PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Claudius Ghissi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phantom Troupe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ghissi
vs
Troupe

175 cm
26
175 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

179 cm
26
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Soul Supremacy Fight Gear

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Claudius Ghissi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Phantom Troupe!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ghissi fails with a takedown attempt.
Troupe drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ghissi defends it well.
A swing and a miss from Ghissi.
Troupe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ghissi.
Ghissi misses with the combination.
Troupe is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ghissi throws a jab but it's blocked by Troupe.
Troupe doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ghissi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ghissi definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Troupe bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big left from Ghissi misses.
Troupe drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ghissi defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Ghissi misses its intended target.
Troupe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ghissi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ghissi looks to throw the jab but Troupe is out of range.
A big left from Ghissi misses.
Troupe misses with a wild body shot.
Troupe wants to clinch up but Ghissi keeps it at a distance.
Ghissi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And Troupe tries to counter it with a takedown but Ghissi pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ghissi throws a jab but it's blocked by Troupe.
Ghissi throws a hook but Troupe avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ghissi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ghissi misses with a hook

and Troupe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Troupe.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ghissi is on top in guard.

Troupe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ghissi.
Troupe looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ghissi stopping the sweep attempt from Troupe.
Troupe seems keen to control Ghissi's posture.
Ghissi trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Troupe manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Troupe trying to control the position from guard on top but Ghissi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Troupe preventing the sweep.
Ghissi is trying to control the position but Troupe postures up.
Ghissi keeping moving, preventing Troupe from controlling successfully.
Ghissi trying to control the position.
Ghissi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Troupe.
Troupe wants to pass the guard but Ghissi is keeping the position.
Ghissi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ghissi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ghissi is on top in guard.

Ghissi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Troupe's guard.
Ghissi wants to take a breather but Troupe is having none of it.
Ghissi is pressing down on Troupe's thigh, looking to free his foot. Troupe is holding on for now.
Troupe is controlling Ghissi's trapped leg to prevent Ghissi from advancing to side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in half guard, Ghissi seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claudius Ghissi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ghissi throws out a loose jab but Troupe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ghissi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Troupe is fending him off so far but Ghissi persists. Nope, Troupe circles away and we're back to standing.
Troupe with the counter takedown but Ghissi avoids it easily.
Troupe misses the jab.
Ghissi is looking to counter punch.
Ghissi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Troupe but Troupe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ghissi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ghissi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Troupe sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Troupe changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Troupe throws a body punch but Ghissi moves out of range.
Ghissi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghissi throws a hook to the side of Troupe's head but Troupe sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Troupe throws out a counter right but Ghissi avoids it with no problem.
Ghissi shoots in for a double leg but Troupe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Claudius Ghissi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ghissi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Troupe.
Troupe is putting a hurting on Ghissi here, landing some big shots from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ghissi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ghissi is trying to control but can't.

Troupe is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ghissi sees it coming and defends easily.
Ghissi is looking to control Troupe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ghissi avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Troupe trying to control from half guard but Ghissi is working away.
Well, if Troupe 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.
Troupe is looking to take a break and control but Ghissi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ghissi tries to get to full guard but Troupe has control of the leg.
Troupe is pressing down on Ghissi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ghissi is holding on for now.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ghissi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghissi looking to control.
Ghissi 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.
Troupe scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ghissi wants to hit a switch here but Troupe passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ghissi there!
Troupe lands a heavy elbow.
Ghissi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Troupe is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ghissi has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Troupe lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Troupe looking to finish Ghissi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ghissi!
Ghissi wants to control but Troupe is having none of it.
Ghissi working to try and regain half guard.
Phantom Troupe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Troupe lands a heavy elbow.
Ghissi is looking to get to half guard.
Troupe looking to control but Ghissi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Troupe lands a couple of good shots and Ghissi has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phantom Troupe 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. And we move into the final round!

Ghissi throws a hook but Troupe avoids it easily.
Troupe with the counter takedown but Ghissi avoids it easily.
Troupe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ghissi misses with a looping right.
Claudius Ghissi is winning the standup battle so far.
Ghissi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Troupe.
Troupe throws a body punch but Ghissi moves out of range.
Ghissi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Ghissi throws a hook but Troupe avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ghissi throws an overhand right that lands on Troupe's shoulder, as Troupe tries to avoid the shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Troupe misses.
Ghissi throws an overhand right that lands on Troupe's shoulder, as Troupe tries to avoid the shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Troupe! But no joy.
Troupe bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Troupe steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ghissi.
Ghissi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ghissi is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Ghissi tries to sprawl but Troupe drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Troupe wants to work for an arm triangle but Ghissi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Troupe is thwarting Ghissi's attempts to control the position.
Ghissi is concentrating on defense, preventing Troupe from advancing position.
Ghissi is not content to let Troupe control the position.
Ghissi tries to roll over but Troupe keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Troupe is trying to control the action in half guard but Ghissi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ghissi is looking to improve his position.
Ghissi wants to get back to full guard but Troupe has passed into side control.
Ghissi is trying to improve his position.
Troupe trying to control the action but Ghissi is working from the bottom.

Troupe is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ghissi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Troupe is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ghissi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ghissi tries to improve position but can't.
Ghissi is working hard here to advance position.
Ghissi wants to control but Troupe postures up.
Ghissi keeping his opponent close.

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

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.
Troupe is looking to take a break and control but Ghissi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
I wouldn't like to be where Ghissi is right now.
You can see the frustration on Ghissi's face as Troupe controls the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ghissi dodges the ground and pound from Troupe.
Ghissi is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phantom Troupe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Troupe 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phantom Troupe!