PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Heavy Metal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Delgado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Delgado's choice of entrance music: Black Stone Cherry - "Rain Wizard". 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.

Metal
vs
Delgado

185 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

186 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Heavy Metal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frankie Delgado!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Anthony Taglia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Delgado gets the takedown into side control.
Delgado is working Metal over with some ground and pound from side control.
Metal regains half guard.
Metal is looking for a sweep. Delgado is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Delgado stalling.
Delgado really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Metal. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Metal is looking to improve his position.
Delgado tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Metal wants to get back to his feet.
Delgado seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Metal does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Metal wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Metal doesn't manage to clinch there - Delgado circles away.
Delgado shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Metal pinned against the cage. Metal gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metal stuffs the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Metal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Metal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Metal doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Delgado moves into the clinch.
Metal wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Metal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Metal trying to stall but Delgado improves his position.

Delgado jumps guard and drags Metal to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Metal scoring with some ground and pound.
Delgado seems keen to control Metal's posture.
Metal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Delgado wants to sweep here but Metal controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delgado trying to control the position.
Metal postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Delgado keeping full guard, as Metal tries to pass.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Metal closes the distance but Delgado moves to the side
and Delgado counters with a one-two to the body.
Metal is breathing heavily.

Delgado closes the distance and clinches.

Delgado breaks from the clinch.
Delgado throws a sloppy head kick and Metal moves out of range easily.
Metal tries to clinch but Delgado moves away

and Delgado counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Metal has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Metal trying to control but Delgado postures up.

Delgado is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Metal is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Delgado's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Delgado's back!
Delgado takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Delgado can't escape the position.
Metal lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Metal.
Metal scores with punches to the body.
Metal lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Metal gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Metal scores with punches and elbows.
Metal controlling well, preventing Delgado from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Metal is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Delgado wants to get back to his feet.
Delgado wants to control his opponent's hands but Metal gets his hands free.
Delgado is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Metal is staying active.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Metal.
Metal controlling well, preventing Delgado from escaping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Delgado is covering up but some of the strikes from Metal are getting through and doing damage.

Delgado is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Metal looking to hold on to the position here but Delgado rolls and ends up regaining guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Delgado dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Delgado lands a jab to the head.
Metal avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Heavy Metal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Delgado closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Metal is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Delgado off and has taken his back!
Metal lands a shot to the head.
Delgado rolls, trying to escape but Metal keeps control of the position.
Metal is working the ground and pound. Can Delgado escape?
Oooh a big shot gets through from Metal. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Delgado looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Delgado is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Delgado trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metal connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Delgado to escape the position.
Delgado grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Delgado trying to control the action but Metal just sinks the hooks in.
Metal is punishing Delgado with strikes - can he finish him?!
Delgado wants to control his opponent's hands but Metal gets his hands free.
Delgado is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Metal loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Delgado hold on?
Delgado grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Heavy Metal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Metal lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Delgado hold on?!
I really don't envy Delgado right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Delgado is covering up but some of the strikes from Metal are getting through and doing damage.
Delgado tries to break free.
Metal lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Metal.
Delgado takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Metal scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Delgado is looking for a way out.
Metal avoiding Delgado 's attempts to control his hands.
Delgado tries to roll but Metal sticks to his back.
Metal is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Metal gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Metal gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Metal apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Metal blocks a head kick by Delgado.
Metal wants to clinch but Delgado slips to the side

and Delgado counters with a single leg into guard. Metal didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delgado wants to control from the top but Metal keeps moving.
Metal trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Metal throws his legs up looking for a submission but Delgado uses it to pass to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Delgado decides to stand back up. Delgado steps back and let's Metal get back to his feet.
Metal throws a right hand that Delgado ducks under and follows up with a left that Delgado also avoids with ease.
Metal throws a right hand that Delgado ducks under and follows up with a left that Delgado also avoids with ease.
Metal gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Delgado holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Delgado stalling in the clinch.
Metal tries to land knees in the clinch but Delgado avoids the damage to the body.

Delgado tightens his grip and picks Metal up, before dumping him to the ground. Metal manages to land in guard.
Delgado trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Metal has his feet on Delgado's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Delgado waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Metal.
Metal throws a right and a left that Delgado avoids nicely.
Delgado shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Delgado shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Delgado fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Heavy Metal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Delgado.
Delgado throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Metal.
Metal throws a combination that misses

and Delgado counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Delgado.
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!
Delgado throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Metal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Delgado is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Delgado missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Delgado showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Metal feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Delgado looking for a sweep. Not yet Delgado, not yet.
Metal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Delgado is trying to hold Metal in close to prevent damage but Metal has managed to pass into half guard.
Metal moves nicely into side control.
Delgado manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Delgado not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Delgado wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Delgado keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metal makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Metal.
Metal wants to sweep but no luck.

Metal is looking for a triangle but Delgado pushes his legs off easily.
Delgado looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Metal manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Delgado gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Metal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Metal throws a leg kick but Delgado sees it coming and moves out of range.
Delgado with a lazy takedown attempt

so Metal counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Metal trying to control but Delgado is working from the bottom.
Delgado throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Delgado looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Metal preventing the sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Delgado can do anything to dispel that myth.
Metal trying to stand up but can't free himself from Delgado's guard.
Delgado wants to stand but Metal is controlling the position.
Metal tries to stand but Delgado is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metal is working Delgado over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Metal lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Delgado shoots in but no luck this time.
Heavy Metal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Delgado.

Delgado closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Metal is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Delgado is controlling him well.
Metal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Metal pushes Delgado away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Delgado gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Heavy Metal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Metal tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Delgado wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Metal is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Delgado is controlling him well.
Metal is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Metal has one foot on Delgado's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Delgado misses with a takedown
and Metal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Some wild striking there from Metal.
Delgado darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Metal shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Delgado but Delgado pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Delgado misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heavy Metal showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Delgado 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frankie Delgado!