PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between The Northern (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phelim Foley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Foley's choice of entrance music: Foggy Dew. Phelim Foley will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Northern
vs
Foley

175 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
171 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 Helsinki, The Northern!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Phelim Foley!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foley tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Northern defends well and Foley ends up having to push Northern into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Northern will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Northern tries a head kick but it misses.

Foley has managed to clinch.
Foley is trying to pull guard but Northern turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Foley jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Northern walks away with a smile on his face. Foley gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The Northern has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phelim Foley.

Foley clinches up with Northern and pushes him back against the cage.
Northern drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Foley gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Foley displaying some good clinch control by pressing Northern up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Foley gets control of Northern's arms and successfully pulls guard. Foley will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northern wanted to stand there but Foley had control of the position.
Northern throwing strikes from guard but Foley blocks nicely.
Foley is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Northern stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Foley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Northern is working hard here to advance position.
Foley wants to stand and escape but Northern is having none of it.

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.
Northern trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Northern has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Foley wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Northern looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Foley tries to counter by closing the distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Northern looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No luck for Northern with that takedown attempt.
Foley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Northern wants to clinch but Foley slips to the side
and Foley counters with a two punch combo.
Northern tries to clinch but fails miserably
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Foley throws a series of strikes that have Northern backpedaling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Northern fails in his attempt to clinch.

Foley closes the distance and pushes Northern back into the cage.
Foley dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Northern working hard to break the clinch.
Northern is trying to pull guard but Foley has him pressed against the cage.
Northern is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Foley pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Northern wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Foley has him pressed against the cage.
Northern tries a knee to the head but Foley blocks it.

Foley breaks the clinch.
Foley lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sloppy strikes from Northern. Those never looked like landing.
Northern wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Northern. No joy for Foley on that attempt.
Foley shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Northern as he jumps to the side.
Foley closes the distance and clinches up with Northern, looking for a takedown. Foley pushes Northern against the cage but Northern circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Foley darts in and clinches Northern up against the cage.
Northern fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Foley jumps guard but Northern stands there with Foley around his waist. Foley gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Northern prevents a takedown attempt there.
Northern is trying to drag Foley to the mat but Foley just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phelim Foley 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.

Northern throws a sloppy head kick
and Foley counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Foley stuffs the takedown attempt from Northern. Northern gets slowly back to his feet.
Foley drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Northern defends it well.
Foley darts in looking for a takedown but Northern gets double underhooks and turns Foley into the cage.
Northern stuffs the takedown attempt from Foley. Foley gets slowly back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Northern.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Foley is defended easily by Northern.
The Northern has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phelim Foley.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foley shoots for a takedown but Northern saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Northern half committed to a counter leg kick.
Foley walks into a straight right hand from Northern.
Northern works over Foley's head and body with a nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northern misses with a takedown attempt - Foley sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Foley is trying hard to land a takedown here. Northern sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Northern fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Northern misses with a leg kick.
Northern misses with a takedown

and Foley moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Foley.
Foley lands with a right to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Foley obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Northern is looking to take this one to the mat.
A left hand lands to the body for Northern.
Northern fails to pull guard.

Foley pulls Northern into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Foley seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Foley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Foley pulls Northern in close to his closed guard and prevents Northern from doing any damage or advancing position.
Northern wants to get up but he can't break Foley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Foley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Northern gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Foley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Northern tries to close the distance and clinch but Foley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Northern moves in looking to clinch but Foley pushes him off.
Northern throws a series of punches but Foley avoids them all with ease.

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.
Foley throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Northern fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Foley shoots in but Northern avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Foley blocks a head kick by Northern.
Northern leaves Foley with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Northern tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Northern misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Despite the aggression on Foley's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
The Northern is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Foley thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Northern if he has to take too many more of those.
Foley fails with a takedown attempt.
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 The Northern will probably get the nod.
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!

Foley shoots in and drives through. Northern sprawls well.
Northern changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Northern shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Foley pinned against the cage. Foley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Despite the aggression on Foley's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Foley dodges the punch combination from Northern.

Foley closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Northern tries a knee to the head but Foley blocks it.
Northern wants to get back to striking at distance but Foley won't allow it.
Foley is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nice body punch from Foley.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foley fails to pull guard.
The Northern has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phelim Foley.
Northern prevents a body shot from Foley.
Northern tries to pull guard but Foley won't allow it.
Foley has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Northern is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Foley avoiding damage as Northern throws knees to the body.
Foley gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Northern.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Foley jumps guard and drags Northern to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Foley lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Foley drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Foley jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Northern might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Northern is on top in guard.

Foley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Foley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Foley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Northern gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Northern trying to control but Foley is working from the bottom.
Foley lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Foley looking to pass the guard.
Foley prevents Northern from getting back to his feet.

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.
Foley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Foley seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Phelim Foley has got the better of the ground game so far.
Let's hope that Foley has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Northern keeping moving, preventing Foley from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Northern manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Foley drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Northern gets the underhooks and prevents it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Phelim Foley.
I think Foley has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Phelim Foley!