PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Speight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David Speight has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Steve Freeman's chin.

Freeman
vs
Speight

216 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

187 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, David Speight!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freeman tries for a takedown but Speight circles away easily

and Speight counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Freeman!
Speight controls the position.
Freeman defending against the ground and pound.
Speight is trying to move to mount but Freeman reverses beautifully and ends up in Speight's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Speight is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Freeman is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Speight is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Freeman presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Speight wants the takedown. Freeman is fighting it off but Speight persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Freeman's guard against the cage.
Speight sitting in guard, not really doing much.
It looks like Speight might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Freeman tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Freeman is breathing heavily.
Speight is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Freeman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Speight drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Freeman can't keep his opponent in guard - Speight advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Freeman moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman being controlled here, momentarily.
Freeman can't keep his opponent in guard - Speight advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Speight seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Let's hope that Speight has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Speight dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Speight closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Freeman did well to prevent Speight getting side control.
Freeman is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Speight scores with a couple of nice shots.
Speight seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speight is continuing to stall.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Speight with the ground and pound but Freeman uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Speight 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.

Speight bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Speight remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speight's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Speight tries to advance to mount but can't.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Freeman misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Speight counters with a nice double leg into side control. Freeman won't be happy with that.
Speight takes a little break here. Freeman wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speight advances nicely into full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Speight wants to take Freeman's back but he can't do it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Speight showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Speight closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Freeman's guard.
Speight must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Speight not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speight pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Freeman is keeping the position for now.
David Speight has got the better of the ground game so far.
Speight keeps trying to improve his position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Freeman rushes Speight and presses him up against the cage.

Speight has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Freeman is trying to keep an underhook but Speight manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is doing well to control the position and prevent Speight from advancing to side control.
Speight is controlling the pace.

Speight is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Speight slows the pace down in half guard.
Speight has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
David Speight is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Speight closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's four 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.
Well, if Speight is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Speight.
Steve Freeman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
David Speight comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Speight 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Speight!