PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jim Beckett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Philippe Njewel (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.

Beckett
vs
Philippe Njewel

168 cm
31
146 lbs
22 - 10 - 1

170 cm
31
145 lbs
20 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jim Beckett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Martin Philippe Njewel!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Njewel closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Beckett's guard.

Beckett looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Njewel has picked Beckett up and slammed him! Beckett can't keep hold of the triangle and Njewel manages to pass to side control!
Beckett sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Beckett actively working from the bottom here.
Beckett wants to control but Njewel is keeping busy.
Njewel is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Njewel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Njewel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Beckett is just riding it out for now. Njewel eventually gives up the hold.
Njewel stalling away here and it's allowed Beckett to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Beckett working for a triangle but Njewel defends it easily.

Beckett is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Njewel is aware though and is defending well.

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.
Njewel wants to pass the guard but Beckett is keeping the position.
Njewel postures up in Beckett's guard and throws a big left but Beckett blocks it.
Njewel pushes down on Beckett's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Beckett is in trouble now - Njewel has advanced to mount!
Beckett tries to reverse the position but Njewel maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckett blocking the ground and pound.
Njewel lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Beckett hang on?
Njewel controlling his opponent.
Njewel avoids the attempt from Beckett to control.
Njewel thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beckett slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Njewel works his way into side control.
Beckett stops Njewel from passing to mount.
Njewel throwing strikes but Beckett manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Njewel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Njewel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Philippe Njewel dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A jab from Beckett misses.
Beckett with a nice cross.
Beckett thuds a left hand into Njewel's body.
Njewel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Njewel blocks a jab.
Njewel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Beckett's sensitive parts.
A chopping leg kick lands by Beckett.
Good work by Beckett as he checks the leg kick.
Beckett appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Njewel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Njewel goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Beckett misses with a low kick.
Njewel swings for the body but Beckett moves out of range.
Beckett definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beckett scores with a leg kick.
Njewel throws a head kick that half lands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Beckett misses with an uppercut
and Njewel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Njewel moves out of range of the body kick from Beckett.
Njewel takes one on the button.
Njewel misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Njewel connects with a body shot that sends Beckett's belly button to the back.
Beckett blocks a low kick nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Beckett.
Beckett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Njewel was well out of range. Poor timing from Beckett.
Beckett throws a leg kick but Njewel sees it coming and moves out of range.
Njewel staying out of range there.
Beckett sizes up Njewel with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Njewel moves out of range of the body kick from Beckett.
Njewel moves out of range as Beckett throws a body kick.
Beckett with a nice cross.
Beckett motions for Njewel to come forward. Beckett throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Njewel throws the kick towards the body but Beckett avoids it.
Njewel throws a half hearted mid kick.
Njewel throws a shot from downtown. Beckett moves away and avoids it.
Beckett throws out a loose jab but Njewel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Njewel swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Beckett cracks the inside of Njewel's front leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Njewel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Njewel needs to keep his hands up - Beckett had a free shot at his head there.
Beckett scores with a leg kick.
Beckett scores with a punch to the head.
A clash of legs there as Njewel blocks the low kick.
Beckett misses with the combination.
Njewel throws a hook but Beckett avoids it easily.
Jim Beckett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Njewel takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Njewel scoring well with a low kick there.
Njewel throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Beckett on the side of the head.
A left lands for Njewel.
Njewel tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Beckett defends well and Njewel ends up having to push Beckett into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Njewel checks the leg kick.
It seemed like Njewel was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Beckett blocks a leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Njewel.
Njewel lands with a straight right. Beckett didn't see that one coming.
Beckett fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Njewel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Njewel fails to land with a series of punches.
Beckett throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Beckett lands an overhand right.
Njewel throws a low kick but it's checked well by Beckett.
Njewel looks to score with a jab to the body but Beckett is just out of range.
Beckett works Njewel's body with a nice hook.
Beckett slips under a jab.
Beckett catches Njewel with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nice uppercut there from Njewel.
Beckett stuns Njewel with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Njewel on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Beckett. Beckett obviously looking to wear him down.
Beckett takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Jim Beckett is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Beckett scores with a nice strike.
Njewel has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Beckett throws a body punch but Njewel moves out of range.
Beckett pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Njewel throws a push kick but Beckett slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Njewel connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Njewel takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Beckett misses with a looping right.
Njewel tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Njewel looks to score with a jab to the body but Beckett is just out of range.
Njewel lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Njewel shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Beckett eats them both and turns towards Njewel to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Njewel throws a low kick, looking for Beckett's leg but Beckett calmly moves out of range.
Beckett gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Njewel takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Beckett throws the left hand but Njewel avoids the punch easily.
Njewel misses with a looping right.
Beckett lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Beckett displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Njewel throws out the jab.
Njewel checks a leg kick.
Njewel throws a jab but it's blocked by Beckett.
Njewel tries a low kick but Beckett avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jim Beckett will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Njewel throws a leg kick which misses Beckett's front leg but catches the back leg as Beckett tries to avoid it.
Njewel's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Beckett dives in for a single leg takedown but Njewel sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Njewel falls off balance throwing a combination

and Beckett decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Njewel's guard.
Beckett postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Beckett trying to control the position from guard on top but Njewel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Njewel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Beckett.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Njewel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Beckett missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Njewel keeping moving, preventing Beckett from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Martin Philippe Njewel has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Njewel working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Njewel takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Njewel throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Beckett has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Njewel.
Njewel on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Beckett. Beckett obviously looking to wear him down.
Beckett avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Beckett half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Beckett scores with a takedown into Njewel's guard.
Njewel looking to control.
Beckett is fighting to break Njewel's control of his arms but Njewel is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beckett works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Beckett missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Beckett is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Njewel doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Beckett.
Njewel keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Njewel is defending against the submission attempts here by Beckett.
Njewel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Beckett thows a huge punch but Njewel dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Beckett wants to take a breather but Njewel is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Beckett throws a low kick, looking for Njewel's leg but Njewel calmly moves out of range.
Njewel moves out of range of the strikes.
Njewel tries a head kick but it misses.
Beckett throws a right and a left that Njewel avoids nicely.
A little jabbing left from Njewel on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Beckett shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Beckett was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Njewel looks to move to half guard but instead Beckett has passed into mount! Damn!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Njewel regains half guard.
Beckett is looking to take a break and control but Njewel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Beckett showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Beckett has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jim Beckett!
After winning the bout, Jim Beckett thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.