PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Warren Fletcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ori Fanta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Fletcher
vs
Fanta

175 cm
24
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Warren Fletcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ori Fanta!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fletcher gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Fletcher pulls guard effortlessly.
Fletcher keeping moving, preventing Fanta from controlling successfully.
Fanta is looking to stand up but Fletcher won't let him.
Fanta trying to control but Fletcher is working from the bottom.
Fanta looking to pass the guard.
Fanta looking to sit in guard and control but Fletcher gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fletcher controlling from the top position.
Fletcher has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fletcher seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fanta for as long as he can get away with.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ori Fanta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Fletcher moves into the clinch successfully.
Fanta blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fanta.

Fletcher jumps guard and drags Fanta to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Fanta trying to control but Fletcher is working from the bottom.
Fletcher controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanta trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fletcher's guard.
Fanta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fletcher is keeping the position for now.
Fletcher pulls Fanta in to control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Fletcher striking off his back but it's not causing Fanta any problems.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Fanta manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Fletcher on his heels. He'll look to pass Fletcher's guard now, I'm sure.
Fanta is looking to advance position but Fletcher has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanta really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Fletcher controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fanta can't escape the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fletcher controlling his opponent.
Fanta keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Fletcher cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher controlling the pace for now.
Fanta is in all sorts of trouble here.
Fanta is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Fletcher controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Warren Fletcher 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.

Fletcher clinches up against the cage.
Fanta is trying to break the clinch but Fletcher has him pressed against the cage.
Fanta tries to circle away but Fletcher has him pinned against the cage.

Fanta gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Fanta is looking to stall here but Fletcher recovers full guard.

Fletcher scrambles and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fanta fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Fletcher sprawls well initially but Fanta persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Fanta is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Fletcher is just riding it out for now. Fanta eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanta is trying to control. Fletcher wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fanta trying to control the pace.
Fletcher is controlling Fanta's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fanta tries to stand and escape but Fletcher actually recovers to full guard.
Fletcher lands a decent punch to the body there.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Fletcher is pulling down on Fanta's head to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Fanta misses with a head kick.

Fletcher gets caught napping as Fanta dives in and scores a takedown. Fletcher manages to retain guard.
Fanta wants to stand and escape but instead Fletcher has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Fanta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Fletcher gets to his feet. Fanta looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Fletcher takes the fight into the clinch.
Fanta working hard to break the clinch.

Fletcher decides to pull guard.
Fanta trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fletcher's guard.
Fletcher keeping moving, preventing Fanta from controlling successfully.
Fanta passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fanta is stalling here. Fletcher is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Fanta seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Fletcher has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fletcher decides to stand back up.

Fanta decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Fletcher has one foot on Fanta's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Fanta.

Fanta shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Fletcher manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Fletcher manages to escape and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Warren Fletcher dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Fanta drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Fletcher has his hands on Fanta's head, controlling the position.
Fanta postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fletcher wants to get back to his feet but Fanta is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fletcher keeping full guard, as Fanta tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanta looking to sit in guard and control but Fletcher gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Fletcher decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Fanta, up you get!

Fanta throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Fletcher was covering up waiting for the punch and Fanta finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fletcher is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fanta can do to turn this around?
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Fletcher holds on and takes a little breather.
Fletcher continues to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanta throws an elbow that misses. Fletcher uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fanta's guard. Nice move by Fletcher!
Fanta can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fletcher controls the pace.
Fanta wants to get back to his feet but Fletcher is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fanta looking to control.
Fletcher stopping the sweep attempt from Fanta.
Fanta is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanta doesn't manage to clinch there - Fletcher circles away.

Fanta closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fanta lands in his opponent's guard.
Fanta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fletcher is keeping the position for now.
Fletcher pulls Fanta in close to prevent any damage.
Warren Fletcher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fanta looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fanta is fighting to break Fletcher's control of his arms but Fletcher is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Fanta working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Fletcher had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fanta defends it easily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Fletcher trying to strike off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ori Fanta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Warren Fletcher is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice body kick there by Fanta.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ori Fanta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fletcher 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Warren Fletcher!