PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vaughn Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Albert Marena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Albert Marena has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Phillips
vs
Marena

181 cm
18
150 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

173 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vaughn Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Albert Marena!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marena keeps the fight on the outside.

Marena shoots in and gets a takedown into Phillips's guard.
Phillips is controlling Marena's posture.
Phillips has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Phillips keeping moving, preventing Marena from controlling successfully.
Marena controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips keeping full guard, as Marena tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marena is still trying to improve position.
Phillips not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Marena tries a head kick but it misses.
Marena goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Marena misses with a takedown attempt

so Phillips counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Phillips's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Phillips wants to control from the top but Marena keeps moving.
Phillips missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marena trying to control the position here.
Phillips prevents Marena from getting back to his feet.
Marena keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Marena closes this distance looking for a takedown but Phillips circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marena tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Phillips swivels and escapes.
Vaughn Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Marena.

Marena clinches up against the cage.

Marena escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Phillips tries for a takedown but Marena sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Marena tries to score a power double leg takedown but Phillips sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Marena somewhat.
Marena looks winded!

Marena closes the distance and clinches.

Marena has Phillips pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Marena pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Phillips tumbling to the mat - Marena dives into Phillips's guard.
Marena postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marena wants to stand but Phillips is controlling his posture from full guard.
Phillips is pulling down on Marena's head to control his posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Phillips wants to stand but Marena is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Albert Marena dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Phillips drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Phillips wants to control from the top but Marena keeps moving.
Phillips sitting in guard here, content to control.
Marena controls Phillips momentarily but Phillips frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marena seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Phillips controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marena pulls Phillips in to control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Marena is trying to keep Phillips in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Phillips shoots in and drives through. Marena sprawls well.
Marena leaves Phillips with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Marena moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Marena stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Phillips tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vaughn Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Marena manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Marena 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.
Phillips throwing strikes from guard but Marena blocks nicely.

Marena is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Marena has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marena wants to sweep here but Phillips controlling him for the moment.
Phillips trying to control but Marena is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Marena trying to control the position here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Phillips misses with a few strikes there.
Marena shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Phillips but Phillips pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Phillips fails with a takedown attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Phillips enables Marena to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Phillips manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marena throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Phillips works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Marena wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Phillips's closed guard. He's half up but Phillips has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Phillips pivots and extends the arm, Marena falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Phillips! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Vaughn Phillips!