PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sir Phinnius Bacon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marshal Van Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Phinnius Bacon
vs
Van Black

195 cm
20
220 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

194 cm
23
250 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sir Phinnius Bacon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marshal Van Black!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bacon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Van Black paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bacon tries to clinch up.

Van Black drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Black pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bacon is keeping the position for now.
Van Black trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Van Black won't allow Bacon to get back to his feet.
Van Black sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Bacon manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Bacon wants to clinch.
Bacon tries to clinch up but Van Black circles away and keeps his distance.
Bacon shoots and misses

and Van Black counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Van Black.
Bacon utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Van Black landing with the ground and pound.
Van Black with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bacon wants to get back to his feet but Van Black is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bacon keeping moving, preventing Van Black from controlling successfully.
Van Black postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Bacon kicks Van Black off and gets to his feet.
Bacon tries to clinch but Van Black moves out of range.
Bacon shoots and misses

and Van Black decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bacon's guard.
Bacon is breathing heavily.
Bacon wants to sweep but no luck.

Bacon wriggles free and stands up.
Bacon tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Van Black counters with a single leg into guard. Bacon didn't expect that.
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!
Bacon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Van Black.
Van Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Van Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bacon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bacon looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Black trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bacon's guard.
Van Black throws a strike but Bacon rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Van Black has a closed guard, preventing Bacon from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Van Black gets a takedown into half guard.

Van Black is trying to work for a kimura but Bacon is defending well.
Bacon regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Black postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Van Black must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Van Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Bacon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Black has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bacon is proving hard to escape from.

Bacon pushes Van Black off and scrambles back to his feet.

Van Black shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bacon wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Van Black wants to pass the guard but Bacon is keeping the position.
Bacon trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Van Black stops Bacon from standing up.
Van Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bacon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bacon holds on and takes a little breather.
Bacon is trying to control the position but Van Black postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Black lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bacon is looking to stand up but Van Black isn't so interested in that idea.
Van Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Van Black throwing strikes but missing.
Bacon wants to stand up but Van Black is controlling him.
Van Black is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Black pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bacon is keeping the position for now.

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

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

Marshal Van Black dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Van Black throws a one two combo.
Bacon tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Van Black counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bacon's guard now.
Van Black trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Van Black won't allow Bacon to get back to his feet.
Van Black trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bacon wants to sweep but no luck.
Van Black thows a big elbow that misses.
Bacon is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Van Black trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Black trying to control but Bacon is working from the bottom.

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

Van Black darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bacon wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Black throwing shots but Bacon is blocking nicely.
Marshal Van Black has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bacon gets full guard.
Van Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bacon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Van Black manages to get himself to full guard.

Bacon stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Bacon has Van Black up against the cage in a clinch.
Van Black is pressed up against the cage. Bacon has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Van Black down to the mat. Van Black avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Van Black.
Bacon moves out of range of the body kick.

Van Black feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bacon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Van Black prevents Bacon from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Van Black accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Van Black postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bacon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van Black prevents Bacon from getting back to his feet.
Van Black content to stall in guard here.
Van Black wants to control from the top but Bacon keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Van Black feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Van Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bacon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Van Black would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Van Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Bacon uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bacon wants to clinch up but Van Black keeps it at a distance.

Van Black gets the takedown into side control.
Van Black wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bacon keeps working.
Van Black lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Bacon down.
Van Black misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Van Black trying to control the action but Bacon is working from the bottom.
Van Black throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Bacon defending against the ground and pound.
Van Black connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bacon some visible discomfort.

Van Black stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Bacon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Van Black paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Black scores with a takedown into Bacon's guard.
Bacon is looking to stand up but Van Black isn't so interested in that idea.
Bacon is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bacon decides to return to a standing position.
Bacon misses with a takedown attempt

and Van Black counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bacon's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bacon is on top in guard.
Van Black looking for a sweep. Not yet Van Black, not yet.
Van Black is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bacon wants to stand but Van Black is controlling his posture from full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bacon wants to control from the top but Van Black keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marshal Van Black showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Bacon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bacon is looking to clinch.
Bacon tries to clinch up but Van Black circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Black circles away from the clinch attempt.

Van Black scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Van Black tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Bacon.
Bacon tries to kick Van Black off but Van Black keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Bacon manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Van Black misses with a two punch combination.
A left and a right from Van Black both land. Nice combination.

Van Black darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bacon is trying to stand back up but Van Black is controlling him
Van Black takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bacon has one foot on Van Black's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Black avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Van Black rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bacon moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bacon tries to clinch but Van Black moves out of range.
Van Black swats away the attempt to clinch by Bacon.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bacon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Black circles away from the clinch attempt

and Van Black counters with a single leg into guard. Bacon didn't expect that.

Bacon has his feet on Van Black's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Van Black looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Van Black sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bacon defending well though.

Van Black decides to return to a standing position.
Marshal Van Black seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Black closes the distance but Bacon moves to the side
and Bacon counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bacon wants to clinch.

Van Black looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Black throwing strikes from guard but Bacon blocks nicely.

Bacon scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Bacon closes the distance but Van Black moves to the side
and Van Black counters with a three punch combo that has Bacon backing up. Bacon nods at Van Black to acknowledge the strikes.
Bacon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Black manages to avoid it.
Van Black shoots in for a takedown but Bacon shows good takedown defense.
Bacon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Van Black swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van Black throws a shot to the body.

Bacon moves into the clinch.
Van Black on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Black on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bacon missing with knees to the body.
Bacon misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Van Black.
Van Black tries to score a body lock takedown but Bacon shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bacon crunches a lovely knee into Van Black's ribcage.
Van Black is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bacon pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sir Phinnius Bacon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marshal Van Black.
Van Black wants to break free but Bacon has control.
Bacon unloads a knee to the mid-section. Van Black lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bacon lands an elbow just above Van Black 's eye.
Bacon stops a takedown attempt from Van Black.
Bacon landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Bacon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Van Black tries to pull guard but Bacon holds him up against the cage and eventually Van Black drops back down to his feet.
Knees to the body from Bacon.
Bacon landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Van Black can't break the clinch.
Bacon misses with the head strike.
Van Black wants a takedown but no success here.
Van Black managing to block the knees to the body from Bacon.
Van Black drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bacon pulls his leg out and moves away.

Bacon gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bacon trying to control the position but Van Black is working away.
Van Black wants to get back to his feet.
Van Black is looking to reverse the position.
Bacon controls the position.

Bacon stands up and beckons Van Black to his feet.
Van Black avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bacon feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Van Black's calf.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bacon moves into the clinch.
Van Black blocks the elbow strike.

Van Black drags the fight down to the ground.
Sir Phinnius Bacon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Van Black wants to sweep here but Bacon controlling him for the moment.
Van Black wants to stand and escape but Bacon is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marshal Van Black.
I've got Van Black winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marshal Van Black!