PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dario Joyce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Razer Knife (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.

Joyce
vs
Knife

205 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 London, Dario Joyce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Razer Knife!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joyce scores with a kick to the body.
No luck for Knife with that takedown attempt.
Razer Knife seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Joyce as Knife shoots in.
Knife shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Joyce sprawls well. Joyce wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Knife gets slowly back to his feet.
Dario Joyce has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Razer Knife.
Joyce swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Knife closes the distance and clinches.

Joyce has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Knife uses from the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Knife wants to control from the top but Joyce keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joyce wants to sweep but no luck.
Knife trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Knife drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Joyce dives on top into guard.
Knife wants to stand and escape but Joyce is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Razer Knife was stalling too much, according to the referee.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Knife.
Knife shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Joyce defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knife tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Joyce swivels and escapes.
A low kick from Joyce misses

and Knife counters with a nice double leg into side control. Joyce won't be happy with that.
Joyce tries to improve position but can't.
Joyce defending against the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Knife goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Joyce rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Knife's guard! Nice work there by Joyce!
Joyce trying to control but Knife is working from the bottom.
Joyce has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joyce wants to stand but Knife has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dario Joyce just wasn't active enough.
Joyce fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Knife has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Joyce stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Joyce chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Knife scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Knife is trying to get an arm triangle but Joyce is defending well.

Knife tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Knife has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Joyce's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Knife decides to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Razer Knife dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Knife shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Joyce defends it nicely.

Joyce clinches with his opponent.
Knife connects with a nasty looking knee right to Joyce's face.

It looks like Dario Joyce has been cut.
Joyce stops a takedown attempt from Knife.
Joyce has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Knife avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Knife is looking to take this one to the mat.
Dario Joyce has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Razer Knife.

Joyce breaks the clinch.
Razer Knife is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Joyce shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Knife pinned against the cage. Knife gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Joyce throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knife misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Knife shoots in for a takedown but Joyce shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Knife walks into a jab.
Joyce shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Knife as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knife drives through with a takedown into guard.
Joyce throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Knife looking to pass the guard.

Knife is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Joyce is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Joyce has escaped and now he's on top!
Knife is looking to stand up but Joyce isn't so interested in that idea.
Joyce will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joyce stands up from Knife's guard - Joyce perhaps looking for a knockout.
Joyce scores with a kick to the midsection.
Knife fails with the takedown
and Joyce counters with a body kick that stops Knife in his tracks momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joyce has managed to clinch.

Knife has Joyce pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Knife pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Joyce tumbling to the mat - Knife dives into Joyce's guard.
Joyce is trying to control the position but Knife postures up.
Knife trying to control but Joyce is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knife looking to sit in guard and control but Joyce gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Joyce trying to control the position from guard on top but Knife is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Razer Knife will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dario Joyce's cut.
That's time! Joyce's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Knife takes one on the button.
Joyce shoots in for a double leg but Knife sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Knife has his takedown stuffed

and Joyce counters by clinching up.
Knife drops down looking for an ankle pick but Joyce pulls his leg out and moves away.
Joyce will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knife takes the fight into the clinch.
Knife is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knife tries for a takedown but Joyce manages to get underhooks.
Dario Joyce has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Razer Knife.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Joyce prevents the takedown attempt.
Joyce trying to control the position but instead, Knife has worked for underhooks and has pushed Joyce into the cage.

Knife has hold of one of Joyce's legs. Joyce is fighting the takedown attempt but Knife gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Joyce really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Joyce has momentary wrist control but Knife slips an elbow through the middle.
Joyce is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knife postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Joyce is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Knife, into his guard.
Knife lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Knife takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Joyce lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knife wants to stand up but Joyce is controlling him.

Knife has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Joyce has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Knife on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Knife is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Joyce is defending well.
Joyce takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knife has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Joyce regains guard immediately.
Joyce tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Razer Knife is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Knife trying to control the position from guard on top but Joyce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Knife seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Knife trying to control the position from guard on top but Joyce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Razer Knife was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Joyce stuffs the takedown attempt from Knife. Knife gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Razer Knife comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Knife 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Razer Knife!