PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergio Powell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Silence Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Powell
vs
Freeman

161 cm
23
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sergio Powell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Silence Freeman!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Freeman closes the distance and pushes Powell back into the cage.
Powell really is a fat lump.
Powell is struggling to control the position.
Freeman looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Freeman just leaning against Powell, taking a breather.
Powell with a knee to the head.
Freeman managing to block the knees to the body from Powell.
Powell tries to pull guard but Freeman holds him up against the cage and eventually Powell drops back down to his feet.
Freeman has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Freeman gets control of Powell's arms and successfully pulls guard. Freeman will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Powell sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Powell got a little sloppy there for a moment and Freeman has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Powell has managed to get both his arms back between Freeman's legs - danger averted.

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

Freeman pushes Powell up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Freeman blocks it with crossed arms.

Freeman pulls guard successfully.
Powell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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

Freeman gets the takedown into side control.
Powell is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sloppy strikes there by Freeman.
Powell struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell wants to get back to his feet but Freeman drags him back down.
Freeman working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

Powell throws Freeman to one side and escapes!

Freeman instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Freeman breaks the clinch.

Freeman shoots in and gets a takedown into Powell's guard.

Powell is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Powell tries for a takedown but Freeman manages to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Freeman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Powell on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

It looks like Sergio Powell has been cut.
Freeman lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Powell backs up against the cage.
Silence Freeman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Freeman looks winded!
Freeman tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Freeman feints and as Powell raises his hands in defense, Freeman changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Powell is looking to stand up but Freeman isn't so interested in that idea.
Powell wants to sweep here but Freeman controlling him for the moment.
Freeman trying to control but Powell is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman throws a strike but Powell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Powell stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Freeman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Powell's guard.

Powell manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Powell successfully pulls guard.
Powell seems keen to control Freeman's posture.
Freeman stops Powell from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sergio Powell will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sergio Powell's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Freeman closes the distance and pushes Powell back into the cage.
Powell is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Powell.
Powell tries to land a knee to the head but Freeman blocks with his arms.
Freeman dodges an elbow strike from Powell.
Freeman avoids the elbow strike from Powell, against the cage.
Freeman is trying to push Powell away but Powell has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Powell stalls.
Powell can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powell stalling the fight.
Powell jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Freeman walks away with a smile on his face. Powell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Powell avoids the head kick by Freeman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Freeman paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Freeman closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Powell to the mat! Powell manages to get full guard.
Freeman stands up over Powell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Powell is looking to stand up but Freeman isn't so interested in that idea.
Freeman wants to control from the top but Powell keeps moving.
Freeman is breathing heavily.
Powell wants to stand and escape but Freeman is having none of it.
Powell wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Freeman gets to his feet - Powell follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman wants to land a leg kick but Powell is out of range.
It looked like Powell was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Powell fails with an attempt to clinch.

Freeman manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Powell on his heels. He'll look to pass Powell's guard now, I'm sure.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Powell manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Freeman wants to break the clinch but can't.

Powell pulls guard effortlessly.
Powell is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Powell will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Freeman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Freeman wants to control from the top but Powell keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powell is trying to keep Freeman in close.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sergio Powell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Powell is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Freeman is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A left and a right from Freeman both land. Nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Freeman moves into range and clinches up with Powell.
Freeman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Freeman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Freeman's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Freeman as Powell tries to tie him up.

Freeman successfully pulls guard.
Powell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Freeman doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Powell gets to his feet - Freeman follows without any prompting.
Freeman circles away from the clinch attempt.

Freeman gets tackled into the cage by Powell. Powell maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Silence Freeman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sergio Powell's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Powell takes the fight into the clinch.
Freeman takes an elbow to the forehead.
Freeman has had enough of the clinch but Powell keeps him there for the moment.

Freeman drags the fight down to the ground.
Powell preventing the sweep.

Powell postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Freeman is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Powell, into his guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Powell manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman letting Powell take a breather here.
Powell with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Powell pulls guard successfully.
Powell controls Freeman momentarily but Freeman frees himself.
Powell wants to stand and escape but Freeman is having none of it.
Powell is controlling Freeman's posture.
Freeman prevents Powell from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Freeman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Freeman prevents Powell from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Freeman stands up over Powell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Freeman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Powell keeping moving, preventing Freeman from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Freeman looking to score a takedown here. Powell is defending well but Freeman drives through and ends up in Powell's guard.
Powell is controlling Freeman's posture.
Freeman slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powell pushes Freeman off and gets back to his feet.
Jab by Freeman.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Powell enables Freeman to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Powell manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Powell has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Freeman has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Powell lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Freeman digs a right hand into Powell's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Powell's gas tank.
Powell lands an elbow that stopped Freeman in his tracks for a moment.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Powell creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powell lands an elbow that stopped Freeman in his tracks for a moment.

Powell jumps into guard, dragging Freeman to the mat.
Powell keeping moving, preventing Freeman from controlling successfully.
Freeman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Freeman sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Powell's guard.
Freeman trying to control from half guard but Powell is working away.

Powell pushes Freeman off and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergio Powell showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Powell 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergio Powell!