PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alberto Christian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Connolly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Christian
vs
Connolly

207 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alberto Christian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shaun Connolly !
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Phil Schofield and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Christian closes the distance and pushes Connolly back into the cage.

Connolly pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Christian pulls guard.
Connolly wants to control from the top but Christian keeps moving.
Connolly in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Christian really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Christian bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Connolly 's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Connolly trying to strike off his back.
Christian looking to sit in guard and control but Connolly gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Connolly has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Christian working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Connolly doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Connolly manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connolly loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Christian controlling Connolly 's posture.
Connolly looking to sit in guard and control but Christian gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Connolly controls Christian momentarily but Christian frees himself.

Connolly looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connolly is trying to control the position but Christian postures up.

Christian drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Connolly dives on top into guard.

Connolly wants to control from the top but Christian keeps moving.
Connolly is in close to Christian's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Connolly trying to move into half guard but instead Christian has managed to sweep!

Christian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connolly working a defensive guard here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Connolly is on top in guard.

Christian is pulling down on Connolly 's head. It's preventing any offense from Connolly , at least for the moment.
Connolly trying to control but Christian is working from the bottom.
Connolly is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Christian looking to hit a scissor sweep but Connolly is one step ahead there.

Connolly stands up and waves to Christian to follow him.
Connolly swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Christian.

It looks like Alberto Christian has been cut.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Connolly feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Connolly dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alberto Christian's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Connolly closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Christian gets underhooks to prevent Connolly 's takedown attempt.
Connolly has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Christian avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Connolly fails to pull guard.
Alberto Christian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaun Connolly .
Christian wants a takedown.

Connolly gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Christian regains guard.
Connolly stops Christian from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Christian seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Connolly decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Shaun Connolly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connolly misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Connolly throws a head kick but Christian moves out of range.

Connolly gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Christian pulls guard effortlessly.
Christian wants to get back to his feet but Connolly is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Connolly is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Connolly is looking to advance position but Christian has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christian wants to take his opponent's back but Connolly doesn't allow it.
Connolly is trying to escape the mount.
Connolly regains half guard.

Connolly kicks off Christian and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Connolly closes the distance and pushes Christian back into the cage.

Christian's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Christian takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Connolly throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Connolly .
Christian is looking for a counter combo.
Connolly fails with a takedown attempt.
Connolly is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Christian drives through with a takedown into Connolly 's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Connolly has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Christian has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Christian jumps into guard, dragging Connolly to the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Connolly trying to control but Christian is working from the bottom.
Connolly prevents Christian from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Connolly showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alberto Christian's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Connolly shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Christian as he avoids it easily.

Connolly clinches up with Christian and pushes him back against the cage.

Connolly manages to break the clinch.

Connolly closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Christian to the mat! Christian manages to get full guard.
Connolly trying to control but Christian is working from the bottom.
Christian trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Christian wants to stand but Connolly is controlling the position.
Shaun Connolly has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christian controlling Connolly 's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Christian looking for a guillotine here but Connolly defends easily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Connolly is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Christian is trying to keep Connolly in close.
Connolly advances to half guard.
Connolly trying to mount his opponent but Christian defends it.

Connolly wants to work for an arm triangle but Christian is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Connolly is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Christian is just riding it out for now. Connolly eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connolly is looking to stall here but Christian recovers full guard.
Christian has control of Connolly 's left arm, preventing Connolly from doing any damage.
Connolly wants to control from the top but Christian keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Connolly fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Christian, pushing him back against the cage.
Christian is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Connolly is defending well.
Connolly is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Christian is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Connolly pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Christian has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Connolly after a bit of a struggle.
Alberto Christian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shaun Connolly is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alberto Christian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Christian wants a takedown but no success here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shaun Connolly comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Connolly has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shaun Connolly !