PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Bryant (ranked 9332 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael DeJesus (ranked 5409 p4p, 0 weight class). DeJesus has chosen "Best People in the World" by Elliphant as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. On his way into the cage it seems that Joseph Bryant has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Joseph Bryant seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Bryant
vs
DeJesus

168 cm
27
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

163 cm
26
140 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joseph Bryant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael DeJesus!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bryant moves in looking to clinch but DeJesus pushes him off.
DeJesus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
DeJesus tries to clinch there but Bryant circles away.
Bryant throws an overhand right that lands on DeJesus's shoulder, as DeJesus tries to avoid the shot.
DeJesus takes one to the side of the head.
Bryant scores with a three punch combo!

Bryant has DeJesus up against the cage in a clinch.
DeJesus is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

DeJesus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bryant throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Bryant throws a combination that misses
and DeJesus counters with a lovely straight right hand!

DeJesus gets tackled into the cage by Bryant. Bryant maintains the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

DeJesus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bryant wants to clinch up but DeJesus keeps it at a distance.
DeJesus is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bryant sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Bryant closes the distance and clinches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
DeJesus jumps guard but Bryant turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bryant drops to a knee looking for a takedown but DeJesus gets the underhooks and prevents it.
DeJesus tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bryant just stands there and leans against the cage.
Joseph Bryant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael DeJesus.
Bryant wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeJesus takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Bryant shoots for a double leg takedown but DeJesus sprawls well. He's pushed Bryant's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
DeJesus avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Bryant tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bryant darts in looking for a takedown but DeJesus gets double underhooks and turns Bryant into the cage.

Bryant moves into the clinch successfully.
Bryant has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bryant slowing the pace effectively.

DeJesus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bryant tries to clinch there but DeJesus circles away.
Bryant tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Joseph Bryant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bryant throws a nice looking combination but DeJesus bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bryant dives in for a single leg takedown but DeJesus sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
DeJesus with the counter takedown but Bryant avoids it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bryant moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DeJesus pulls guard successfully.
Bryant wants to control from the top but DeJesus keeps moving.
Bryant throws a big right hand that misses.
DeJesus pulls Bryant in close to his closed guard and prevents Bryant from doing any damage or advancing position.
DeJesus utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bryant controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

DeJesus looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bryant wants to control from the top but DeJesus keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
DeJesus utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bryant tries to close the distance and clinch but DeJesus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bryant tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but DeJesus paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bryant looks to land a combination. DeJesus sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Rafael DeJesus has been cut.
DeJesus defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bryant.
Despite the aggression on DeJesus's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
DeJesus closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bryant circles away.
Bryant doesn't manage to clinch there - DeJesus circles away.
Bryant shoots in looking for a takedown. DeJesus tries to sprawl out of it but Bryant keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. DeJesus manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Bryant dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael DeJesus's cut.
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.

DeJesus stuffs the takedown attempt from Bryant. Bryant gets slowly back to his feet.
Bryant fails to land with a series of punches.
Bryant misses with a low kick.
Bryant tries to score a power double leg takedown but DeJesus sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bryant somewhat.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bryant.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

DeJesus gets in close and instigates a clinch.

DeJesus manages to break the clinch.
Bryant tries a head kick but it misses.
Bryant tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but DeJesus defends well and Bryant ends up having to push DeJesus into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Bryant. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant shoots in looking for a takedown but DeJesus manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bryant's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
DeJesus throws a combination that misses
and Bryant counters with a two punch combo.
Bryant will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
DeJesus is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bryant throws a body punch but DeJesus moves out of range.
A combination from Bryant does no damage.
A right-left combo lands from Bryant.

Bryant instigates a clinch.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
DeJesus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

DeJesus feints and as Bryant raises his hands in defense, DeJesus changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
DeJesus's corner is telling him to maintain position.

DeJesus decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Bryant shoots in for a takedown but DeJesus shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

DeJesus gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

DeJesus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice body punch from DeJesus.
DeJesus feints a jab promting Bryant to slip. DeJesus then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bryant slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
DeJesus shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bryant defends it nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Bryant as DeJesus shoots in.
Bryant shoots and misses
and DeJesus counters with a straight right hand.

Bryant pushes DeJesus up against the cage in a clinch.
DeJesus is pushing Bryant up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

DeJesus wants the takedown. Bryant is fighting it off but DeJesus persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Bryant's guard against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bryant is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bryant looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
DeJesus trying to control the position from guard on top but Bryant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
DeJesus wanted to stand there but Bryant had control of the position.
DeJesus loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Bryant has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. DeJesus has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
DeJesus is trying to stall.
Bryant is looking to break free of the clinch but DeJesus has double underhooks.
Bryant has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by DeJesus after a bit of a struggle.
DeJesus tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bryant avoids it.
DeJesus stalling against the cage.

DeJesus decides to pull guard.
Bryant throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as DeJesus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
DeJesus is trying to hold Bryant in close to prevent damage but Bryant has managed to pass into half guard.
Rafael DeJesus has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bryant looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael DeJesus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rafael DeJesus's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Bryant avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bryant swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and DeJesus counters with a one-two to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bryant is defended easily by DeJesus.
Bryant throws a hook but DeJesus avoids it easily.

DeJesus changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bryant looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bryant is looking to reverse the position.
DeJesus just content to control the position.

DeJesus stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by DeJesus.
Bryant moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Bryant tries to close the distance and clinch but DeJesus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bryant tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
DeJesus with the counter takedown but Bryant avoids it easily.
DeJesus tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bryant defends well and DeJesus ends up having to push Bryant into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
DeJesus misses with a body shot.
Bryant went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Bryant lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bryant tries to close the distance and clinch up but DeJesus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bryant tries to bum rush DeJesus with a series of wild strikes but DeJesus uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bryant throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around DeJesus's waist but DeJesus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bryant off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant throws a big shot that misses.
DeJesus throws a right hand that Bryant ducks under and follows up with a left that Bryant also avoids with ease.
Bryant misses with a leg kick
and DeJesus counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bryant throws the left hand but DeJesus avoids the punch easily.
DeJesus doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
DeJesus shoots in but Bryant avoids the takedown attempt easily.
It looked like Bryant was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Bryant fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Bryant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bryant wants to clinch up but DeJesus keeps it at a distance.
DeJesus looks like he wants to counter punch here.

DeJesus gets a clinch.

DeJesus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Bryant.
Rafael DeJesus seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant slips under a jab from DeJesus.
Bryant throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bryant is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

DeJesus decides to pull guard.

DeJesus is looking for a triangle but Bryant pushes his legs off easily.
DeJesus controls Bryant momentarily but Bryant frees himself.

DeJesus working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bryant doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bryant manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeJesus striking off his back but it's not causing Bryant any problems.
Bryant wants to control from the top but DeJesus keeps moving.
Bryant is looking to work some ground and pound but DeJesus has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

DeJesus is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Bryant tries to break the clinch but DeJesus is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael DeJesus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think DeJesus has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joseph Bryant!