PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafael DeJesus (ranked 8573 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Bryant (ranked 4476 p4p, 0 weight class). DeJesus's entrance music is "Best People in the World" by Elliphant. A fine choice. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

DeJesus
vs
Bryant

163 cm
26
140 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

168 cm
27
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael DeJesus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joseph Bryant!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danga de danga de dang - Bryant scores with a four punch combination!
DeJesus misses with a wild combination.
Bryant avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bryant swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Bryant closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bryant changes levels and goes for a takedown here. DeJesus fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bryant looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Bryant drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Joseph Bryant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bryant misses with the combination.
DeJesus attempts a counter takedown but Bryant avoids it well and moves away.
Bryant looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bryant tries to clinch but DeJesus moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant digs a good body shot into DeJesus's ribs.

DeJesus clinches up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Bryant's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bryant avoiding damage as DeJesus throws knees to the body.

DeJesus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bryant throws a combination. DeJesus tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Bryant tries to close the distance and clinch but DeJesus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
DeJesus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bryant tries to clinch up but DeJesus circles away and keeps his distance.
Bryant falls off balance throwing a combination
and DeJesus counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bryant looks winded!
Bryant takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Bryant tries to keep at a distance but DeJesus has taken the fight into the clinch.
DeJesus content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant struggles to land a body shot inside as DeJesus controls his hands.
DeJesus lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bryant can't break the clinch.
DeJesus has Bryant pressed against the cage.
DeJesus makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

DeJesus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
DeJesus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bryant manages to avoid it.
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.
Bryant fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bryant tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and DeJesus counters with a right hand to the body.

DeJesus throws a left that rocks Bryant and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! DeJesus dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Bryant regain composure!

Bryant is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DeJesus decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Bryant is still on wobbly legs! Can DeJesus finish him?
Bryant misses with the combination.
BOOM! DeJesus lands a beautiful left hook that drops Bryant. Bryant tries to recover but DeJesus is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Bryant lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rafael DeJesus!
Rafael DeJesus took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.