PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Theta Knox (ranked 6044 p4p, 561 weight class) and Billy Monroe (ranked 9029 p4p, 640 weight class). Monroe is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Woke up this morning. Theta Knox could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Billy Monroe's chin.

Knox
vs
Monroe

176 cm
25
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
28
154 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Theta Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Billy Monroe!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monroe fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Monroe works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Monroe darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Monroe is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Monroe working the ground and pound effectively.
Monroe scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Monroe with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Monroe misses with a head shot.
Knox wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Monroe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Monroe.
Monroe thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Monroe looking to ground and pound but Knox is blocking nicely.
Monroe scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Knox?
Knox knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Monroe on the ground.
Knox tries to hold on but Monroe postures up.
A nice elbow there by Monroe.
Monroe putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Knox really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Monroe misses with a head shot.
Monroe throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Knox because Monroe loaded up on that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe unloads with some shots from mount but Knox bucks and avoids them well.
Monroe connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Monroe landing strikes from the mount.
Monroe connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Monroe throws some wild stikes that Knox manages to avoid easily.
Knox in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Monroe working his ground and pound in the gym.
Monroe working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Monroe landing punches.
Monroe with shots to the head and body - Knox looks very uncomfortable down there.
Monroe tries to control but Knox wriggling away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Monroe is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Monroe is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Knox can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Monroe sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Monroe looking to ground and pound but Knox is blocking nicely.
Monroe with shots to the head and body - Knox looks very uncomfortable down there.
Monroe with a couple of short strikes.
Knox wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Monroe.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knox is breathing heavily.
Monroe scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Knox?
Monroe throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Knox taking shots to the head.
Monroe raining down hammerfists from mount.
Monroe breaks from Knox's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Monroe landing strikes from the mount and Knox is in trouble!
Monroe scoring with strikes but Knox is staying in there.
BOOM! Monroe connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe looking to finish Knox with some ground and pound. This is bad for Knox!
Knox holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Monroe tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Poor strikes thrown by Monroe there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Monroe working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Monroe is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Knox can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Monroe throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Monroe misses with a head shot.

Monroe working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knox is bucking up trying to escape but Monroe cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Monroe cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Knox connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Monroe momentarily.
Knox takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Billy Monroe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Monroe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Knox looks to throw the jab but Monroe is out of range.

Monroe shoots in and bounces Knox off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Monroe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Monroe lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox keeping moving, preventing Monroe from controlling successfully.
Monroe keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Knox's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe postures up in Knox's guard and throws a big left but Knox blocks it.
Monroe pushing down on Knox's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Monroe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Monroe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Monroe lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ground and pound from Monroe.
Monroe trying to control the action but Knox is working from the bottom.
Monroe thows a huge punch but Knox dodges it nicely.
Monroe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Monroe working over Knox with some ground and pound. Knox looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Monroe passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Knox!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe working Knox over with strikes here.
Monroe working the ground and pound effectively.
Monroe throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Monroe looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Monroe unloading with bombs!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Monroe dominating with strikes here.
Monroe with a couple of short strikes.
Monroe lands a heavy elbow.

Knox is rocked!
Monroe scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Oh Knox is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Monroe fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Monroe punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Knox because Monroe loaded up on that one.
Monroe landing shots from mount.
Monroe lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Monroe thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Billy Monroe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Monroe is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Monroe controlling the pace for now.
Monroe lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Monroe lands a big shot there that rocks Knox but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Monroe pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Knox holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Monroe tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Knox seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Monroe with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Monroe is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Knox can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Knox avoids a series of strikes thrown by Monroe.
Monroe throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Monroe landing strikes from the mount.
Monroe dominating with strikes here.
Monroe landing punches.
Monroe working Knox over with strikes here.
Knox is in a horrible position here. Monroe smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Monroe looking to finish with strikes here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Monroe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Monroe throws a jab when Knox was well out of range.
Knox went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Monroe misses with a hook.
Monroe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Knox.
As Monroe tries to get set, Knox tries to push him back and clinch up but Monroe manages to avoid the attempt.
Monroe throws a series of punches but Knox avoids them all with ease.
Monroe misses with a hook to the body
and Knox counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice uppercut there from Monroe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monroe throws a right hand that misses
and Knox counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Monroe fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Knox looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Knox shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Monroe eats them both and turns towards Knox to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Monroe gets a double leg takedown into Knox's guard.
Monroe landing some decent shots from guard.
Monroe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Monroe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Monroe slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Knox parries the strikes from Monroe easily there. Monroe is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Knox to escape.
Monroe is working Knox over with some ground and pound from side control.
Monroe tries to score with some ground and pound. Knox controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
An elbow from Monroe crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe throws a strike aimed at the side of Knox's head but Knox avoids it well.
Monroe trying to control the position but Knox is working away.

Monroe wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Knox, who protects the arm well.
Knox parries the strikes from Monroe easily there. Monroe is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Knox to escape.
Monroe working the ground and pound but Knox is defending the strikes.
Knox parries the strikes from Monroe easily there. Monroe is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Knox to escape.
Monroe throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Monroe works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Knox takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Monroe wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Knox, who protects the arm well.
Theta Knox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Monroe has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Knox!
Monroe working the ground and pound effectively.
Monroe has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Knox's face.
Monroe lands a heavy elbow.
Monroe looking to finish Knox with some ground and pound. This is bad for Knox!

Monroe looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
A nice elbow there by Monroe.
Monroe cracks Knox with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe landing shots from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Monroe is landing with some decent strikes but Knox is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Monroe landing punches.
Knox takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Monroe's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Billy Monroe!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Billy Monroe waved his t-shirt featuring Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)'s logo in front of the cameras.