PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rupert Bright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Gerrard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bright
vs
Gerrard

205 cm
21
193 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

187 cm
19
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Rupert Bright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Steven Gerrard!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bright fails with a takedown attempt.
Bright misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Gerrard gets a clinch.
Come on Gerrard - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Gerrard has picked Bright up - he's going for a ride! Gerrard dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gerrard stops Bright from getting back to his feet.
Gerrard wants to pass the guard but Bright is defending well.

Gerrard stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Bright to get to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerrard tries a head kick but it misses.
Gerrard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rupert Bright. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gerrard feints and as Bright raises his hands in defense, Gerrard changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gerrard postures up in Bright's guard and throws a big left but Bright blocks it.
Gerrard tries to stand but Bright is controlling from the bottom.
Gerrard trying to control the position from guard on top but Bright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bright is looking to stand up but Gerrard isn't so interested in that idea.

Bright is looking for a triangle but Gerrard pushes his legs off easily.
Gerrard tries to stand but Bright is controlling from the bottom.
Gerrard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gerrard throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bright tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gerrard is in Bright's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gerrard wants to stand but Bright has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gerrard stands and steps away. Bright gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bright shoots in looking for a takedown but Gerrard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bright's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bright looks to throw the jab but Gerrard is out of range.
Gerrard looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Gerrard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Bright looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gerrard gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Gerrard fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bright to the ground. Gerrard is now in Bright's guard.
Bright will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Gerrard decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bright pushes Gerrard up against the cage in a clinch.
Bright is trying to break the clinch but Gerrard has him pressed against the cage.
Bright can't break the clinch.
Gerrard looking to slow down the pace here.
Bright tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gerrard manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Gerrard dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bright darts in and clinches Gerrard up against the cage.

Gerrard gets control of Bright's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gerrard will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bright postures up.
Gerrard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bright trying to control but Gerrard is working from the bottom.

Gerrard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Steven Gerrard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gerrard is trying to keep Bright in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bright tries to free his leg and advance position but Gerrard is retaining full guard.
Bright won't allow Gerrard to sweep him here.

Bright got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gerrard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bright has managed to get both his arms back between Gerrard's legs - danger averted.
Bright wants to control from the top but Gerrard keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bright controlling from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steven Gerrard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bright gets caught flat footed, as Gerrard shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bright wants to stand but Gerrard is controlling the position.

Gerrard stands up and waves to Bright to follow him.
Bright tries to clinch up.
Gerrard is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Bright fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gerrard closes the distance and pushes Bright back into the cage.

Gerrard has picked Bright up - he's going for a ride! Gerrard dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
It looks like Gerrard is going to stand back up.
Gerrard is looking to take a break and control but Bright is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gerrard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Gerrard is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bright defends it well.
Gerrard is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bright wants to get back to his feet.
Bright preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Gerrard stops Bright from getting back to his feet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gerrard is trying to control. Bright wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Bright tries to sprawl but Gerrard drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Gerrard is trying to control. Bright wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bright pushes Gerrard off looking to stand but Gerrard dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gerrard is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Bright as he works his way to full guard.

Bright pushes Gerrard off and scrambles back to his feet.

Bright clinches.
Bright wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gerrard has him pressed against the cage.
Bright has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gerrard turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Gerrard sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bright is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Gerrard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gerrard closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bright's guard.
Gerrard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bright works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gerrard trying to control the position from guard on top but Bright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bright looking to control.
Bright really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bright wants to get back to his feet but Gerrard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gerrard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bright swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gerrard trying to control but Bright is working from the bottom.
Gerrard pushing down on Bright's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bright tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Gerrard manages to move to mount!
Bright is desperately trying to improve his position but Gerrard has a good base and remains in mount.
Bright is working hard here to advance position.
Bright is squirming around, avoiding Gerrard's attempts to control the action.
Bright is trying to escape the mount.
Bright wants to hold on but Gerrard pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bright is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gerrard looking to finish with strikes here!
Bright is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Gerrard there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Gerrard looking to control but Bright is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gerrard misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bright is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Poor strikes thrown by Gerrard there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Bright really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gerrard looking to finish with strikes here!
Bright is looking to improve his position but Gerrard isn't that keen on the idea.
Gerrard looking to finish with strikes here!
Bright tries to reverse the position but Gerrard maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gerrard get's back to his feet.
Gerrard punishes Bright's body with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gerrard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bright counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Gerrard is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Gerrard cracks Bright with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Bright has Gerrard up against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gerrard as Bright tries to tie him up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gerrard will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Bright up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Gerrard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gerrard 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Gerrard!