PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Courtney Fleming (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavi Ilbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Fleming
vs
Ilbert

202 cm
24
151 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

160 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Courtney Fleming!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Xavi Ilbert!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ilbert closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Fleming did well to prevent Ilbert getting side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ilbert keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ilbert moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Fleming.
Fleming tries to improve position but can't.
Fleming really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fleming is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Ilbert is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Fleming's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Ilbert is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Fleming is surviving well by controlling Ilbert's body position as best he can.
Ilbert dominating with strikes here.
Fleming swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
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!

Ilbert looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Ilbert stands up from mount. Strange move.
Ilbert tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilbert throws a body kick that misses.
Ilbert tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fleming swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fleming tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ilbert paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fleming leaves Ilbert with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fleming shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ilbert sprawls well. Ilbert wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fleming gets slowly back to his feet.
Ilbert slaps away a takedown attempt from Fleming, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ilbert circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilbert moves in looking to clinch but Fleming pushes him off.
Fleming wants to clinch.
Fleming tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ilbert looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fleming stuffs the takedown.
Ilbert misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ilbert misses with a leg kick

and Fleming counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ilbert breaks the clinch.
Ilbert throws a head kick that misses
and Fleming counters with a nice uppercut.
Fleming paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Fleming closes the distance but Ilbert moves to the side

and Ilbert counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fleming's guard now.
Fleming will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Fleming keeping moving, preventing Ilbert from controlling successfully.
Fleming tries to strike from the bottom.
Fleming trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ilbert trying to control the position from guard on top but Fleming is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ilbert prevents Fleming from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fleming has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Ilbert is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ilbert drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Courtney Fleming has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavi Ilbert.
Fleming tries to land a knee to the head but Ilbert blocks with his arms.
Ilbert wants to get back to striking at distance but Fleming won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ilbert has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ilbert tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fleming avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavi Ilbert dominated that round.
That's time! Fleming's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ilbert has closed the distance and engaged Fleming in a clinch.
Fleming prevents a takedown attempt there.
Fleming is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ilbert tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fleming blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ilbert should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ilbert tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ilbert is struggling to control the position.
Fleming will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ilbert up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fleming tries to throw a body punch but Ilbert avoids it by throwing Fleming back against the cage.
Ilbert is trying to drag Fleming to the mat but Fleming just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Courtney Fleming has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavi Ilbert.
Ilbert blocks an uppercut.
Ilbert tries to pull guard but Fleming forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Fleming letting Ilbert take a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilbert takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ilbert wants a takedown.
Fleming lands a nice uppercut.
A short uppercut from Fleming.
Ilbert leaning against his opponent.
Ilbert jumps guard but Fleming stands there with Ilbert around his waist. Ilbert gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ilbert can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fleming misses with a knee to the head.
Ilbert avoids a wild elbow strike from Fleming.
Ilbert wants a takedown.

Ilbert drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fleming throws a big elbow that misses.

Fleming avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ilbert is breathing heavily.
Fleming trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ilbert is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fleming accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fleming keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ilbert's head.
Ilbert looking for a sweep. Not yet Ilbert, not yet.
Ilbert preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fleming working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ilbert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fleming has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fleming trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fleming will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ilbert controls Fleming momentarily but Fleming frees himself.
Fleming in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
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 Courtney Fleming will probably get the nod.
That's time! Fleming's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Fleming tries to clinch but Ilbert is having none of it.
Ilbert throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Fleming counters with a head kick.
Xavi Ilbert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fleming throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ilbert tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fleming sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ilbert somewhat.
Nice sprawl there from Fleming as Ilbert shoots in.
Fleming feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ilbert's calf.
Fleming feints a jab promting Ilbert to slip. Fleming then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ilbert slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Fleming tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ilbert paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fleming shoots in for a double leg but Ilbert sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ilbert shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ilbert was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ilbert tries to stand but Fleming is controlling his head.
Ilbert takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fleming wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ilbert lands a nice forearm strike.
Ilbert landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Ilbert is trying to get an arm triangle but Fleming is defending well.
Fleming is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ilbert is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xavi Ilbert has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ilbert tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Fleming is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Fleming tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Ilbert presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fleming is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilbert controlling the position easily from mount.
Fleming taking shots to the head.
Ilbert sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Ilbert working for a guillotine from mount but Fleming is in no mood to give up.
Fleming is trying to stand but he's just given Ilbert his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ilbert looking for the choke from the back.
Fleming is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Ilbert's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Ilbert scores with punches and elbows.
Fleming looking very determined here, making life difficult for Ilbert.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
I would not like to be Fleming right now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fleming rolls, trying to escape but Ilbert keeps control of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavi Ilbert comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ilbert has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavi Ilbert!