PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Buddy Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lauri Lintunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buddy Phillips has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Phillips
vs
Lintunen

151 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Buddy Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lauri Lintunen!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phillips misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Phillips moves into the clinch successfully.
Lintunen stalling against the cage.
Phillips is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Phillips is trying to force a seperation but Lintunen has the dominant position.

Lintunen manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lintunen moves into the clinch.
Lintunen wants a takedown.
Lintunen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Phillips just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lintunen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lintunen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lintunen jumps guard but Phillips turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Buddy Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lauri Lintunen.
Lintunen manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Lintunen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Phillips could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lintunen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lintunen wants it to stay on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lintunen.
Phillips seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips fails with the takedown.
Lintunen shoots in looking for a takedown but Phillips manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lintunen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Phillips or perhaps it was just good defense by Lintunen, which made it look bad.
Lintunen checks the leg kick.
Lintunen shoots for a double leg takedown but Phillips sprawls well. He's pushed Lintunen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Lintunen gets a clinch.

Lintunen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lintunen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Phillips sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Phillips throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lintunen's waist but Lintunen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Phillips off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lintunen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Phillips fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lintunen avoids it really well and circles away.
Lintunen stuns Phillips with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Phillips with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lintunen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lintunen shoots in but no luck this time.
Phillips takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Lintunen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lintunen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lintunen.

Lintunen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Phillips has a takedown stuffed.
Phillips misses with a two punch combination.
Phillips throws a sloppy head kick and Lintunen moves out of range easily.
Lintunen feints the counter takedown.
Phillips is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lintunen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Phillips pulls guard successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauri Lintunen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lintunen fails with a takedown attempt.
Phillips scores with a one two! Lintunen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Phillips slaps away a takedown attempt from Lintunen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A solid body kick from Lintunen.
Lintunen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Phillips is fending him off so far but Lintunen persists. Nope, Phillips circles away and we're back to standing.
Phillips is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Lintunen.
Buddy Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lauri Lintunen.
Phillips fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lintunen avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lintunen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Phillips scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lintunen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Phillips sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lintunen somewhat.
Lintunen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lintunen throws a fast counter high kick but Phillips manages to duck under it in time.
Lintunen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Phillips defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Phillips misses with a low kick as Lintunen jumps back.
Phillips displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lintunen.

Lintunen closes the distance and pushes Phillips back into the cage.
Phillips tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lintunen smiles and moves away.
Phillips lands with a kick to the temple. Lintunen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lintunen shoots in for a takedown but Phillips shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
As Lintunen looks to move away, Phillips throws a big counter combo but Lintunen just gets out of the way.
Buddy Phillips is winning the standup battle so far.
Lintunen misses the shot to the body.

Lintunen moves into range and clinches up with Phillips.
Phillips tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lintunen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lintunen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lintunen landing knees to the body.
Phillips letting Lintunen take a breather here.
Lintunen scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lintunen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lintunen.
Lintunen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Phillips prevents it.
Lintunen is trying to pull guard but Phillips has him pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Lintunen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lintunen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
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 Buddy Phillips will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lintunen leaves Phillips with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As Phillips backs off Lintunen throws a huge counter combo but Phillips manages to avoid it all.

Lintunen closes the distance and clinches.
Phillips wants to break the clinch but can't.

Lintunen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Lintunen with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips tried to score with a low kick but Lintunen checks it.
Lintunen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Phillips avoids it really well and circles away.
Lauri Lintunen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips misses with a double jab.
Lintunen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
It looked like Phillips was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Buddy Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lauri Lintunen.

Lintunen gets a clinch.

Lintunen manages to break the clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Lintunen blocks the leg kick.

Lintunen moves into the clinch successfully.
Lintunen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Lauri Lintunen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lintunen misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lintunen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Buddy Phillips has been cut.
Lintunen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Phillips is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lintunen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Phillips up against the cage.

Lintunen breaks from the clinch.
Phillips misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lintunen with a poor takedown
and Phillips counters with a one-two to the body.
Lintunen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Phillips connects with a leg kick. Lintunen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Lintunen has Phillips up against the cage in a clinch.
Phillips prevents the takedown attempt.
Lintunen fails to pull guard.
Lintunen lands an elbow inside.

Phillips manages to break the clinch.
Lintunen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Phillips.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lintunen fails with a takedown attempt.
Phillips tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lintunen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Phillips throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lintunen.
Phillips misses with a low kick.
Lintunen dodges the punch combination from Phillips.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phillips avoids the head kick by Lintunen.
Phillips tries to counter by clinching up but Lintunen breaks away and moves out of range.
Phillips fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lauri Lintunen.
I think Lintunen 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lauri Lintunen!