PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sal Phelps (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackson Rampage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Sal Phelps has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Phelps
vs
Rampage

177 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sal Phelps!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jackson Rampage!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rampage has managed to clinch.

Rampage pulls Phelps into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Phelps has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rampage is proving hard to escape from.
Rampage preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rampage wants to sweep but no luck.
Rampage has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Phelps has passed into side control.
Rampage keeps Phelps under control for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rampage is pushing Phelps's head away, looking to escape. Phelps manages to hold on to the position though.
Rampage is trying to get back to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rampage can do anything to dispel that myth.

Phelps working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rampage wants to get back to his feet but Phelps drags him back down.
Rampage managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Phelps.
Rampage manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Rampage gets full guard.
Rampage is pulling down on Phelps's head. It's preventing any offense from Phelps, at least for the moment.

Rampage escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Phelps gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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.

Rampage working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Phelps doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Phelps manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Phelps is looking to stand up but Rampage won't let him.
Rampage has control of Phelps's left arm, preventing Phelps from doing any damage.
Rampage wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Phelps could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rampage fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Rampage moves into range and clinches up with Phelps.
Rampage scores with a hook to the body.

Rampage successfully pulls guard.
Rampage has a closed guard, preventing Phelps from standing up.
Rampage is pulling down on Phelps's head. It's preventing any offense from Phelps, at least for the moment.

Phelps got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rampage has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Phelps has managed to get both his arms back between Rampage's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rampage throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rampage controlling Phelps's posture.
Phelps would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Rampage dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A combination from Rampage does no damage.

Rampage has closed the distance and engaged Phelps in a clinch.

Rampage manages to break the clinch.
Phelps moves in looking to clinch but Rampage pushes him off.
Rampage throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Phelps counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Rampage has closed the distance and engaged Phelps in a clinch.
Rampage lands with a left to the head.

Rampage pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rampage has a takedown stuffed.

Rampage shoots in and gets a takedown into Phelps's guard.
Rampage content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rampage drops back looking for a leg! Phelps is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Phelps manages to kick Rampage off! Rampage jumps back into Phelps's guard.

Phelps has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rampage off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Phelps looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phelps closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rampage circles away.
Phelps throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Phelps instigates a clinch.

Rampage pulls guard successfully.
Rampage is trying to keep Phelps in close.
Phelps preventing the sweep.
Phelps wants to stand but Rampage is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rampage controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rampage looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rampage looking for a sweep. Not yet Rampage, not yet.
Rampage has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rampage shoots in and drives through. Phelps sprawls well.
Rampage misses with the combination.

Rampage gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rampage's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rampage takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Phelps throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rampage shoots in but Phelps avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sal Phelps has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jackson Rampage.
Rampage is breathing heavily.
Phelps scores with a jab to the body.
Phelps misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rampage.
Rampage lands the left hand.
Phelps is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rampage closes the distance and clinches up with Phelps, looking for a takedown. Rampage pushes Phelps against the cage but Phelps circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sal Phelps is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rampage steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Phelps. That one must have hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jackson Rampage will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rampage on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rampage misses with a takedown attempt
and Phelps counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rampage takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Rampage gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Phelps jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rampage walks away with a smile on his face. Phelps gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rampage shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Phelps as he avoids it easily.
No luck for Phelps with that takedown attempt.

Rampage shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rampage showed some decent athleticism there.
Rampage takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rampage is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rampage thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Phelps's head.
Rampage slows the pace down in half guard.
Rampage lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Phelps is trying to get back to full guard.

Phelps looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rampage in particular looking to stall.

Phelps looking for a kimura from the bottom but Rampage passes into side control!
Rampage advances to full mount.
Phelps regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rampage seems to be looking for submissions.
Phelps is staying active underneath Rampage, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Phelps looks like he's trying to stand up.

Rampage is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Phelps has managed to free his arm - good work.

Rampage seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Rampage is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Phelps sees it coming and defends easily.
Phelps is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rampage scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rampage seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Phelps is looking for a sweep. Rampage is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Phelps is trying to stand back up but Rampage is controlling him

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Phelps closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rampage circles away.
Sal Phelps has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jackson Rampage is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sal Phelps. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A left and a right from Phelps both land. Nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jackson Rampage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rampage 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jackson Rampage!