PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ba Lil III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Lil III
vs
Speed

180 cm
33
160 lbs
22 - 8 - 1

177 cm
30
159 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conquer
REAR NAKED CHOKE NUTRITION

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 22 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Ba Lil III!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Rufus Speed!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Jonathan Paton and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lil III throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lil III walks into a left hand.
Speed bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Lil III just misses with a punch to the body.
Speed throws an off balance right hand

and Lil III counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Speed is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Speed looking to control.
Lil III trying to control but Speed is working from the bottom.
We've been hearing good reports from Lil III's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lil III accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Speed wants to sweep here but Lil III controlling him for the moment.

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

Speed lands a nice forearm strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed working away.
Lil III is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Lil III manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Lil III is in trouble now - Speed has advanced to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lil III is trying desperately to improve position.
Speed lands a heavy elbow.
Speed raining down hammerfists from mount.
Lil III manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lil III is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Speed pulls his head out easily.
Speed trying to pass the guard but Lil III defending well.
Speed is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Lil III has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Speed escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Speed!
Lil III is looking to regain half guard here but Speed keeps moving and retains side control.

Speed working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lil III is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lil III is working hard here to advance position.
Speed tries to advance to mount but Lil III denies him.

Speed wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lil III, who protects the arm well.
Lil III tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Speed trying to control the position but Lil III is working away.
Lil III prevents Speed from moving into mount.

Speed working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Speed working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Speed working the head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lil III looks to land a left hand but Speed moved out of range nicely.
Speed lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lil III takes a jab right on the kisser.
Lil III misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Speed.
Lil III ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Speed misses the target.
Speed throws the left hand but Lil III avoids the punch easily.
Lil III ducks under a wild hook from Speed.
Lil III moves forwards but Speed connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Speed misses the shot to the body.
Lil III chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Speed can pounce on him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lil III misses the jab.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Speed lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Lil III has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lil III and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Lil III sizes up Speed with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Lil III needs to keep his hands up - Speed had a free shot at his head there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Speed avoids the body shot from Lil III.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lil III will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lil III looks to score with a jab to the body but Speed is just out of range.
Lil III stuns Speed with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Speed has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lil III takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Rufus Speed seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Speed stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Speed misses with a straight right.
Lil III moves into range and connects with a jab.
Lil III moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lil III fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Speed.
Lil III misses with a body shot.
Lil III throws a head kick that misses.
Speed lands a nice shot to the body.
Lil III throws a leg kick that misses.
Speed throws a nice outside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Speed swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lil III throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed checks the leg kick nicely there.
Speed looks for the body kick but Lil III saw that one coming.
Speed throws a hook but Lil III avoids it easily.
Speed lands a front kick.
Speed throws a hook but Lil III blocks it.
Speed walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lil III checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Lil III throws a low kick but it's checked well by Speed.
Lil III dives in for a single leg takedown but Speed sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Speed goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Speed working aggressively here.
Speed lands an uppercut.
Lil III tries a body shot but Speed blocks it.
A nice left hand lands by Speed.
Speed tries a body shot but Lil III blocks it.
Lil III tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Speed lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed lands a shoulder strike.
Speed tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lil III lands an uppercut.
Lil III is working Speed over against the cage.
Lil III throws a punch but it's blocked by Speed.
Speed scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lil III lands with a right to the head.
A shot in the inside from Lil III.
Lil III prevents a body shot from Speed.
Speed swings wildly with an uppercut but Lil III uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lil III blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Speed lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Speed scores with a shoulder strike.
Lil III pushes Speed back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lil III misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speed blocks the elbow strike.
Speed lands a hook that snaps the head of Lil III backwards.
Lil III misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lil III lands a right hand.
Speed takes a shot to the head.
Lil III tries a body shot but Speed blocks it.
Speed lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lil III taking a breather.
A nice left hand lands by Speed.
Lil III is trying to pull guard but Speed turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Speed lands a hook that snaps the head of Lil III backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for Speed.
Speed misses with some punches.
Speed lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Speed scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Speed lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Speed.

Lil III has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Speed uses from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Speed showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Lil III throws a jab when Speed was well out of range.
Lil III shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Speed defends it nicely.
Speed misses with a body shot.
Speed throws a front kick aimed at Lil III's knee but Lil III avoids it well.
Speed buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Speed.
Speed connects with a right hand. Lil III shakes it off.
Lil III misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Speed throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lil III throws a looping overhand right but Speed ducks down to avoid it.
Speed checks a leg kick.
Speed has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Lil III lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Speed tries a head kick but it misses.
Speed slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed throws a big shot that misses.
Speed misses with a head kick.
Jab from Speed.
Lil III lands a nice leg kick that just misses Speed's sensitive parts.
Lil III does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Lil III shoots in but Speed avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Speed thumps Lil III with a low kick.
Lil III uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Speed.
Speed on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Lil III swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nice takedown defense from Speed. No joy for Lil III on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ba Lil III. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lil III takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lil III throws a sloppy head kick and Speed moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lil III slips a straight right by Speed.
Speed throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lil III sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rufus Speed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That kick from Lil III tenderised Speed's leg. Speed is trying to keep his angry face on.
Speed misses with a straight right.
Speed takes a swing at Lil III's ribcage but misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lil III throws a front kick aimed at Speed's knee but Speed avoids it well.
Speed stuffs the takedown attempt from Lil III. Lil III gets slowly back to his feet.
A slow jab from Speed misses its intended target.
A nice leg kick lands there from Speed.
Speed throws a big shot that misses.
Lil III throws a jab when Speed was well out of range.
Lil III fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Speed is looking to land body kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lil III lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Danga de danga de dang - Speed scores with a four punch combination!
Lil III misses with a leg kick.

Speed scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Speed tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lil III knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lil III gets full guard.
Speed wants to control from the top but Lil III keeps moving.

Lil III has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Speed is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Lil III.
Ba Lil III has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lil III gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lil III works his way to full guard. Good work.
Speed pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lil III is keeping the position for now.

Speed got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lil III has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Speed has managed to get both his arms back between Lil III's legs - danger averted.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lil III has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Speed is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Lil III.
Speed landing a few strikes.
Lil III throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Lil III throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rufus Speed comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Speed 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rufus Speed!
Rufus Speed decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.