PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Furlong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Flynn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Furlong
vs
Flynn

178 cm
22
167 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

MMA's Best Nutrition
Blueprint Clothing

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Furlong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zack Flynn!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Chad Campbell and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Furlong lands an overhand right.
Furlong throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Furlong throws a leg kick that misses.

Flynn changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Furlong looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Furlong is looking to reverse the position.
Furlong manages to work his way to half guard, despite Flynn's best efforts.
Furlong wants to improve his position but Flynn is controlling well.
Furlong is trying to control but can't.
Furlong is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Flynn is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Furlong looks to land a right hand but Flynn moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Furlong drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Furlong is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Flynn is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Flynn has escaped and now he's on top!
Flynn postures up.

Furlong is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Furlong is breathing heavily.

Furlong working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Flynn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Flynn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Furlong wants to stand but Flynn is controlling the position.
Flynn advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Furlong is looking to reverse the position.

Flynn wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Furlong, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Furlong is looking for a sweep.
Furlong regains half guard.

Flynn moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Furlong.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Flynn wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Furlong, who protects the arm well.

Flynn is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Furlong is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Furlong manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Furlong manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Flynn looking to pass the guard.
Furlong wants to sweep but no luck.

Flynn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Furlong throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Flynn escapes and throws Furlong's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Furlong gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Furlong preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Furlong moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Furlong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Furlong lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Flynn!

Furlong has hold of Flynn's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Flynn manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Furlong 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.

Furlong misses with the combination.
Furlong tries to score with a low kick but Flynn moves his leg out of the way.
Flynn fails with the takedown
and Furlong cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A jab from Furlong does it's job there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Furlong throws a nice looking combination but Flynn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Furlong wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The fighters circling - Furlong throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Flynn is breathing heavily.
Furlong misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Furlong - just one landing.

Furlong darts in and clinches Flynn up against the cage.

Furlong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Flynn shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Flynn showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Furlong manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Furlong has his foot on Flynn's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Flynn works his way back into a safe position though.
Furlong looking to control.
Furlong bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Flynn's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flynn is looking for a triangle but Furlong pushes his legs off easily.
Furlong throwing strikes from guard but Flynn blocks nicely.
Flynn can't keep his opponent in guard - Furlong advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Furlong tries to pass to full mount but Flynn defends it.
Furlong is controlling the pace.
Joe Furlong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Furlong throwing shots but Flynn is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Furlong wants to free his trapped foot but Flynn is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Furlong uses his free foot to push down on Flynn's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Flynn.
Furlong landing shots from mount.
Furlong trying to control but Flynn is having none of it.
Furlong scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Furlong landing strikes from the mount.
Furlong breaks from Flynn's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Furlong controlling from mount.
Furlong putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flynn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Furlong working the ground and pound effectively.
Furlong is landing with some decent strikes but Flynn is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Furlong scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Flynn?
Furlong lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Furlong working the ground and pound effectively.
Furlong landing strikes from the mount.
Flynn wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Furlong dominated that second round.
That's time! Furlong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Furlong throws a big shot that misses.
Furlong misses with a jab, cross combination.
Flynn ducks under a wild hook from Furlong.
Furlong misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Furlong is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Flynn moves out of range as Furlong strikes.
Flynn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Furlong.
Flynn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Furlong shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Flynn's guard.
Furlong pushing down on Flynn's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Flynn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flynn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Furlong looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Flynn with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Furlong is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Flynn is just riding it out for now. Furlong eventually gives up the hold.
Flynn wants to improve his position but Furlong is controlling well.
Flynn is refusing to be controlled, as Furlong sits in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Furlong connects with a nice short shot to Flynn's temple.

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.
Flynn blocking the ground and pound attempt from Furlong.
Furlong content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Furlong wants to take a breather but Flynn is having none of it.

Furlong is looking for a kimura here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Furlong lands a nice short elbow.
Furlong winds up and cracks Flynn with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Furlong wants to free his trapped foot but Flynn is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Furlong missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flynn is staying active underneath Furlong, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Flynn tries to roll over but Furlong keeps him under control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Furlong throws a hook but Flynn blocks it.
A telegraphed right hand from Furlong misses the target.
Furlong misses with a body kick.
Furlong fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Flynn is out of range.
Flynn walks into a straight right hand from Furlong.
Nice cross by Furlong.
Furlong looks to land a combination. Flynn sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Flynn avoids the head kick by Furlong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Furlong scores with a takedown into Flynn's guard.

Flynn has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Furlong can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Furlong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Furlong landing some decent shots from guard.
Furlong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Furlong trying to control the position from guard on top but Flynn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Furlong slips nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Furlong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Furlong has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 David Schapiro scores the fight for Joe Furlong!
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight for Joe Furlong!
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight for Joe Furlong!

Joe Furlong wins by unanimous decision!