PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Player (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Player
vs
Connor

180 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ben Player!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stephen Connor!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Player shoots in looking for a takedown. Connor tries to sprawl out of it but Player keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Connor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Player looks for a takedown but Connor sprawls well.
Connor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Player shoots in and drives through. Connor sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Player. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Player scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Player working the ground and pound.
Connor is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Player has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Player is chipping away with strikes.
Connor tries to escape but Player is in control.

Player tries for a kimura but Connor is defending well.
Connor is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connor is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Player grinds an elbow into Connor's temple.
Connor is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Player has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Connor is not content to let Player control the position.
Player throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Connor avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Player.
Connor tries to escape but Player is in control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Connor avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Player is trying to get an arm triangle but Connor is defending well.
Connor pushes Player away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Player gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Player shoots in but Connor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Player is breathing heavily.
Player fails with an attempt to clinch.
Player shoots in for a double leg but Connor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Horrible takedown by Player or perhaps it was just good defense by Connor which made him look bad.
Player throws a body kick the misses
and Connor counters with a leg kick.
Connor is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Connor lands.
Player doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Connor counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Player is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A solid body kick from Connor.
Player tries for a takedown but Connor circles away easily
and Connor counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Connor with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Jab, jab by Connor - just one landing.
Connor throws a quick inside leg kick.
Player tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connor lands with a kick to the temple. Player shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Player chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Connor can pounce on him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Connor throws a head kick that Player semi-blocks.

It looks like Ben Player has been cut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Connor.
An inside leg kick lands from Connor.
Connor tries a head kick but it misses.
Player takes a kick to the side of the head.
Player tries for a takedown but Connor circles away easily
and Connor counters with a slapping leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Player takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Connor goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Connor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ben Player's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice straight punches there by Connor. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Connor.
Player gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Connor counters with a left to the body.
Player tries for a takedown but Connor circles away easily
and Connor counters with a nice body shot.
Connor throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Player has his takedown stuffed
and Connor counters with a nice low kick that buckles Player's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Player. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body kick there by Connor.
Crunch! Connor slams his shin into Player's torso.
Connor scores with a jab. Player acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connor lands a head kick. Player smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Player takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A head kick misses from Connor.
Stephen Connor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Player avoids a punch combination nicely.
Player takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ben Player is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Player moves forwards but Connor connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Connor slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Connor misses with a head kick.
Player shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Connor counters with a head kick. That will keep Player thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Player darts in trying to clinch
and Connor counters with a head kick. That will keep Player thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Connor buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Player gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Connor counters with a thumping low kick.
Connor scores with a kick to the midsection.
Player is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Connor misses with a few strikes there.
Connor lands with a thumping leg kick.
Connor throws a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Player ducks right into an uppercut from Connor.
Player walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Player shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Connor throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Player stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Connor moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Player will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Connor misses with a head kick.
Connor lands with a kick to the ribs.
Connor throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Player stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Connor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Player with a poor takedown
and Connor counters with a nice body kick.
Connor throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Connor moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Stephen Connor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Connor misses with a kick to the body

and Player counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Connor's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Connor is looking to stand up but Player isn't so interested in that idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Player with a flurry of punches that miss.
Player won't allow Connor to get back to his feet.
Player lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Connor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ben Player's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Player fails with the takedown
and Connor finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Connor throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Player doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Connor counters with a nice leg kick.
Connor fakes the leg kick and cracks Player in the body.
Connor tries a head kick but it misses.
Connor lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Connor scores with a sloppy right hand. Player should have avoided that one.
A head kick from Connor lands but Player takes it in his stride.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Connor lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Player avoids the head kick by Connor.
Player misses with a takedown attempt
and Connor counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Player. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Player gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Connor counters with a stiff right hand.
Connor lands a high kick!
Player misses with a takedown
and Connor counters with a good low kick that Player was not able to check.
Player walks into a left hand.
Connor catches Player with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Connor bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Player's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Connor.
Player gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Connor counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Player is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Connor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Player doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Connor counters with a left and a right that stings Player.
Player with a lazy takedown attempt
and Connor counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Player takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Connor goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Player shoots and misses
and Connor counters with a big head kick but Player shrugs it off.
Connor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Player fails with the takedown
and Connor counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Player clinches but Connor breaks the clinch
and Connor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Player fails with the takedown
and Connor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Player shoots and misses
and Connor counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Connor throws a head kick but Player moves out of range.
Player misses with a takedown attempt
and Connor counters with a head kick.
Player with a poor takedown
and Player takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Player shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Player showed some decent athleticism there.
Player not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Connor pushes Player off and gets back to his feet.
Player takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Player gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Connor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Player has his takedown stuffed
and Connor counters with a stiff right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Connor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Connor winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Connor!