PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Freeman
vs
Phillips

216 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

187 cm
24
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 - 4 - 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, Mike Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Steven Brown and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Phillips scores with a takedown into Freeman's guard.
Freeman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phillips throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Phillips must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Phillips stands and steps away. Freeman gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Phillips drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phillips working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman is looking for a sweep.
Phillips advances nicely into full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips looking to land elbow strikes but Freeman uses the position to regain half guard.
Phillips content to control rather than advance.
Freeman is breathing heavily.

Phillips postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Freeman to stand up.

Phillips gets a double leg takedown into Freeman's guard.
Phillips tries to stand but Freeman is controlling from the bottom.
Phillips slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Phillips passes into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Phillips in particular looking to stall.
Freeman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Phillips.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips controlling the action here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Phillips throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Freeman.

Phillips closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Freeman did well to prevent Phillips getting side control.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Phillips in particular looking to stall.
Phillips thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Freeman's head.
Phillips slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phillips is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Phillips performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Phillips closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Freeman's guard.
Phillips 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.
Let's hope that Phillips 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips wants to pass the guard but Freeman is keeping the position.
Freeman keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips passes Freeman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Freeman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Phillips is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Phillips trying to pass the guard but Freeman defending well.

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.
Phillips is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Freeman dives in and grabs Phillips's left leg, looking for a takedown. Phillips pushes down on Freeman's head and hops out.
Freeman is looking to clinch but Phillips is avoiding it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Phillips.

Phillips stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phillips manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Freeman on his heels. He'll look to pass Freeman's guard now, I'm sure.

Phillips drops back, looking for a kneebar! Freeman looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Freeman looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Freeman!

Phillips is looking to regain half guard here but Freeman keeps moving and retains side control.
Phillips gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phillips manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Freeman keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Phillips content to slow the pace in the clinch.

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

Mike Phillips showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Phillips closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Phillips lands in his opponent's guard.
Phillips postures up.
Phillips passes Freeman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips tries to pass to full mount but Freeman defends it.

Phillips is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman tries to kick Phillips off but Phillips keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Phillips sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Phillips shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Phillips is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Freeman is just riding it out for now. Phillips eventually gives up the hold.
It looks like Phillips is going to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is refusing to be controlled, as Phillips sits in half guard.
Phillips is figuring out what he wants to do next.

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.
Phillips wants to pass the guard but Freeman is defending well.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Freeman wants to control but Phillips is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Freeman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Phillips misses with a series of wild punches.
Phillips with a body punch. A glancing blow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Phillips comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Phillips has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 25:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 25:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Phillips!