PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Diarmuid Connoly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Celso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Celso has chosen Bad Boys by The Inner Circle as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Connoly
vs
Celso

175 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
195 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Diarmuid Connoly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Celso!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Steven Brown and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Connoly shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Connoly moves into full mount! Celso won't be happy about that!
Connoly fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Celso tries to hold on but Connoly pushes him away.
Connoly postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Celso looks a forlorn figure.
Celso is working to get back to half guard.
Connoly scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Connoly takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Connoly has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Connoly looking to secure an arm triangle but Celso defends it well.
Connoly postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Celso looks a forlorn figure.
Connoly controlling the pace for now.
Celso really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Connoly lands a heavy elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connoly looking to control and managing it successfully.
Connoly seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Celso for as long as he can get away with.
Connoly lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Connoly controlling his opponent.
Celso tries to lock up and control but Connoly gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Celso is looking to get to half guard.
Celso is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Celso is squirming around, avoiding Connoly's attempts to control the action.
Connoly landing strikes from the mount and Celso is in trouble!
Connoly sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connoly lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Celso hang on?
Connoly controlling the position easily from mount.
Connoly has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Celso is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Connoly working for a submission but Celso is keeping him at bay.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diarmuid Connoly dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Connoly feints and as Celso raises his hands in defense, Connoly changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Celso being controlled here, momentarily.

Celso looking for a guillotine here but Connoly defends easily.
Connoly stays in close to Celso's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Connoly might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Celso is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Connoly chips away with some ground and pound.
Connoly sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Celso's guard.
Connoly controlling the action here.
Celso tries to get to full guard but Connoly has control of the leg.

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.
Connoly content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Celso has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Connoly is working away from the top position though.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Connoly uses his free foot to push down on Celso's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Celso.
Connoly controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connoly lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Celso tries to reverse the position but Connoly maintains control.
Connoly raining down hammerfists from mount.
A nice elbow there by Connoly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Connoly putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Connoly takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Celso is looking to improve his position but Connoly isn't that keen on the idea.

Connoly stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Connoly scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Celso throws Connoly to one side and escapes!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Connoly bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Connoly slows the pace down.

Connoly goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Celso has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Connoly but great work by Celso.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Connoly wants to get back to his feet.
Connoly is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diarmuid Connoly dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Connoly checks the leg kick nicely there.
Connoly looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Diarmuid Connoly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Celso tries to clinch but Connoly moves out of range.
Celso has his takedown stuffed
and Connoly counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
No luck for Connoly with that takedown attempt.
Connoly's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Connoly duly obliges.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Celso trying to control the position but instead, Connoly has worked for underhooks and has pushed Celso into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Connoly breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Connoly tries to sprawl but Celso drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Connoly has one foot on Celso's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Connoly is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Celso can do to turn this around?

Celso gets tackled into the cage by Connoly. Connoly maintains the clinch.

Connoly's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Connoly leaves Celso with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Connoly went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Celso tries to clinch up but Connoly circles away and keeps his distance.
Celso wants to clinch up but Connoly keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connoly keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Celso tries to close the distance and clinch but Connoly swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Celso misses with a head kick.
Connoly swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Celso tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Connoly manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Connoly appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Connoly is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Celso.

Connoly manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Celso on his heels. He'll look to pass Celso's guard now, I'm sure.

Celso wriggles free and stands up.
Celso dives in for a single leg takedown but Connoly sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Diarmuid Connoly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Celso.

Connoly drives through with a takedown into Celso's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Connoly makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Connoly lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Connoly decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Connoly misses with an attempted mid kick.
Connoly swinging wildly here.

Celso closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Celso is looking to take this one to the mat.
Celso tries to pull guard but Connoly won't allow it.

Connoly breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Connoly 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.
Connoly works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connoly wants to stand up but Celso is controlling the position.
Connoly prevents Celso from improving his position.
Connoly perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Anthony Celso has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diarmuid Connoly is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Connoly moves into full mount! Celso won't be happy about that!

And that's the end of the fight!
Diarmuid Connoly showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Connoly 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diarmuid Connoly!
In defeat, Anthony Celso stepped up to the mic, saying 'Special thanks to my fans and my Manager.'.