PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tim Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fujita Ofori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ofori has chosen Pride theme as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Phillips
vs
Ofori

170 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

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 London, Tim Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Fujita Ofori!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ofori doesn't manage to clinch there - Phillips circles away.
Ofori slips a jab and a cross from Phillips.
Phillips avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Phillips throws a series of punches but Ofori moves out of range.
Ofori doesn't manage to clinch there - Phillips circles away.
Phillips misses with a double jab.
Ofori shoots in for a double leg but Phillips sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice takedown defense from Ofori. No joy for Phillips on that attempt.
Phillips could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Phillips shoots in but Ofori avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ofori is looking to clinch.
Phillips fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phillips swats away the attempt to clinch by Ofori.
Phillips keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Phillips has Ofori up against the cage in a clinch.

Phillips works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Phillips missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Phillips 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.
Ofori utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips trying to control but Ofori is working from the bottom.
Phillips trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ofori keeping full guard, as Phillips tries to pass.

Phillips decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Phillips is breathing heavily.
Phillips throws a right and a left that Ofori avoids nicely.
Ofori closes the distance looking to clinch
and Phillips counters with a series of strikes. Ofori will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ofori showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Phillips.
Ofori closes the distance looking to clinch

and Phillips counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ofori using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Phillips has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Phillips changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ofori fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ofori closes the distance but Phillips moves to the side

and Phillips counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Phillips.
Phillips tries to break the clinch but Ofori is controlling the position.
Phillips taking a breather.
Ofori throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Phillips blocks it with crossed arms.
Ofori with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ofori lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ofori tries a knee to the head but Phillips blocks it.
Ofori is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ofori throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Phillips blocks it with crossed arms.
Ofori using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Phillips has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ofori wants to break free but Phillips has control.

Phillips tightens his grip and picks Ofori up, before dumping him to the ground. Ofori manages to land in guard.
Phillips stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ofori swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Phillips postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ofori wants to stand but Phillips is controlling the position.
Ofori keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.
Phillips looking to pass the guard.

Ofori is working an open guard so Phillips takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ofori lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips closes the distance and clinches up with Ofori, looking for a takedown. Phillips pushes Ofori against the cage but Ofori circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ofori clinches but Phillips breaks the clinch

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Phillips holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Phillips tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ofori looking to slow down the pace here.
Ofori tries to throw a body punch but Phillips avoids it by throwing Ofori back against the cage.
Phillips managing to block the knees to the body from Ofori.

Phillips breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Phillips keeps the fight on the outside.
Phillips changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ofori tries to avoid it but Phillips manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ofori to the ground. Ofori escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ofori tries to clinch but Phillips moves out of range.
Ofori fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ofori wants to clinch up but Phillips keeps it at a distance.
Ofori tries to clinch but Phillips is having none of it.
Ofori feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Phillips's calf.
Phillips avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Phillips circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fujita Ofori seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phillips keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Phillips dominated that round.
That's time! Phillips's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ofori is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ofori doesn't manage to clinch there - Phillips circles away.
Ofori stuffs the takedown attempt from Phillips. Phillips gets slowly back to his feet.
Ofori doesn't manage to clinch there - Phillips circles away.
Ofori fails with the takedown.
Ofori stuffs the takedown.
Ofori moves in looking to clinch but Phillips pushes him off.
Phillips shoots for a takedown but Ofori saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ofori tries to close the distance and clinch but Phillips swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ofori shoots for a double leg takedown but Phillips sprawls well. He's pushed Ofori's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips stuffs the takedown.
Phillips has a takedown stuffed.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ofori moves in looking to clinch but Phillips pushes him off.
A nice combination there by Ofori.
Phillips keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tim Phillips is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips shoots for a takedown but Ofori saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ofori tries to clinch up but Phillips circles away and keeps his distance.
Phillips shoots in but Ofori avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Phillips keeps the fight on the outside.
Phillips throws a right and a left that Ofori avoids nicely.
Ofori tries to close the distance and clinch up but Phillips swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ofori is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ofori tries to clinch but Phillips moves out of range.
Phillips stuffs the takedown attempt from Ofori. Ofori gets slowly back to his feet.
Phillips lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Phillips keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Phillips shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Phillips tries for a takedown but Ofori sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Phillips circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ofori tries to clinch there but Phillips circles away.
Phillips fails with the takedown.
Ofori doesn't manage to clinch there - Phillips circles away.
Ofori fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Phillips or perhaps it was just good defense by Ofori which made him look bad.
Ofori wants to clinch.
Ofori scoring well with a low kick there.
Ofori is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Phillips keeps the fight on the outside.
Phillips will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ofori fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ofori wants to clinch.
Ofori is looking to clinch but Phillips is avoiding it.
Ofori closes this distance looking for a takedown but Phillips circles away.
Phillips tries for a takedown but Ofori circles away easily
and Ofori counters with a series of strikes. Phillips will be more careful next time no doubt.
Phillips keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ofori clinches but Phillips breaks the clinch

and Phillips counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Phillips drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ofori pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ofori shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ofori looks to clinch
and Phillips counters with a solid body kick.
Ofori darts in trying to clinch

and Phillips decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ofori's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips tries to free his leg and advance position but Ofori is retaining full guard.
Ofori has momentary wrist control but Phillips slips an elbow through the middle.
Ofori wants to get back to his feet but Phillips is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ofori can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Phillips controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Phillips dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Phillips shoots in but no luck this time.
Horrible takedown by Phillips or perhaps it was just good defense by Ofori which made him look bad.
Ofori tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Phillips counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Phillips stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ofori swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Phillips trying to control the position from guard on top but Ofori is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phillips trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ofori's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Phillips prevents Ofori from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips wants to control from the top but Ofori keeps moving.
Phillips stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ofori swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ofori keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.
Phillips is really struggling to control Ofori but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ofori clinches but Phillips breaks the clinch
and Phillips counters with a two punch combo.
Ofori displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ofori looks to clinch

and Phillips counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ofori won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phillips throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phillips is looking to take a break and control but Ofori is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ofori is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Phillips asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Phillips.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ofori parries the strikes from Phillips easily there. Phillips is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ofori to escape.
Phillips lands an elbow.
Phillips throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Phillips is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Phillips shoots in and drives through. Ofori sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Phillips circles away from the clinch attempt.
Phillips fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ofori tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Phillips paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Phillips misses with a wild combination.
Ofori tries to close the distance and clinch up but Phillips swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ofori is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ofori is looking to clinch but Phillips is avoiding it.
Phillips closes the distance and clinches up with Ofori, looking for a takedown. Phillips pushes Ofori against the cage but Ofori circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ofori.
Ofori is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ofori wants to clinch up but Phillips keeps it at a distance.
Ofori throws a series of strikes that have Phillips backpedaling.
Ofori wants to clinch
and Phillips counters with a series of strikes. Ofori will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fujita Ofori has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Phillips sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Phillips showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Phillips, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim Phillips!