying to control the action in half guard but Phillips is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barreta takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Max Barreta was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Barreta stuffs the takedown attempt from Phillips. Phillips gets slowly back to his feet.

Barreta closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Barreta lands in his opponent's guard.
Barreta looking to pass the guard.
Barreta wants to control from the top but Phillips keeps moving.
Barreta must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barreta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Phillips swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Phillips is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Barreta showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Phillips is looking for a triangle here but Barreta uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Brucey Phillips has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barreta stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Barreta fails in his attempt to clinch.

Barreta drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Barreta postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Phillips working for submissions but it's allowed Barreta to get to half guard.

Barreta stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barreta closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Barreta has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barreta performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Barreta wants to free his trapped foot but Phillips is holding on for dear life with his legs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barreta is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Max Barreta is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Phillips is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Barreta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barreta 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Barreta!