PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cyrus Bradley (ranked 25882 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Phoenix (ranked 5881 p4p, 570 weight class). Paul Phoenix has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Cyrus Bradley's chin.

Bradley
vs
Phoenix

217 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

187 cm
18
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Cyrus Bradley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Atkins and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Phoenix as Bradley shoots in.
Phoenix falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bradley counters with a series of strikes. Phoenix will be more careful next time no doubt.
No luck for Bradley with that takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Phoenix's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Bradley shoots in for a takedown but Phoenix shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cyrus Bradley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix wants to clinch
and Bradley counters with a straight right hand.
Bradley doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Phoenix counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bradley dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Phoenix. That did some damage!
Bradley wants to clinch.
Bradley tries to close the distance and clinch but Phoenix swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bradley looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Phoenix is fending him off so far but Bradley persists. Nope, Phoenix circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Phoenix ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bradley moves away.
Phoenix throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bradley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Phoenix's waist but Phoenix gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bradley off to one side.
Bradley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Phoenix counters with a right hand to the body.
Cyrus Bradley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phoenix circles away from the clinch attempt
and Phoenix counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix misses with a wild combination.

Phoenix closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bradley to the mat! Bradley manages to get full guard.
Bradley looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Phoenix puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Phoenix is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bradley trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bradley moves into full guard.
Phoenix seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Phoenix wants to pass the guard but Bradley is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Phoenix dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Phoenix. Bradley does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bradley darts in looking for a takedown but Phoenix gets double underhooks and turns Bradley into the cage.
Bradley goes for a double leg but Phoenix avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Phoenix continues to drive forward.

Phoenix closes the distance and clinches.

Bradley gets control of Phoenix's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bradley will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Phoenix controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bradley swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bradley striking off his back but it's not causing Phoenix any problems.
Phoenix working some strikes from top position.
Bradley throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phoenix is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Phoenix works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Phoenix not doing much here.
Phoenix has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bradley on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bradley regains full guard. Nicely done.
Phoenix looking to pass the guard.
Bradley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bradley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Phoenix content to stall in guard here.
Phoenix pushing down on Bradley's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phoenix moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Bradley.
Bradley takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Phoenix tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Phoenix is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Phoenix passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Bradley!

Phoenix looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix prevents Bradley from getting the reversal.
Phoenix takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Phoenix showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. 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.

Bradley shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bradley shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Phoenix defends it nicely.
Phoenix appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Bradley will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cyrus Bradley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Phoenix as Bradley shoots in.
Phoenix misses with a double jab.
Bradley throws a big counter combination but Phoenix scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Bradley shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Phoenix sprawls well. Phoenix wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bradley gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix throws a shot from downtown. Bradley moves away and avoids it.
Phoenix swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bradley throws a counter high kick but Phoenix was just alert enough to avoid it.
Phoenix will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bradley attempts a counter takedown but Phoenix avoids it well and moves away.

Phoenix shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Phoenix showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Phoenix seems content to control.
Bradley wants to get back to full guard but Phoenix has passed into side control.
Phoenix moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bradley is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Phoenix's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Phoenix not doing much here.
Phoenix blocks the strikes from Bradley.
Bradley moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Phoenix slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bradley throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Phoenix keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Phoenix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Phoenix has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Phoenix!