PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Acton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Thomas Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Thomas Black acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Acton
vs
Thomas Black

160 cm
18
133 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frankie Acton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Thomas Black!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Acton closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Acton wants to pass to mount but Black is defending the position.

Acton is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Acton wants to pass the guard but Black is defending well.
Acton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Black keeps working.
Black is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Acton trying to control from half guard but Black is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acton blocks the strikes from Black.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Acton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Acton closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Black to the mat! Black manages to get full guard.

Acton postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Black is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Acton, into his guard.
Acton wants to control but Black passes easily into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Acton looking for submissions off his back.
Acton is refusing to be controlled, as Black sits in half guard.

Black is working for a submission of some sort.
Acton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Black wants to pass to mount but Acton is defending the position.
Black keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Black is thwarting Acton's attempts to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Acton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Black's waist but Black gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Acton off to one side.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Acton shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Black is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Black looks gassed!
Acton is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

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

Black had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Acton is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Black Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Acton's back instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Acton rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Black keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Black has his takedown stuffed

and Acton counters with a nice double leg into side control. Black won't be happy with that.
Acton advances to full mount.

Acton is working for a guillotine from mount but Black frees his head quite easily.
Black is breathing heavily.
Black is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acton controlling his opponent.
BOOM! Acton connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Black is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Acton pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Black tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Acton trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Acton punishing his opponent with strikes.
Acton tries to control but Black wriggling away.
Black really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Acton is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Black can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Acton landing punches.

Acton looking for a guillotine from mount but Black is having none of it.

Acton working for a submission but Black is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acton prevents Black from getting the reversal.
Acton trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Black is desperately trying to improve his position but Acton has a good base and remains in mount.
Black is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Acton can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Black is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Acton controlling his opponent.
Acton looking to control but Black is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Acton landing strikes, looking to finish!
Black is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Acton dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Acton with a poor takedown

and Black counters with a takedown into side control.
Acton is looking for a sweep.
Black throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Black wants to control but Acton is keeping him busy.
Black advances nicely into full mount.
Acton working to try and regain half guard.

Black with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Acton tries to reverse the position but Black maintains control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black thowing shots but they're missing.
Acton gets back to half guard.
Black prevents Acton from improving his position.

Black is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Acton defends it well.

Acton is defending against the submission attempts here by Black.
Acton is controlling Black's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Black not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Acton trying to control from the bottom.
Acton manages to get to full guard.
Acton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Acton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Acton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Black doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Black manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Acton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Acton working for a triangle but Black defends it easily.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Acton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Acton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Black is one step ahead there.
Black wants to control from the top but Acton keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Acton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Black counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Thomas Black comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Acton has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frankie Acton!