PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Borg (ranked 4057 p4p, 542 weight class) and Buddy Brandon (ranked 4227 p4p, 556 weight class). Brandon has chosen All Summer Long as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Buddy Brandon was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Borg
vs
Brandon

195 cm
29
205 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

188 cm
41
210 lbs
15 - 25 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frank Borg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Buddy Brandon!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Borg changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Brandon tries to avoid it but Borg manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Brandon to the ground. Brandon escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Borg closes the distance and clinches.
Brandon is pressed up against the cage. Borg has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Brandon down to the mat. Brandon avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Brandon takes one on the button.

Brandon takes the fight into the clinch.
Borg avoiding damage as Brandon throws knees to the body.

Brandon has hold of one of Borg's legs. Borg is fighting the takedown attempt but Brandon gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Borg trying to control the position here.
Borg is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brandon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borg trying to keep a closed guard but Brandon is proving a slippery customer.
Borg throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
We've been hearing good reports from Borg's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Brandon wants to pass the guard but Borg is keeping the position.
Brandon postures up in Borg's guard and throws a big left but Borg blocks it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Borg closes this distance looking for a takedown but Brandon circles away.
Brandon unleashes a big counter combination but Borg bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Borg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brandon takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Brandon shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Brandon showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borg has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Brandon is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Borg blocking the ground and pound attempt from Brandon.
Borg is looking to improve his position.
Borg gets back to full guard.
Borg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borg working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Brandon.
Borg is adopting a defensive guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Borg keeping moving, preventing Brandon from controlling successfully.

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

Borg darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Borg not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Brandon holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borg wants to control but Brandon is keeping him busy.
Brandon tries to roll over but Borg keeps him under control.
Borg is keen to just control but Brandon is a slippery customer.
Brandon trying to control but Borg postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Borg wants to control but Brandon is keeping him busy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Brandon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Borg clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Buddy Brandon will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Borg takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Borg misses with a body kick.
Borg missing with a left hand there. Brandon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Brandon wants to counter the offense by Borg and move into the clinch position.
Brandon shoots and misses
and Borg counters with a left and a right that stings Brandon.
Brandon tries to score a power double leg takedown but Borg sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Brandon somewhat.

Borg fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Brandon, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borg tries for a takedown but Brandon manages to get underhooks.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Borg gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Brandon has his hands on Borg's head, controlling the position.
Borg throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borg preventing the sweep.
Borg lands a couple of digs.
Borg looking to sit in guard and control but Brandon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Borg trying to control the position here.
Borg is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frank Borg overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Borg lands an upkick as Brandon stands over him.
Brandon trying to control the position from guard on top but Borg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brandon lands a couple of elbows.
Borg has momentary wrist control but Brandon slips an elbow through the middle.
Brandon throwing strikes from guard but Borg blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borg is trying to keep Brandon in close.
Borg has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Borg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Borg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Brandon dives in for a single leg takedown but Borg sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Frank Borg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buddy Brandon.

That's four 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.
Borg tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Brandon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Brandon is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Brandon manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Borg postures up and lands a big shot to Brandon's brow.
Borg stands up over Brandon, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Borg trying to control but Brandon is working from the bottom.
Borg with a flurry of punches that miss.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brandon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Borg working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Borg dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Brandon closes the distance and clinches.
Borg takes an elbow to the forehead.
Brandon throws a head punch that misses.
Borg gets underhooks to prevent Brandon's takedown attempt.
Borg is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A right handed body shot lands from Borg.
Brandon wants a takedown.

Brandon has Borg pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Brandon pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Borg tumbling to the mat - Brandon dives into Borg's guard.
Borg throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Brandon avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Borg is trying to control the position but Brandon postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Brandon connects with a couple of short punches.
Brandon throwing strikes from guard but Borg blocks nicely.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Borg wants to sweep but no luck.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Brandon tries a head kick but it misses.
Brandon tries to bum rush Borg with a series of wild strikes but Borg uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Frank Borg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Borg scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brandon misses with a takedown attempt
and Borg counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Frank Borg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buddy Brandon.
Borg looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Borg drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Borg 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 Brandon's shoulder. That is not cool.
Borg lands some shots froms side control.
The strikes coming from Borg are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Brandon tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Borg misses with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borg landing strikes.
Brandon is not content to let Borg control the position.
Borg throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Brandon is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Borg's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Borg not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Borg throwing shots but Brandon is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Borg is keen to just control but Brandon is a slippery customer.
Borg is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brandon is not content to let Borg control the position.
Brandon is looking for a sweep. Borg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Borg lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Borg lands strikes from half guard.
Brandon has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Borg is working away from the top position though.
Brandon is looking for a sweep. Borg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Borg showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Borg 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Borg!
An out of breath Frank Borg thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.