PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Drew Fournier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reborn Again (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Fournier
vs
Again

168 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Drew Fournier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reborn Again!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Bruno Lombardi and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Again blocks a head kick by Fournier.

Again shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Again not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Again trying to control but Fournier is working from the bottom.
Again is stalling in the full guard.
Fournier is trying to control the position but Again postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Again throws an elbow that misses. Fournier uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Again's guard. Nice move by Fournier!

Again throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fournier preventing the sweep.
Again working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fournier.
Again controlling Fournier's posture.
Fournier is looking to stand up but Again won't let him.

Again is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Fournier defends well.
Again wants to sweep here but Fournier controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Again is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Again is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Fournier is just riding it out for now. Again eventually gives up the hold.
Again prevents Fournier from improving his position.
Again is just content to waste time from the top position. Fournier takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fournier avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Again trying to control but Fournier is working from the bottom.
Fournier wants to improve his position but instead Again has moved into half guard.
Fournier tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Again has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Again controlling from mount.
Again throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Again goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Fournier is on top in guard.
Again looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fournier is one step ahead there.
Fournier trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Again manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Fournier keeping moving, preventing Again from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Again sitting in guard here, content to control.
Again stands up over Fournier, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reborn Again 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.

Fournier shoots in and bounces Again off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Again is looking to sweep but instead, Fournier has passed into half guard.
Fournier looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Again manages to get to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fournier wants to control from the top but Again keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fournier wants to get up but he can't break Again's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Again working for a triangle but Fournier defends it easily.

Fournier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fournier trying to control but Again is working from the bottom.
Again has Fournier pulled in close to control his posture.
Fournier won't allow Again to sweep him here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Again can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Again has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fournier can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fournier wants to get up but he can't break Again's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fournier preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Again tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fournier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fournier throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Again drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Fournier defends it well.

Fournier looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Again!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fournier is trying to get an arm triangle but Again is defending well.
Reborn Again has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Again looking for a sweep but Fournier has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Again regains half guard.
Again controlling the position for now.
Again manages to get to full guard.
Again managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Again manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fournier manages to get himself to full guard.

Fournier tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Again throws a strike but Fournier rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Again looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Again wants to sweep here but Fournier controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drew Fournier dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Again pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Fournier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fournier throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Fournier wants the takedown. Again is fighting it off but Fournier persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Again's guard against the cage.

Fournier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Again has Fournier pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fournier trying to control the position from guard on top but Again is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fournier passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Again really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fournier. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Again manages to get to full guard.
Fournier wants to pass the guard but Again is keeping the position.
Again keeping moving, preventing Fournier from controlling successfully.
Fournier preventing the sweep.
Again is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Again is pulling down on Fournier's head. It's preventing any offense from Fournier, at least for the moment.
Fournier preventing the sweep.
Again doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Again trying to control the position here.

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

Fournier closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Again quickly recovers to half guard.
Again is staying active underneath Fournier, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Again wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Again keeping control of the position.
Again is pressing down on Fournier's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fournier wants to control from the top but Again keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Again holds on and takes a little breather.
Again trying to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fournier looking to pass the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Fournier looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Fournier throws a head kick but Again moves out of range.

Fournier gets caught flat footed, as Again shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Again controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fournier has control of Again's left arm, preventing Again from doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Again stays in close to Fournier's body and controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Drew Fournier showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fournier 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Drew Fournier!