PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Redcliff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viet Nam Tran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Viet Nam Tran will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Redcliff
vs
Nam Tran

175 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

163 cm
25
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michael Redcliff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Viet Nam Tran!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Daniel Franklin and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tran wants to clinch up but Redcliff keeps it at a distance.
Redcliff shoots in for a takedown but Tran shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Redcliff rushes Tran and presses him up against the cage.
Redcliff tries to circle away but Tran has him pinned against the cage.

Redcliff decides to pull guard.
Redcliff manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tran manages to get himself to full guard.

Tran is looking to stand up but Redcliff isn't so interested in that idea.
Redcliff postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tran bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Redcliff's guard.

Tran avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Redcliff had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tran defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Redcliff has his foot on Tran's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tran works his way back into a safe position though.

Redcliff looking for a guillotine here but Tran defends easily.
Redcliff is breathing heavily.
Tran looking to sit in guard and control but Redcliff gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tran looking for a sweep. Not yet Tran, not yet.

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.
Tran is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Redcliff is controlling him.

Tran has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Redcliff can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Redcliff stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tran swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Redcliff stopping the sweep attempt from Tran.

Tran is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Redcliff defends well.
Tran keeping moving, preventing Redcliff from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran wants to sweep here but Redcliff controlling him for the moment.
Tran can't keep his opponent in guard - Redcliff advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Tran actively working from the bottom here.
Tran wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Redcliff is keen to just control but Tran is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tran is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tran trying to control from the bottom.
Tran is trying to stand up here but Redcliff is controlling him well.
Redcliff will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tran tries to get to full guard but Redcliff has control of the leg.
Tran is trying to stand up here but Redcliff is controlling him well.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tran trying to control here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tran dives in for a single leg takedown but Redcliff sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Redcliff avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Redcliff drives through and clinches with Tran against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Redcliff will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Redcliff fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tran tries to counter with a clinch but Redcliff shakes him off and moves away.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Redcliff decides to pull guard.
Redcliff controlling the position.
Tran stands up over Redcliff, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Redcliff has an active guard here but Tran has managed to pass into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Redcliff has his hands clasped together around Tran's back. He's all about the action.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tran connects with a nice short shot to Redcliff's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran prevents Redcliff from standing back up.
Tran is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Redcliff won't allow Tran to pass to mount.
Redcliff is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Tran is trying to work for a kimura but Redcliff is defending well.
Tran passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Redcliff!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tran jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Redcliff manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Tran stands up and beckons Redcliff to his feet.
Tran slaps away a takedown attempt from Redcliff, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Redcliff tries to clinch but Tran moves out of range.
Redcliff lands with a slapping head kick.
Tran tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redcliff throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tran's waist but Tran gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Redcliff off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Redcliff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tran fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A leg kick checked by Tran.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tran.
Tran fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tran closes the distance and clinches up with Redcliff, looking for a takedown. Tran pushes Redcliff against the cage but Redcliff circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Tran with that takedown attempt.
Tran looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Redcliff is fending him off so far but Tran persists. Nope, Redcliff circles away and we're back to standing.
Tran tries to clinch but Redcliff moves out of range.
Tran shoots in looking for a takedown but Redcliff manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tran's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Redcliff connects with a high kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Redcliff darts in looking for a takedown but Tran gets double underhooks and turns Redcliff into the cage.
Tran wants to counter the offense by Redcliff and move into the clinch position.
Tran tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Redcliff swivels and escapes.
Tran closes this distance looking for a takedown but Redcliff circles away.
Tran taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Tran drags the fight down to the ground.

Tran is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Redcliff is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tran looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Redcliff sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viet Nam Tran 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!

Redcliff tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tran swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tran fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tran stuffs the takedown attempt from Redcliff. Redcliff gets slowly back to his feet.
Tran misses with a body kick.
Tran shoots in looking for a takedown but Redcliff manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tran's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tran closes this distance looking for a takedown but Redcliff circles away.
Redcliff changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Michael Redcliff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viet Nam Tran.

Redcliff moves into range and clinches up with Tran.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Redcliff scores with a nice hook to the head.
Redcliff is trying to break free.
Tran leaning his opponent against the cage.
Redcliff lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran keeps control of Redcliff as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Redcliff manages to break the clinch.
Redcliff fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Redcliff rushes Tran and presses him up against the cage.
Redcliff jumps guard but Tran turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Redcliff has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tran is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Redcliff trying to control the position but instead, Tran has worked for underhooks and has pushed Redcliff into the cage.

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.

Tran has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Redcliff uses from the top position.

Tran looking for a guillotine here but Redcliff defends easily.
Redcliff postures up.
Redcliff controlling from the top position.
Viet Nam Tran has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran trying to control the position.

Tran working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Redcliff doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Redcliff manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tran is trying to control the position but Redcliff postures up.

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.
Tran 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.
Redcliff knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tran on the ground.

Tran working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Redcliff has passed into half guard!
Redcliff prevents Tran from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tran manages to get to full guard.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Viet Nam Tran.
I think Tran has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viet Nam Tran!