PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andy Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Black
vs
Long

168 cm
21
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
155 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Amped Performance

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andy Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brandon Long!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Jonathan Paton and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Long has Black up against the cage in a clinch.
Long wants to break the clinch but can't.

Long decides to pull guard.
Long pulls Black in to control the position.
Black sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Long had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Black defends it easily.
Long controlling Black's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Long is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Black is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Black postures up in Long's guard and throws a big left but Long blocks it.
Black stops Long from standing up.
Black 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.
Black wants to get up but he can't break Long's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Long is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Long pushes Black up against the cage in a clinch.

Long's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Long tries to close the distance and clinch but Black swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Long tries to clinch there but Black circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Long.
Long connects with the punch.
Long misses with a body kick.
A head kick misses from Long.
Long misses with a kick to the body.
Black feinted with a counter takedown.
Black takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Long cracks a nice hook into Black's ribs.
Long cracks Black with an open hand slap.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Long swings for the body but Black moves out of range.
Long misses with a double jab

and Black counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Long!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long struggling a bit here.
Long has one of Black's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black wants to stand but Long is controlling his arm.
Black trying to control the position but Long is working away.
Long can't do much from the bottom here.

Black looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Black is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Long is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Long is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Black's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Black looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Black prevents Long from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Long dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Long lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Black circles away quickly and effectively.
Black walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Andy Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Long tries for a takedown but Black circles away easily

and Black counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Black.
Long is pressed up against the cage. Black has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Long down to the mat. Long avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Long throws a series of punches but Black moves out of range.
Black throws a body punch but Long moves out of range.
Long digs a good hook to Black's body.
Brandon Long seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot by Long.
Long changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Black checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A quick step to the side and Black tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long misses with a low kick.
Brandon Long seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Long moves into the clinch successfully.
Black is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Long is defending well.

Black gets control of Long's arms and successfully pulls guard. Black will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Long gets to his feet - Black follows without any prompting.
Long tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Black moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Long misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Black is looking to counter the offense by Long and move into the clinch.
Black keeps the fight on the outside.
Long darts in trying to clinch

and Black counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Long is trying to control the position but Black postures up.
Long has Black pulled in close to control his posture.
Black sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Long works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Black is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Long has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Long scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Black leaves Long with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Andy Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Long.
Long swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Black.
Long cracks Black with an open hand slap.
Black wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Long closes the distance and clinches.
Long is trying to push Black away but Black has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Long gets underhooks to prevent Black's takedown attempt.
Long wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Black has him pressed against the cage.
Black drops down looking for an ankle pick but Long pulls his leg out and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Long shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Black sprawls well. Black wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Long gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Long showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Black slaps away a takedown attempt from Long, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Long misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As Long looks to move away, Black throws a big counter combo but Long just gets out of the way.
Long lunges at Black with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Black's hand.
Long shoots in but Black avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Black is looking to counter punch.
Long walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Black checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Long looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A low kick from Long misses

and Black counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Black.
Black is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black has clasped his hands together around Long's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black throwing strikes but Long manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Black is trying to get back to his feet.

Long stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Long goes for a double leg but Black avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Black continues to drive forward.
Black wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Andy Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Long.
Black on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Long has closed the distance and engaged Black in a clinch.

Long breaks from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Long fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Black, pushing him back against the cage.
Black drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Long up against the cage.
Long wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Long has had enough of the clinch but Black keeps him there for the moment.
Long working hard to break the clinch.
Black prevents Long from breaking the clinch.
Black on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Long is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Long has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Black drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Long gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long tries for a takedown but Black manages to get underhooks.
Long looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Long drops down looking for an ankle pick but Black pulls his leg out and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Black has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Long after a bit of a struggle.
Black looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Black slows down the pace here.
Long is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Black pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Black is trying to pull guard but Long turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Long lands a left hand.
Long gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Black.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Long is trying to break the clinch but Black has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Long after a bit of a struggle.
Andy Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brandon Long is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Long tries to circle away but Black has him pinned against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Long comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Long winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Long!
In his post fight interview, Brandon Long started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.