PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dave Spiteri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Kevin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Spiteri
vs
Kevin

172 cm
21
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dave Spiteri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andre Kevin!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kevin fails with the takedown.
Kevin shoots in but no luck this time.
Kevin tries to bum rush Spiteri with a series of wild strikes but Spiteri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kevin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Spiteri as he avoids it easily.
Dave Spiteri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Kevin.
Spiteri throws a right and a left that Kevin avoids nicely.
A jab from Spiteri finds it's way through Kevin's defenses.
Kevin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Spiteri circles away.
Kevin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Spiteri but Spiteri pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Spiteri feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kevins jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kevin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Spiteri.
Spiteri tries to bum rush Kevin with a series of wild strikes but Kevin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kevin tries to close the distance and clinch but Spiteri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kevin dives in and grabs Spiteri's left leg, looking for a takedown. Spiteri pushes down on Kevin's head and hops out.
Spiteri lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spiteri shoots in for a takedown but Kevin shows good takedown defense.
Spiteri throws a head kick that misses

and Kevin counters by clinching up.
Kevin is looking for a takedown.

Kevin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kevin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Spiteri lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kevin will feel that in the morning.
Dave Spiteri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spiteri moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Spiteri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Spiteri rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kevin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kevin scores with a head kick. Spiteri tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kevin looks winded!
Spiteri scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Spiteri could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Spiteri does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Spiteri!
The fight stays on the outside here - Kevin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
No luck for Kevin with that takedown attempt.
Kevin walks into a stiff left hand from Spiteri.

Spiteri clinches.
Kevin wants to take the fight to the mat but Spiteri manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Spiteri throws an elbow that misses.

Kevin jumps guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Spiteri would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kevin wants to stand but Spiteri is controlling the position.
Spiteri trying to control but Kevin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spiteri slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Spiteri has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dave Spiteri just wasn't active enough.
Spiteri throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Spiteri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kevin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sloppy strikes from Spiteri. Those never looked like landing.
Donk. Spiteri catches Kevin right on the button with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spiteri tries to clinch up but Kevin circles away and keeps his distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Spiteri scores with a four punch combination!
Spiteri throws a solid leg kick but Kevin takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Spiteri.
Spiteri lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kevin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Spiteri.

Kevin tries to keep at a distance but Spiteri has taken the fight into the clinch.
Spiteri blocking some punches.
Kevin has Spiteri pressed against the cage, preventing Spiteri from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Kevin manages to pull guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spiteri trying to control but Kevin is working from the bottom.
Spiteri controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Spiteri dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kevin walks into a jab.
Spiteri throws a series of punches but Kevin avoids them all with ease.
Kevin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Spiteri sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kevin throws a body punch but Spiteri moves out of range.
Spiteri connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kevin's hands.
Kevin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dave Spiteri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kevin avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Spiteri throws a sloppy head kick and Kevin moves out of range easily.
Spiteri works over Kevin's head and body with a nice combination.
Kevin moves out of range of the strikes.
Kevin misses with the combination.
Kevin moves away from the strike by Spiteri.
A low kick from Spiteri is predictable there

and Kevin counters by clinching up.

Kevin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spiteri scores with a shot to the body.
Kevin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Spiteri sprawls well. Spiteri wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kevin gets slowly back to his feet.
Spiteri misses with a body kick.
Kevin scores with a head kick.
Kevin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Spiteri as he avoids it easily.
Dave Spiteri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Kevin.
Kevin is breathing heavily.
Spiteri keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kevin dives in and grabs Spiteri's left leg, looking for a takedown. Spiteri pushes down on Kevin's head and hops out.
Kevin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kevin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Spiteri moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A left and a right from Spiteri both land. Nice combination.
A combination from Spiteri does no damage.
Spiteri is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kevin blocks a low kick nicely.
Spiteri lands with a right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kevin fakes the leg kick and cracks Spiteri in the body.
Spiteri connects with a body shot.
Spiteri scores with the left hand. Kevin knows he should have avoided that one.
Spiteri throws a leg kick but Kevin moved away.
Spiteri tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kevin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kevin shoots in but no luck this time.
Spiteri throws a series of strikes that have Kevin backpedaling.
Spiteri throws a low kick but Kevin moves out of range easily.
Spiteri misses with a wild combination.

Spiteri moves into range and clinches up with Kevin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spiteri gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kevin.
Kevin tries to pull guard but Spiteri holds him up against the cage and eventually Kevin drops back down to his feet.
Spiteri stalling in the clinch but Kevin improves position.
Spiteri wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Spiteri tries to break free but Kevin pushes him back against the cage.
Kevin is pressed up against the cage. Spiteri has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kevin down to the mat. Kevin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Spiteri throws a one two combo.

Spiteri clinches.
Kevin taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kevin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Spiteri misses with a jab, cross combination.
Spiteri misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kevin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Spiteri wants to clinch up but Kevin keeps it at a distance.
Spiteri connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kevin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spiteri paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kevin goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kevin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spiteri with a jab.
Kevin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Spiteri tries to avoid it but Kevin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Spiteri to the ground. Spiteri escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Spiteri tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dave Spiteri is winning the standup battle so far.
Spiteri tries for a takedown but Kevin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Spiteri dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kevin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Spiteri sprawls well. Spiteri wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kevin gets slowly back to his feet.
Spiteri lands a jab to the head.
Kevin blocks a head kick by Spiteri.
Kevin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kevin tries for a takedown but Spiteri sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Spiteri fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Spiteri lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Spiteri throws a sloppy head kick

and Kevin counters by clinching up.
Kevin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kevin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Spiteri.
Spiteri is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Dave Spiteri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Kevin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kevin looking to slow down the pace here.
Spiteri tries to circle away but Kevin has him pinned against the cage.

Kevin drags the fight down to the ground.
Spiteri is looking to advance position but Kevin has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Spiteri wants to control but Kevin is having none of it.
Spiteri is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Kevin looking to ground and pound but Spiteri is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spiteri is working to get back to half guard.

Kevin working for a guillotine from mount but Spiteri is in no mood to give up.

Kevin is working for a guillotine from mount but Spiteri frees his head quite easily.
Dave Spiteri is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Spiteri keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Spiteri prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Spiteri is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spiteri is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Kevin looking for a guillotine from mount but Spiteri is having none of it.
Spiteri is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Spiteri holds on to Kevin as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
Spiteri is squirming around, avoiding Kevin's attempts to control the action.
Spiteri is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kevin trying to control but Spiteri is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kevin with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Spiteri is looking to get to half guard.
Spiteri tries to hold on but Kevin postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spiteri trying desperately to get to his feet.

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 Dave Spiteri.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Spiteri, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Spiteri!
After winning the bout, Dave Spiteri thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.