PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leonidas Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Phillips has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Black
vs
Phillips

180 cm
22
217 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

194 cm
18
211 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Leonidas Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, James Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Black closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Black wants to stand up but Phillips has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Phillips has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Black is working away from the top position though.
Black tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Phillips.
Black wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Phillips uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

Black gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Phillips darts in and clinches Black up against the cage.

Phillips breaks the clinch.
Phillips misses with a jab, cross combination.
Black fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Black shoots in but no luck this time.
Black shoots in but Phillips avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonidas Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Black is breathing heavily.
Nice sprawl there from Phillips as Black shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Black counters with a takedown into side control.
Black working away.
Phillips holding on.
Phillips manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Black looks like he's trying to stand up.
Phillips wants to control but Black is keeping him busy.
Black looks like he's trying to stand up.
Phillips is taking a breather. Black says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Black 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.

Phillips decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Phillips wants to clinch up but Black keeps it at a distance.
Phillips closes the distance looking to clinch

and Black counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Phillips tries to kick Black off but Black keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Black wants to stand up but Phillips manages to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Black gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Phillips throws a nice outside leg kick.
Phillips tries to clinch

and Black counters with a takedown into side control.
Phillips struggling a bit here.

Black stands up.
Phillips tries to clinch up.
Phillips tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Black paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Phillips misses with a series of wild punches.
James Phillips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips tries to clinch there but Black circles away.
Phillips connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Black's hands.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Black shoots in and bounces Phillips off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Black decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Phillips, up you get!

Black shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Phillips's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Black wants to stand and escape but instead Phillips has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Black is wriggling around but Phillips manages to pass to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonidas Black dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Phillips fails in his attempt to clinch.
Black swats away the attempt to clinch by Phillips.
Phillips tries for a takedown but Black circles away easily

and Black counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Phillips's guard now.

Phillips is working an open guard so Black takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Phillips clinches but Black breaks the clinch

and Black counters with a nice double leg into side control. Phillips won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Black stands up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Phillips tries to clinch but Black moves away

and Black counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Leonidas Black overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Black trying to stand up but can't free himself from Phillips's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Black wants to stand and escape but instead Phillips has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Black being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Phillips with a poor takedown

and Black counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Phillips is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Black's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Black's back!
Black is trying to get back to his feet but Phillips has full control of the position and if anything, Black has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Phillips trying to control.
Phillips is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Black controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Black is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Black trying to get back to his feet but Phillips is in full control for now.
Black is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Phillips can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

Phillips working for the choke.
Black wants to get back to his feet.
Phillips really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Black.
Black holding both Phillips 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's four 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.
Good control from Phillips.
Black trying to get back to his feet but Phillips is in full control for now.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Black is trying to get back to his feet but Phillips has full control of the position and if anything, Black has just worked his way into a worse spot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Phillips is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonidas Black dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Phillips tries to clinch

and Black counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Black tries to stand but Phillips is controlling from the bottom.
Phillips not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Black being controlled here momentarily.
Black wants to stand and escape but instead Phillips has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Phillips wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Black on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Black tries to get out of the position.

Phillips stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Leonidas Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Phillips has Black up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Phillips regains guard.
Black tries to stand but Phillips is controlling from the bottom.
Phillips trying to control the position.
Black is fighting to break Phillips's control of his arms but Phillips is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Black preventing the sweep.
Phillips is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Despite being in the dominant position, James Phillips just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Black feints and as Phillips raises his hands in defense, Black changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Black trying to stand up but can't free himself from Phillips's guard.

Black gets to his feet. Phillips looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips cracks Black with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Phillips looks to clinch

and Black counters with a shoot takedown. Phillips fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Black would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Black gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Phillips tries to clinch up

and Black decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Phillips's guard.

Black gets to his feet. Phillips looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Phillips forces Black back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips gets underhooks to prevent Black's takedown attempt.
Phillips lands a body punch in the clinch.
Black is trying to drag Phillips to the mat but Phillips just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Phillips stops a takedown attempt from Black.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonidas Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phillips is trying to drag Black to the mat but Black just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Black can't get the takedown.
Black changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Phillips fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Phillips misses with a double jab

and Black counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Black wants to stand and escape but instead Phillips has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Black wants to get back to his feet but Phillips passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips moves nicely into side control.
Black bucks up and tries to throw Phillips off but instead Phillips has got his back!
Black holding both Phillips 's hands and preventing any damage.
Phillips lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Phillips.
Phillips lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
James Phillips has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Black controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonidas Black showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Black, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonidas Black!