PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ejay Justin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neighborhood Slugger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ejay Justin had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Justin
vs
Slugger

189 cm
24
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ejay Justin !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neighborhood Slugger!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Steve Montenegro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slugger wants to clinch.
Justin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Justin connects with a high kick.
Slugger tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Justin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Slugger shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Justin sprawls well. Justin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Slugger gets slowly back to his feet.
Justin throws a right and a left that Slugger avoids nicely.
Justin darts in looking for a takedown but Slugger gets double underhooks and turns Justin into the cage.
Slugger missing with knees to the body.
Slugger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Slugger is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Justin is defending well for now.
Slugger's coach down at Morbid Conditioning School $150 was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Slugger's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Slugger prevents the takedown attempt.
Justin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Slugger backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slugger misses with a knee to the head.
Justin stalling against the cage.

Justin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Justin tries for a takedown but Slugger sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ejay Justin . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slugger on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Justin has Slugger up against the cage in a clinch.
Slugger throws an elbow but it misses.
Justin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Slugger tries to land knees in the clinch but Justin avoids the damage to the body.
Slugger tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Justin avoids it.
Justin taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Slugger.

Justin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Slugger wants to clinch up but Justin keeps it at a distance.
Slugger tries to clinch up.
Justin shoots in for a takedown but Slugger shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Slugger fails with an attempt to clinch.

Justin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Justin lands a damaging elbow.
Slugger using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Justin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Slugger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Justin .
Slugger looks winded!

Justin jumps guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Slugger wants to get up but he can't break Justin 's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Justin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Slugger really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Justin . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justin is taking a breather. Slugger says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Justin prevents Slugger from standing back up.

Justin stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Slugger to get to his feet.
Justin with a poor takedown

and Slugger moves into the clinch.
Slugger throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Slugger missing with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Justin .

Justin successfully pulls guard.
Slugger would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Slugger avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Justin trying to keep a closed guard but Slugger is proving a slippery customer.
Justin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Slugger manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Slugger pushes Justin off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Justin swats away the attempt to clinch by Slugger.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Justin closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ejay Justin dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Justin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Slugger's head.
Justin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Slugger shoots in looking for a takedown. Justin tries to sprawl out of it but Slugger keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Justin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Justin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ejay Justin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab from Justin does it's job there.
Justin throws a head kick that half lands.
Slugger moves in looking to clinch but Justin pushes him off.
Slugger wants to clinch.
Justin fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slugger tries to clinch but Justin is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Slugger.

Justin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Justin is trying to break free.
The referee is keeping an eye on Justin - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Justin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Slugger pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ejay Justin . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Justin avoiding damage as Slugger throws knees to the body.
Justin blocks the elbow strike.

Justin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Justin has managed to clinch.
Slugger looking to throw knees to the head but Justin is blocking nicely.
Slugger missing with knees to the body.
Justin tries to score a body lock takedown but Slugger shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Justin managing to block the knees to the body from Slugger.
Justin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Slugger up against the cage.
Justin fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Justin avoids a wild elbow strike from Slugger.
Justin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Slugger working aggressively here.
Justin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Justin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Justin instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slugger throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Justin blocks it with crossed arms.

Justin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Justin moves into the clinch.
Justin blocks an elbow strike.
Slugger with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Justin breaks the clinch.

Justin closes the distance and clinches.
Justin is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Slugger is defending well.
Slugger tries to land knees in the clinch but Justin avoids the damage to the body.
Slugger takes an elbow to the forehead.
Justin has Slugger pushed against the cage.
Slugger tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Justin avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Justin drags the fight down to the ground.
Slugger trying to stand up but can't free himself from Justin 's guard.
Justin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Justin has a closed guard, preventing Slugger from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Justin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Slugger manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ejay Justin dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Justin clinches.

Justin manages to break the clinch.
Slugger fails in his attempt to clinch.
Justin fakes the leg kick and cracks Slugger in the body.
Justin scores with a shot to the body.

Slugger tries to keep at a distance but Justin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Slugger creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Justin pulls guard successfully.
Slugger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Slugger won't allow Justin to sweep him here.

Justin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Slugger doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Slugger manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Justin has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Justin is working an open guard so Slugger takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Slugger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Justin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Slugger decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Justin is trying to maintain the position but Slugger is very close to passing his half guard.

Slugger gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Justin slams his shin into Slugger's torso.

Slugger gets a clinch.
Slugger looking to throw knees to the head but Justin is blocking nicely.

Justin drags the fight down to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slugger wants to stand but Justin is controlling his posture from full guard.
Justin has Slugger pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slugger wants to stand and escape but instead Justin has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Justin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Slugger keeping moving, preventing Justin from controlling successfully.
Justin prevents Slugger from getting back to his feet.
Ejay Justin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Slugger pushes Justin off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Justin keeps the fight on the outside.
Justin shoots in looking for a takedown. Slugger tries to sprawl out of it but Justin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Slugger manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Slugger moves into the clinch successfully.

Justin gets control of Slugger's arms and successfully pulls guard. Justin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Slugger has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Justin is proving hard to escape from.
Slugger wants to stand and escape but instead Justin has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Justin trying to control but Slugger is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slugger wants to stand up but Justin is controlling him.
Neighborhood Slugger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ejay Justin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Slugger has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Justin is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Slugger.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Neighborhood Slugger.
Well Justin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ejay Justin !