PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Apollo Creed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Winning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Winning has chosen Enter Sandman as his entrance music. Apollo Creed is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Creed
vs
Winning

193 cm
21
207 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

174 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Apollo Creed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Winning!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Winning shoots in looking for a takedown. Creed tries to sprawl out of it but Winning keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Creed manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Creed rushes Winning and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Creed is trying to break the clinch but Winning has him pressed against the cage.
Creed is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Winning pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Creed is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Winning gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Winning fails to pull guard.

Creed jumps guard and drags Winning to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Winning stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Creed swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Winning is looking to work some ground and pound but Creed has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Winning drops back, looking for a kneebar! Creed looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Creed looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Creed!
Creed trying to control the action but Winning is working from the bottom.
Winning holding on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Creed staying calm.
Winning struggling a bit here.
Winning is looking to get back to his feet here but Creed is keeping cool and he's managed to take Winning's back.
Creed avoiding Winning 's attempts to control his hands.
The referee is taking a good look at Winning as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Creed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winning breaks Creed's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Winning trying to control but Creed is working from the bottom.
Creed pulls Winning in close to prevent any damage.
Creed is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Winning stands up over Creed, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Winning in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Winning trying to control but Creed is working from the bottom.
Winning wants to pass the guard but Creed is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Creed throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Creed has his foot on Winning's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Winning works his way back into a safe position though.
Winning keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Creed's head.
Winning preventing the sweep.
Winning in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Creed had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Winning is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Creed Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Winning's back instead.
Creed is breathing heavily.

Creed is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Winning is defending well though. Creed let's go of the attempt for now.
Creed is trying to stick to Winning's back but Winning is turning into Creed. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Creed's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Winning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winning wants to control from the top but Creed keeps moving.
Winning scoring with punches to the head and body.
Winning loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Winning is pushing down on Creed's leg trying to pass to half guard. Creed is fighting to maintain full guard but Winning has managed to sneak the leg through.
Winning content to control rather than advance.

Creed has one foot on Winning's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Winning misses with a low kick as Creed jumps back.
Creed tries to close the distance and clinch up but Winning swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Winning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Apollo Creed will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Winning closes the distance and clinches.

Winning jumps guard.
Winning has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Winning is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Winning working Creed over with strikes.
Creed is looking to improve his position.
Creed is not content to let Winning control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Creed is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Winning scores with a couple of nice shots.

Winning decides to return to a standing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Winning fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Creed sprawls well initially but Winning persists and gets the takedown into 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. Winning connects with a nice short shot to Creed's temple.
Winning scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Creed is refusing to be controlled, as Winning sits in half guard.
Creed wants to control but Winning passes into side.

Winning is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Creed is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Creed wants to control but Winning postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winning wants to control for a moment but Creed uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Winning misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Creed moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Winning.
Winning tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Winning throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Winning misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winning changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Creed tries to avoid it but Winning manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Creed to the ground. Creed escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Creed tries to close the distance and clinch but Winning swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Creed closes this distance looking for a takedown but Winning circles away.
Creed with a poor takedown

and Winning counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Creed utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
James Winning has got the better of the ground game so far.
Winning trying to control but Creed is working from the bottom.
Winning postures up in Creed's guard and throws a big left but Creed blocks it.
Creed throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Creed working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Winning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winning throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Creed works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Winning keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Creed's head.
Winning stands up over Creed, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Creed tries to clinch

and Winning counters with a takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Creed takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Creed parries the strikes from Winning easily there. Winning is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Creed to escape.
Winning wants to control but Creed is keeping him busy.
Creed is trying to control Winning's posture but Winning avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Winning lands a few punches from side control.
Creed is trying to control Winning's posture but Winning avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Winning showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Creed's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Winning rushes Creed and presses him up against the cage.
Winning prevents the takedown attempt.
Winning drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Creed gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Winning tries to pull guard but Creed holds him up against the cage and eventually Winning drops back down to his feet.
Creed can't break the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Winning.

Winning has Creed pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Winning pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Creed tumbling to the mat - Winning dives into Creed's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Winning accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Winning throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winning passes Creed's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Creed wants to get back to full guard.
Winning is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Winning throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Winning working Creed over with strikes.
Creed trying to control here.
Winning is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Creed is trying to maintain the position but Winning is very close to passing his half guard.
Winning is trying to control the action in half guard but Creed is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Creed fails with the takedown

and Winning counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Winning lands strikes from half guard.
Creed is trying to get back to full guard.
Winning wants to control but Creed is keeping him busy.
Creed trying to hold on to Winning's head to control him but Winning postures up.
Winning not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Creed is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Winning's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Winning's back!
Creed doesn't have the hooks in and Winning manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winning thows a big elbow that misses.
Creed tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Winning working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Creed's head.
Winning keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Creed's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Winning's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Winning working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Winning trying to control the position from guard on top but Creed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Creed will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Winning feints and as Creed raises his hands in defense, Winning changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winning passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Creed is looking for a sweep.
Winning is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Creed's shoulder. That is not cool.
Creed sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Creed keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Creed trying to hold on to Winning's head to control him but Winning postures up.
Winning thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Creed to regain full guard.
Creed looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Winning's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Winning working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Winning comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Winning 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Winning!